Diaballik

About this board game

Diaballik is an abstract strategy game for two players that takes about 20 minutes to play. On a 7×7 grid, two teams race to move their ball to the opponent’s starting goal line.

Each player begins with seven ball holders arranged along their edge of the board, with the ball placed in the middle holder. On a turn, players maneuver their holders and use carefully timed passes to advance, defend, and disrupt the opposing team.

• Move an empty ball holder orthogonally up to two times.
• Pass the ball laterally or diagonally between holders.
• Make passes of any length when no opposing pieces block the route.
• Win by bringing your ball to a holder on the opponent’s starting line.

The rules are simple, but every move can reshape the position. A player must balance attacks and defenses, opening routes for a pass while preventing the opponent from reaching the goal first. A continuous wall of ball holders creates an automatic loss for the player who formed it, adding an important restriction to defensive play.

Diaballik delivers a dynamic contest inspired by team sports, with surprising reversals possible right up to the final moment. First released in 2004, it was nominated for the 2006 As d’Or Game of the Year.

The game is also available for turn-based online play through Boîte à jeux and on iPad, where it supports a local two-player game or a game against the AI.