Hexxagon
Hexxagon is a classic strategy board game where two players compete for territory on a hexagonal grid. Capture your opponent's pieces by strategically duplicating or jumping your own!
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How to Play
Hexxagon is a deceptively simple yet deeply strategic board game originally released in 1995. The rules take seconds to learn, but mastering the balance between duplication and jumping requires real tactical thinking. Each turn you pick ONE of your pieces and do exactly ONE of these two things: • DUPLICATE (green highlight): Clone yourself into an adjacent empty cell. Your original piece stays put, so you GAIN +1 piece total. • JUMP (yellow highlight): Leap up to 2 cells away in any direction. You RELOCATE — the original cell becomes empty, so your piece count stays the same. Here's the clever part: after ANY move, every enemy piece sitting next to your destination cell instantly flips to YOUR color. One well-placed move can capture multiple enemies at once! The board has 3 hole cells (dark hexagons) that no piece can occupy — they break up the symmetry and create interesting tactical choke points.
Winning at Hexxagon comes down to understanding the core trade-off: DUPLICATE when: You want to grow your army, pressure the center, or set up future captures. Each duplication nets you +1 piece plus whatever neighbors you convert. Early-game dominance is built on smart cloning. JUMP when: You need to reposition fast, reach an isolated corner, or escape a threatened cluster. Jumping doesn't increase your count but gives you reach. Late-game, a single jump behind enemy lines can flip their entire flank. Pro tips: • Control the center early — it touches more cells for captures • Don't over-extend; clumped pieces support each other better • Watch the holes — they create natural barriers you can use defensively • In PvP mode, mind games matter: sometimes a "bad" move baits your opponent into an even worse response • The Standard layout rewards methodical expansion; American/Swedish favor bold strikes from corners
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Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
What is Hexxagon and how do I win?
Hexxagon is a classic territory-control strategy game from 1995 played on a diamond-shaped hex grid. You win by controlling more cells than your opponent when no more moves are possible. Each turn you either duplicate (clone + keep original) or jump (relocate) one of your pieces, then automatically capture all adjacent enemies.
What's the difference between Duplicate and Jump?
Duplicate moves your piece to an adjacent (ring-1) cell and keeps the original — net gain of +1 piece. Jump moves it 2 cells away (ring-2) and leaves the origin empty — same piece count but better positioning. Both moves trigger automatic capture of all enemy neighbors at the destination!
What are the dark hexagons (holes) on the board?
Those are hole cells — 3 blocked positions inherited from the classic Hexxagon design. No piece can ever occupy them. They exist because the original Palm OS game used them to break board symmetry and create tactical depth. Use them as natural defensive walls or plan around them for flanking routes.
Which layout should I choose?
Standard (9v9): Best for beginners — large armies, long games, room to learn. American (3v3): Intense — only 3 pieces each, every move matters, games end fast. Swedish (3v3): Mirror of American with swapped corners — same intensity, different tactical feel. Random: Chaos mode — unpredictable starts test adaptability.
Does playing Hexxagon improve cognitive skills?
Absolutely! Hexxagon trains spatial reasoning (visualizing hex grids), forward planning (thinking 3+ moves ahead), tactical decision-making (evaluating trade-offs between growth vs positioning), and pattern recognition (spotting capture chains). It's like chess on steroids with simpler rules but equal strategic depth.
