T Tessera

Tile strategy game

Player 1's Move

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Board1 rocks · 0 free

Geometric Strategy

Tessera is an abstract strategy game built for people who love tessellations, board games, and computer play.

Copy pieces, leap across the board, convert opposing tiles, and explore how different geometric tilings change the tactics. Play classic boards, exotic mosaics, human matches, and fast computer-versus-computer battles.

Many Board Families

Tessera spans hexagonal, square, triangular, pentagonal, octagonal, and mixed tilings so the same core rules feel fresh on every board.

Human and Computer Play

Challenge another player, test yourself against the computer, or watch the computer analyze and fight across large geometric boards.

Editable Rules

Customize copy and jump patterns for board types and explore how changing local geometry changes the whole strategic landscape.

Board Types

Hexagonal

The 2002-style board with smooth multi-directional expansion and broad tactical pressure.

Square

The original grid-based format with direct territorial battles and compact tactical traps.

Triangular

Three-edge adjacency and corner jumps create a very different sense of space and tempo.

Cairo Pentagonal

A five-sided tiling where shape and orientation matter more than in a standard grid.

Octagon and Square

Mixed tile families force you to think about how move ranges shift from one cell type to another.

Advanced Tilings

Rhombitrihexagonal and mosaic boards reward players who enjoy symmetry, motifs, and geometric pattern recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tessera?
Tessera is an abstract strategy board game about tessellations, copy-and-jump movement, and piece conversion across many geometric board types.
How do you play?
Move one step to duplicate a piece, or jump farther to relocate it. After every move, adjacent enemy pieces convert to your side. Finish with more pieces than your opponent.
Can I play against the computer?
Yes. Tessera supports human versus computer play and computer-versus-computer play, with adjustable speed and suggestion controls.
Why do the different tilings matter?
Each tiling changes adjacency, jump structure, and spatial control. That means the same core rules lead to very different strategies from one board to another.

Options

Game setup

Board
Start position
Rule preview

Preview of the current copy and jump destinations for the selected tile type.

Timeline

Move history

    Game complete

    Winner

    0Player 1 : 0Player 2

    How to play

    Tessera Help

    Win by finishing with more pieces than your opponent. Moving one space duplicates your piece. Jumping two spaces moves it. After either move, every adjacent enemy piece changes to your color.

    Choose Hexagonal for the 2002 rules, Square (1996) for the original grid, Triangular, Cairo pentagonal, or Octagon and square. Every mode copies across shared edges and uses its shape-specific jump destinations.

    Select one of your pieces, then select a highlighted empty space. You can also press and drag from a piece to its destination.

    Pinch with two fingers or use the mouse wheel to zoom. Drag an empty part of the board to pan. Use the center zoom button to reset the view.

    F1
    Open help
    F2
    New game
    F3
    Suggest a move
    F4
    Pause or resume
    F5
    Skip the current turn
    Ctrl+Z
    Undo

    Welcome

    Discover Tessera

    T

    Tessera

    An abstract strategy duel across tessellations, geometry, and evolving boards.

    Tessera began as an earlier strategy game created by Devon Matsalla in May 1992, revised in April 2002, and rebuilt for the web in 2026. What started as a compact competitive board game has grown into a playground of hexagons, squares, triangles, pentagons, octagons, and more.

    The idea is simple and surprisingly deep: move one step to copy a piece, or leap farther to relocate it. Every move converts adjacent enemy pieces to your side, so the board can swing in a single well-timed turn. Different tilings change the geometry, the tactics, and the feel of the game.

    Play against another person, challenge the computer, or let two computer players battle at speed. Explore the different board systems, watch how each shape changes the strategy, and learn the patterns that let a small advantage spread across the whole mosaic.