Domain

About this board game

Domain is a two-player board game for a 15-minute play time, released in 1982. Played on a 9×9 square grid, it challenges players to build the largest area by placing coloured plastic pieces on the board.

Each piece has its own area and shape, creating a compact placement puzzle as the board fills. Players take turns adding pieces, with placements potentially causing adjacent pieces to flip over according to the chosen variant.

The game includes several ways to handle this flipping mechanic. In one variant, only the opponent’s adjacent pieces are turned over. In another, every adjacent piece is flipped, regardless of colour. These alternatives change how newly placed pieces affect the surrounding board.

• Players: 2
• Playing time: 15 minutes
• Board: 9×9 square grid
• Components: 26 plastic pieces, coloured on both sides
• Goal: Have the largest area at the end of the game

A further variant divides the pieces equally between the players before play begins, rather than having players draw from a standard pool. This gives Domain another way to set up its short, focused contests.

With its simple turn structure, double-sided pieces, and selectable flipping rules, Domain offers a straightforward area game with multiple approaches to starting play. The included rules, board, and 26 pieces provide everything needed for a complete game.