Play Reversi Online Free

About Reversi

Reversi — widely known by its trademarked name Othello — is the flipping game: every disc you place must trap enemy discs between your pieces, turning the whole line to your color. Fortunes swing wildly until the final moves, which is why the classic saying goes 'a minute to learn, a lifetime to master.'

This version gives you the full 8×8 game with legal moves highlighted, flips animated, and the score updated live — you always know exactly where you stand. Sharpen your play against four AI levels, hand the device to a friend for a same-screen duel, or open an online room and battle over an invite link. Hints and undo are one tap away when you want to experiment.

How to play Reversi

The game starts with four discs in the center. Black moves first, and every move must flip at least one enemy disc.

1. Place a disc so that one or more enemy discs sit in a straight line between your new disc and another disc of your color — those trapped discs all flip to your side.
2. Flips work along every direction at once: horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines all convert on the same move.
3. If you have no legal move, your turn passes automatically; the board highlights every square you can legally play.
4. The game ends when neither player can move — usually when the board is full.
5. Whoever has more discs of their color on the final board wins.

Reversi strategy tips

• Corners are gold: a corner disc can never be flipped, and it anchors every line it touches. Steer play toward corners you can take.
• Avoid the squares diagonally next to empty corners (the X-squares) — playing there usually hands the corner to your opponent.
• Having fewer discs mid-game is often good: fewer discs means fewer targets and more mobility. Don't chase the score early.
• Count mobility, not discs — force your opponent into positions where every legal move helps you.
• The last few moves decide everything. Slow down near the end and calculate the final flips before committing.

Reversi FAQ

Is reversi the same game as Othello?

Effectively yes. Othello is the trademarked modern version with a fixed starting position of four discs in the center — the version played here and in tournaments. Reversi is the older generic name for the same flipping mechanic.

What happens when I have no legal move?

Your turn is passed to your opponent automatically and the board tells you it happened. If neither player can move, the game ends and the discs are counted.

Why did I lose when I was ahead the whole game?

That is the signature of reversi — big disc counts mid-game often collapse because the opponent kept better mobility and grabbed the corners. Watch the legal-move highlights: if your options are shrinking, you are losing ground no matter what the score says.

Can I play reversi online against a friend here?

Yes. Open an online room from this page and send your friend the link — you both play the same live board from any browser, with flips and score syncing instantly. No account needed.

Which AI level should I start with?

Start on easy or medium to internalize corner and edge patterns, then move up. Hard punishes X-square mistakes, and master plays a disciplined mobility game that will teach you more than most human opponents.

Games like Reversi

GomokuPure placement, no flips — race to five in a row.CheckersAnother 8×8 classic, driven by forced captures.GoSurround territory instead of flipping it — the deep end.