Board game · Strategy · Family · Classic game · Puzzle
Dots and Boxes
Connect dots, complete boxes, and claim territory on your TV. Play solo vs smart AI, pass the TV remote in 2–4 player local matches, or connect phones via QR code.
- Players
- 1 to 6 players · TV Remote & Phone Controllers
- Controller
- TV remote or Phone as controller
- Mode
- Solo · Multiplayer
- Good for
- Everyone
About Dots and Boxes
Dots and Boxes brings the timeless paper-and-pencil strategy game to the living room television. Players take turns drawing horizontal or vertical lines between neighbouring dots. Close the fourth side of any square to claim the box with your player color, score a point, and immediately take another turn!
Enjoy four balanced grid sizes — Small (4x4 dots, 9 boxes), Medium (6x6 dots, 25 boxes), Large (8x8 dots, 49 boxes), and Expert (10x10 dots, 81 boxes) — across solo play against 3-tier tactical AI, couch multiplayer with one shared TV remote, or wireless phone multiplayer with up to 6 players via QR code.
Form 2-player teams (Team Titans vs Team Blazers) for allied cooperative battles, or go head-to-head in free-for-all showdowns with dynamic box capture animations and instant celebratory scoreboards.
How to play
- 1
Select your game mode (Vs Computer, Local Multiplayer, Phone Multiplayer, or Teams) and grid size.
- 2
Use your TV remote arrow keys to move between available lines (highlighted with a thick pulsing cursor).
- 3
Press OK or Enter to draw the highlighted line between two adjacent dots.
- 4
Whenever you complete the fourth side of a box, you claim it, score +1 point, and get an extra turn.
- 5
When all lines are drawn, the player or team with the most claimed boxes wins the match.
Controls
- Arrow keys — move thick highlight cursor between lines
- OK / Enter — draw selected line
- Back / Escape — open pause menu or return to setup
- Phone screen — touch D-pad, swipe gestures, and Draw button
How to Connect Your Phone as a Controller
Turn any smartphone into a wireless game controller in under 30 seconds — no app install or account needed:
- 1
Open Dots and Boxes on your television screen to display the room pairing QR code.
- 2
Scan the QR code with your iPhone or Android camera to open the instant browser controller.
- 3
Enter a player nickname. Your phone connects directly to the TV session with real-time private controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you play Dots and Boxes on a smart TV?
- Open GamesOnTV.online, select Dots and Boxes, and use your TV remote D-pad to navigate. A thick pulsing highlight shows your selected line. Press OK to draw it.
- Can players use smartphones as wireless controllers?
- Yes! Choose Phone Multiplayer or scan the on-screen QR code at any time. Up to 6 players can connect phones as responsive gamepads with touch buttons and swipe navigation.
- What happens when someone completes a box?
- Completing the fourth side fills the box with the player’s colour and initial, awards 1 point, and grants an immediate bonus turn to keep playing.
- Does Dots and Boxes have computer AI for solo play?
- Yes. You can practice against 3 difficulty tiers: Easy (casual random moves), Medium (tactical box capture), and Hard (chain control and strategic sacrifices).
- Can we play in teams?
- Yes. Teams mode pits Team Titans against Team Blazers in 2-team cooperative territory battles.
Categories
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Guides and ideas
Read guides, tips and party ideas that use Dots and Boxes on the GamesOnTV blog.
Player Opinions & Suggestions
Have thoughts on Dots and Boxes? Want to suggest new rules, report a bug, or request a feature? Every opinion and suggestion goes directly to our admin team to make games better!