Boussole

Strategy game · 2 players · 10 minutes

Boussole

Place an arrow tile or turn one: it fires at once and pushes back the first tile in its line of fire. Line up 4, or make your opponent lose 3 tiles.

See the rules in 8 animations →
Play against the AIThree levels. Also works offline.Two players on this devicePass the phone or tablet back and forth after each move.

Boussole, an abstract strategy game between chess and go

Boussole is a two-player thinking game with no luck and no hidden information, like chess, go or Othello. It is played on a 5 × 5 board with arrow tiles: Brass starts with 7 tiles, Cobalt has 8. Every tile placed or turned fires in the direction of its arrow and pushes the first tile it targets back one square.

The rules take a minute to learn, a game lasts about 10 minutes, and skill decides the outcome: in our simulations, the strong AI beats the weak AI in 88% of games.

Boussole rules in brief

  1. One action per turn: place a tile on an empty square, choosing its direction, or turn one of your tiles a quarter turn.
  2. The tile fires: the first tile in its line of fire moves back one square, whatever its colour.
  3. Two ways to hold: be wedged by a tile right behind, or face the shooter.
  4. Ejection: a tile pushed off the board is lost by its owner.
  5. Victory: line up 4 tiles of your colour, or make your opponent lose 3 tiles.

All the rules, animated

Frequently asked questions

What is Boussole?

Boussole is an abstract strategy game for two players, in the family of chess and go. On a 5 × 5 board, each player places or turns arrow tiles. Every tile fires in the direction of its arrow and pushes back the first tile it targets.

How do you win a game of Boussole?

You win by lining up 4 tiles of your colour (in a row, a column or a diagonal), or when your opponent has lost 3 tiles pushed off the board.

How long does a game last?

About 10 minutes. In AI-versus-AI simulations, a game lasts 14 moves on median, that is 7 moves per player.

Is Boussole free?

Yes. Boussole is free to play in the browser, on a computer, tablet or phone, with no sign-up.

Can I play Boussole alone?

Yes, against an artificial intelligence with three levels (easy, medium, hard). Once the app is installed on your home screen, this mode works even without an internet connection.

How do I play Boussole with a friend remotely?

Choose “Invite a friend online”, then send the link or the 6-letter game code. Each player plays on their own device, in real time.

How is Boussole different from chess and go?

In chess and go, you capture pieces. In Boussole, you push them: a tile does not move back if another tile wedges it or if it faces the shooter. The board is smaller, the rules take a minute to explain and a game lasts about 10 minutes.