Games that are not solved, unlike tic tac toe
Three in a row is solved, which is exactly why the bigger boards are interesting. If you want a game that is genuinely unsolved, this page is a shortlist of 19 worth playing - all free, all instant in the browser, none of them asking you to download or sign up for anything.
Five groups. The board games are the natural step up in depth, especially the two that stay genuinely unsolved on a full-size board. Puzzle and arcade games add a clock. Card games add hidden information. The dice games add luck, and the final entry is a timer.
Short answers
Do I need an account to play them?
No. Every game listed here plays instantly as a guest, exactly like TicTacToe.now. Where a free account exists it is optional, and it only ever saves your scores, times and streaks across devices - it is never a gate in front of the game.
Which of these is closest to Tic Tac Toe?
The first group on this page is ordered with the closest relatives first, so start at the top. Beyond that it depends what you like about Tic Tac Toe - the puzzle and tile games reward reading a board, the card games reward counting and memory, and the dice games put the randomness in the foreground where you can see it.
Are they free, or is there a catch?
They are free in the same way TicTacToe.now is free: every mode, every daily challenge and every leaderboard, with no paywall, no trial and no download. The card and casino titles use play money only - there is no real gambling in any of them.
Do these open in the same browser tab?
They are ordinary websites, so they behave however your browser is set to behave - nothing here hijacks a tab or opens a pop-up. Each one loads its game directly on the page, with no launcher, no plugin and no install step.
What if I want a board rather than a deck?
Checkers. Eleven genuine draughts variants, from the 8x8 standard to flying kings on a 10x10 board. Play Checkers online →
Reversi. Flip discs to take the board - but own too many too early and you run out of moves. Play Reversi online →
Dominoes. Match the ends, count the suits, and work out which numbers the board can still accept. Play Dominoes online →
Ludo. The race-home board game in eight regional flavours, with a daily challenge and real-time multiplayer. Play Ludo online →
What should I play if I want another puzzle?
Tetris. Stack the falling pieces, clear the lines, and try to keep up as the gravity accelerates. Play Tetris online →
Puzzle. A mixed cabinet of browser puzzles for when you want to think without a clock running. Play free puzzle games →
Mahjong. Match free tiles to clear Turtle, Pyramid, Fortress, Dragon, Butterfly, Cat, Spider, Tower, Gate, Crab and Cross layouts, with a daily challenge and leaderboards. Play Mahjong online →
Pac-Man. Dots, power pellets, four ghosts with four different personalities and the same pattern-learning itch that keeps Tetris players coming back. Play Pac-Man online →
Is there anything here that is not a game?
Chess Clock. Fischer increment, Bronstein delay or plain sudden death, for any two-player game. Use a free online chess clock →
Which card games are worth learning?
Solitaire. The card game you play while thinking about something else - in a dozen different forms. Play Solitaire online →
FreeCell. Open-information patience: nothing hidden, nothing random after the deal, no excuses. Play FreeCell online →
Hearts. Duck every heart and the queen of spades - or take the lot and hand the points to everyone else. Play Hearts online →
Spades. Call your tricks, make your contract and punish the overbid - the partnership card game that rewards counting over luck. Play Spades online →
Rummy. Build sets and runs and go out before your opponents, across the classic Rummy variants. Play Rummy online →
Gin Rummy. Ten cards, one draw, deadwood to manage and the constant question of whether to knock now or hold for gin. Play Gin Rummy online →
Canasta. Melds of seven, wild cards and a discard pile worth fighting over. Play Canasta online →
Blackjack. Classic, Vegas Strip, Atlantic City, Spanish 21, Double Exposure, Switch, Pontoon and more - free chips, no real gambling. Play Blackjack online →
Anything where the randomness is the point?
Yahtzee. The dice-and-scorecard classic, where the upper-section bonus quietly decides most games. Play Yahtzee online →
Craps. The loudest game on the floor, with play chips only and no real gambling. Play Craps online →
Or keep it simple
And if the answer is that you would rather keep playing Tic Tac Toe: If you would rather stay, the main game is one click away, the rules hub covers how everything works, and the FAQ answers the common questions.