About Dotward Games
Dotward Games is a small, independent studio building free, classic board games that run entirely in your web browser — no downloads, no sign-ups, no friction.
What we make
Dotward Games is a collection of timeless two-player strategy games rebuilt for the modern web. Our goal is simple: take the pen-and-paper and over-the-board games people have loved for generations and make them instantly playable on any device, whether you are on a laptop at home or a phone on the bus.
Today the site features two complete games, with more in development:
- Dots — a strategic encirclement game where you place dots on a grid and form closed loops to surround and capture your opponent's territory. Learn the rules in our How to Play Dots guide.
- Chess — the classic game of kings and queens, with a built-in computer opponent and online play. New to chess or want to sharpen up? Read our How to Play Chess guide.
How you can play
Every game on Dotward Games offers three ways to play, so you are never short of an opponent:
- Play vs Computer — sharpen your skills against an AI opponent that is available any time, day or night.
- Online Play — create a private room, share the code with a friend, and play together from anywhere in the world in real time.
- Local Hot-seat — pass one device back and forth and play face to face with someone next to you.
Our philosophy
We believe great games should be accessible to everyone. That means no paywalls in front of the core experience, no accounts required to start playing, and a clean, distraction-free interface that puts the game first. We keep our games fast, responsive, and faithful to the rules that make them fun.
Dotward Games is supported by advertising, which lets us keep the games free for players. We care about a good experience, so we work to keep ads unobtrusive and to follow industry standards for advertising on the web.
Get in touch
We are always improving the site and adding new games. If you have feedback, found a bug, or just want to suggest the next game we should build, we would love to hear from you. Visit our Contact page or email us directly at dotwardgames@gmail.com.