Best Free Dots and Boxes
Draw lines, complete boxes to claim them, and outscore the computer.
Level 1
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How to play
- Draw a line. Click any empty gap between two dots to draw a horizontal or vertical line.
- Complete a box. Close the fourth side of a box to claim it in your colour — and take another turn.
- Own the most boxes. When all lines are drawn, whoever has claimed more boxes wins.
About Dots and Boxes
Dots and Boxes is the classic pen-and-paper strategy game, here against a computer opponent. Players take turns drawing a single line between two adjacent dots. Whenever your line completes the fourth side of a box, you claim that box in your colour — and you get to go again. When every line is drawn, whoever owns more boxes wins. It looks simple, but the trick is knowing when to give a box away to avoid handing over a whole chain. Choose a difficulty to set the board size and how cleverly the computer plays. Runs entirely in your browser — no signup.
Frequently asked questions
Players take turns drawing one line between two adjacent dots. If your line completes the fourth side of a box, you claim it and immediately take another turn. When no lines remain, whoever owns the most boxes wins.
Yes. Every time a line you draw closes a box, you go again — and if that next line closes another box, you keep going.
Difficulty sets both the board size and how the computer plays: Easy is 4×4 and mostly random, Normal is 5×5 and avoids handing you boxes, and Hard is 6×6 and plans around chains.
Avoid drawing the third side of a box, because that lets your opponent complete it. Late game it comes down to chains — sometimes giving away a short chain forces your opponent to open a longer one for you.
Yes. Tap the gap between two dots to draw a line; the board scales to your screen.
Completely free, with no signup and no download — it runs entirely in your browser.
No. Dots and Boxes works with no signup at all; an optional free account only exists to unlock higher usage limits.
Usually just a few seconds for a typical file — Dots and Boxes starts working the moment you give it your input.
Your input is processed in memory and never stored, so nothing is left behind once you have your result.
Casual use is unlimited, under a generous fair-use cap that keeps it fast for everyone.