Oxono

About this board game

Oxono is a two-player game with 15-minute play time, in which players race to line up four pieces orthogonally by colour or by symbol.

Each turn gives you two actions. First, move either the X or O totem as many squares as you like along the same horizontal or vertical line. Then place one of your pieces showing that totem’s symbol on a free square orthogonally adjacent to its new position.

• Line up four pieces of your colour to win.
• Line up four pieces showing the same symbol to win.
• Move a totem only while you still have pieces of its symbol in reserve.

Resource management shapes every move: if you have no remaining pieces matching one symbol, you must move the other totem instead. This creates a constantly changing set of placement options as both players compete for useful spaces and potential alignments.

Oxono’s most distinctive rule appears when a totem becomes completely surrounded. You can play the totem over the surrounding pieces, and if it lands on another encircled square, you may place your piece anywhere on the board. These unusual movement and placement opportunities can quickly change the position.

You can even use your opponent’s colour to complete a line of matching symbols, adding an unexpected twist to the victory conditions. With surprising turnarounds in a short game, Oxono offers high replayability, a satisfying sense of control, and an immediate desire for revenge after the final alignment.