How to Play
What Is 3D Tic Tac Toe?
It’s tic tac toe, but taken up a level—literally.
Instead of a single 3×3 grid, you’re playing on a 4×4×4 cube. That’s four layers, each with 16 squares, stacked like floors in a building. Your goal? Get four in a row in any direction: across, up, down, diagonal, or even straight through the cube.
It’s the classic naughts and crosses you know—but deeper, smarter, and way more fun.
🧩 The Basics
- 2 players take turns placing their markers—Red X goes first, Blue O follows
- The board is a cube made of 4 layers, each a 4×4 grid
- 64 total cells (16 per layer)
- The first player to get four of their own markers in a straight line wins
- A line can be:
- Horizontal (within one layer)
- Vertical (up/down through layers)
- Diagonal (within or across layers)
- 3D diagonals (corner-to-corner through the cube)
- If all 64 spaces are filled and no one has won, the game is a draw
📷 Visual Example
Here’s a view of the game board mid-match:
In this example, the red player is building a vertical win through the layers—notice how their Xs are aligned from bottom-left to top-right in a diagonal plane.
This is what makes 3D Tic Tac Toe exciting: you need to think across multiple dimensions at once.
🖱️ Controls & Interface
On Desktop:
- Rotate the cube: Click and drag to spin the board
- Place a marker: Click on the tile you want
- View your turn: The active player is shown at the top of the screen
On Mobile:
- Rotate the cube: Use swipe gestures
- Tap to place: Tap a square once to select it, then again to confirm
- The background dims slightly when it’s not your turn
You can play against:
- A friend (local or online)
- Our built-in AI, Hermiobot
🧠 Winning Combinations (There Are 76!)
Here’s how players can win:
- 16 horizontal lines (4 per layer)
- 16 vertical columns (4 per layer)
- 16 depth lines (from front to back across layers)
- 8 diagonals within layers (2 per layer)
- 8 vertical diagonals across columns
- 8 depth diagonals across rows
- 4 3D diagonals – from one corner of the cube to the opposite corner
It sounds like a lot, but your brain catches on quickly the more you play. Rotate the cube often to spot patterns!
🧠 Strategy Tips for Beginners
- Start with the centre: The very middle of the cube connects to more winning lines than any other spot
- Watch the diagonals: Especially the sneaky 3D ones
- Block and build: Always look for opponent threats, but create your own too
- Set traps: Try creating “forks” where you have two paths to victory—harder to block!
🤖 Playing Against Hermiobot
Want to practice before challenging a friend?
Hermiobot is a clever little AI who will:
- Spot your threats and block them
- Set up multi-layer strategies
- Challenge you at your own pace
Don’t be fooled—it may look friendly, but it wants to win!
🔍 Think in 3D
Visualising the cube is the biggest learning curve—but also the most fun. Here’s how to improve:
- Think in layers: Imagine four flat grids stacked
- Keep rotating: Don’t get stuck looking at one face
- Practice: Your spatial skills will improve with every game!
🎯 Your Turn!
Ready to play? Click below to challenge Hermiobot or start a match with a friend.