Axiom

About this board game

Axiom is a two-player strategy game played in three dimensions, with a typical play time of 15 minutes. Released in 1988, it challenges opponents to capture one of the other player’s pawns across a shifting arrangement of cubes.

The board is made up of twelve cubes: six in one color and six in the other. Each player controls two pawns, and the pawns snap into indentations on the cubes. Together, these physical elements create the game’s distinctive three-dimensional playing surface.

On a turn, a player chooses between two important actions. They can move one of their pawns over the surfaces of the cubes, or they can move one of their cubes to change the playing surface. This combination of pawn movement and board manipulation gives every turn a direct effect on the shape of the contest.

• Designed for exactly two players
• Approximately 15 minutes of play
• Twelve cubes, with six of each color
• Two pawns per player
• Three-dimensional movement across cube surfaces

The objective is clear: capture one of your opponent’s pawns before they capture one of yours. Because the cubes themselves can be moved, players must account not only for pawn positions but also for how the playing surface can be changed.

A new physical design was released at Essen 2008. This version introduced smooth, curved pawns held in the cube indentations by magnets, adding a revised tactile presentation to the same core concept. For players seeking a compact head-to-head strategy game with an unusual three-dimensional board, Axiom offers a focused contest built around movement, positioning, and changing surfaces.