Hextris: Difference between revisions

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subject_name=Hextris|
subject_name=Hextris|
designer=David J. Bush|
designer=David J. Bush|
image_link=[[Image:HextrisBoard.png|Hextris board]]|
image_link=[[Image:HextrisBoard.png|250px|Hextris board]]|
description= Abstract |
description= An abstract connection game of moving, swapping, and removing|
min_players=2 |
min_players=2 |
max_players=3 |
max_players=3 |
min_playing_time=15 minutes |
max_playing_time=30 minutes |
stashes = 1 per player |
stashes = 1 per player |
sets=5|
sets=5|
other_equip = hex board (19 cells or spots) |
other_equip = hex board (19 cells or spots) |
setup_time= one minute |
setup_time= 1 minute |
playing_time= Until it's done |
playing_time= Until it's done |
complexity=Low |
complexity=Low |
strategy=High |
strategy=High |
random_chance=None |
random_chance=None |
mechanic1=Placement|
game_mechanics=Placement, Movement|
mechanic2=Movement|
theme = |
theme = |
footnotes =|
footnotes =|
release_year= 2005|
release_year= 2005|
BGG_Link=[http://boardgamegeek.com/game/28844 28844]
BGG_Link=[http://boardgamegeek.com/game/28844 Hextris]
}}
}}


'''Hextris''', designed by David J. Bush, won the 3rd Ice Games Design Competition. It requires 2-3 players, one stash per player, and a hex board.
'''Hextris''', designed by David J. Bush, won the 3rd Ice Games Design Competition. It requires 2-3 players, one stash per player, and a hex board.

== Equipment ==

1 Icehouse stash of a unique color for each player: 5 large, 5 medium, and 5 small pyramids which need not be stackable.

A blank sheet of 8.5" (21.6 cm) x 11" (28 cm) paper and a pencil would be handy.

The object of this game is to be the first to form three connected groups of five pieces of your color.

== The board ==

Draw 19 spots on a sheet of paper as shown in Figure 1. Dots or any other shapes are fine, as long as they are clearly visible.

[[Image:HextrisBoard.png| Figure 1: Hextris board]]

These spots could be regarded as the vertices of a grid of equilateral triangles, or the centers of a grid of regular hexagons. The overall shape of the grid is hexagonal as well. There are 12 spots around the perimeter of the board, and 7 interior spots.

== Initial Setup ==

The board is empty of pieces at the start of the game. Each player has their stash arranged in front of them, in full view of the opponents. These off-board pieces are said to be in hand.

== How to Play ==

Players choose who moves first. Perhaps the youngest player could move first. Play proceeds clockwise around the board.

On your turn you either:

* Place a piece you have in hand onto any vacant perimeter spot (called dropping a piece), OR
* Move a piece of your color on the board according to its powers of movement.

You may not drop a piece onto any interior spot. You may not both drop and move in the same turn.

There are two different ways to move a piece:

* Move it in a straight line in one of the six directions, OR
* swap places with an adjacent piece. There is no capturing, nor is there any stacking or nesting of pieces.

You may not make both types of move in the same turn.

You may not pass on your turn as long as a legal move is available to you.

If you have no legal move, you lose your turn and play proceeds to the next player.

=== MOVING PIECES ===

If you are moving a piece instead of swapping a pair, all the spots you move through and the destination spot must be vacant.

* Small pyramids move only to adjacent spots, a distance of one spot.

* Medium pyramids may move up to two spots in a straight line.

* Large pyramids may move as far as desired in a straight line in any of the six directions.

=== SWAPPING PIECES ===

You may swap two adjacent pieces of any color, as long as they conform to the
following size restrictions. Once you have swapped pieces, you may not make
any additional moves on your turn.

* A large piece may swap places only with an adjacent medium piece.

* A medium piece may swap places only with an adjacent small piece.

* A small piece may swap places only with an adjacent large piece.

=== CONNECTED PIECES ===

* Pieces of the same color which are on adjacent spots are said to be connected to each other.

* Any piece of the same color adjacent to a connected group is part of that group.

* If your move produces a connected group of five pieces of the same color, then if that does not end the game, those five pieces are removed from the board and are out of play for the rest of the game. You might form such a connected group for an opponent with a "swap places" move, although this is generally not advisable.

* You are not allowed to form a connected group of more than five pieces of the same color, either for yourself or an opponent. Any such move is illegal.

== Game End ==

The game ends when any player has achieved three connected groups of their
color (the third group will occur on the board, while the previous two groups
are stowed by their owner). That player wins. If two players get three groups at
the same time, the winner is the one whose move ended the game. Players may
agree to a draw if no one sees a way to make progress.


== Other Languages ==
== Other Languages ==
Line 30: Line 113:
== External Links ==
== External Links ==


* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150908191643/http://www.icehousegames.com/contest/icedes-3/hextris/Hextris1.html Rules] are available online.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150908093758/http://icehousegames.com/contest/icedes-3/hextris/Hextris2.html Some hints and tips]
* Someone shared a nice Hextris board on [https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/44178/hextris-board-art BBG] (2009).
* Someone shared a nice Hextris board on [https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/44178/hextris-board-art BBG] (2009).
* A new Hextris board is available on [https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/190446/hextris-board BGG] (2019).
* A new Hextris board is available on [https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/190446/hextris-board BGG] (2019).
Line 38: Line 121:


[[Category:Abstract]]
[[Category:Abstract]]
[[Category:Strategy]]
[[Category:Hex board]]
[[Category:Hex board]]
[[Category:2-player]]
[[Category:2-player]]
[[Category:3-player]]
[[Category:3-player]]
[[Category:Placement]]
[[Category:Movement]]
[[Category:Non-stacking]]
[[Category:Non-stacking]]
[[Category:One stash per player]]
[[Category:One stash per player]]
[[Category:5HOUSE]]
[[Category:5HOUSE]]
[[Category:Games playable with Homeworlds Set]]

Latest revision as of 17:56, 7 May 2024

Hextris
David J. Bush
Hextris board
An abstract connection game of moving, swapping, and removing
:Players Players: 2 - 3
:Time Length: Medium
:Complexity Complexity: Low
Trios per color: 5
Number of colors: 1 per player
Pyramid trios:
Monochr. stashes: 1 per player
Five-color sets: 5
- - - - - - Other equipment - - - - - -
hex board (19 cells or spots)
Setup time: 1 minute
Playing time: 15 minutes - 30 minutes
Strategy depth: High
Random chance: None
Game mechanics: Placement, Movement
Theme: The wikipage input value is empty (e.g. <code>SomeProperty::, [[]]</code>) and therefore it cannot be used as a name or as part of a query condition.
BGG Link: Hextris
Status: Not Specified (v1.0), Year released: 2005


Hextris, designed by David J. Bush, won the 3rd Ice Games Design Competition. It requires 2-3 players, one stash per player, and a hex board.

Equipment[edit | edit source]

1 Icehouse stash of a unique color for each player: 5 large, 5 medium, and 5 small pyramids which need not be stackable.

A blank sheet of 8.5" (21.6 cm) x 11" (28 cm) paper and a pencil would be handy.

The object of this game is to be the first to form three connected groups of five pieces of your color.

The board[edit | edit source]

Draw 19 spots on a sheet of paper as shown in Figure 1. Dots or any other shapes are fine, as long as they are clearly visible.

Figure 1: Hextris board

These spots could be regarded as the vertices of a grid of equilateral triangles, or the centers of a grid of regular hexagons. The overall shape of the grid is hexagonal as well. There are 12 spots around the perimeter of the board, and 7 interior spots.

Initial Setup[edit | edit source]

The board is empty of pieces at the start of the game. Each player has their stash arranged in front of them, in full view of the opponents. These off-board pieces are said to be in hand.

How to Play[edit | edit source]

Players choose who moves first. Perhaps the youngest player could move first. Play proceeds clockwise around the board.

On your turn you either:

  • Place a piece you have in hand onto any vacant perimeter spot (called dropping a piece), OR
  • Move a piece of your color on the board according to its powers of movement.

You may not drop a piece onto any interior spot. You may not both drop and move in the same turn.

There are two different ways to move a piece:

  • Move it in a straight line in one of the six directions, OR
  • swap places with an adjacent piece. There is no capturing, nor is there any stacking or nesting of pieces.

You may not make both types of move in the same turn.

You may not pass on your turn as long as a legal move is available to you.

If you have no legal move, you lose your turn and play proceeds to the next player.

MOVING PIECES[edit | edit source]

If you are moving a piece instead of swapping a pair, all the spots you move through and the destination spot must be vacant.

  • Small pyramids move only to adjacent spots, a distance of one spot.
  • Medium pyramids may move up to two spots in a straight line.
  • Large pyramids may move as far as desired in a straight line in any of the six directions.

SWAPPING PIECES[edit | edit source]

You may swap two adjacent pieces of any color, as long as they conform to the following size restrictions. Once you have swapped pieces, you may not make any additional moves on your turn.

  • A large piece may swap places only with an adjacent medium piece.
  • A medium piece may swap places only with an adjacent small piece.
  • A small piece may swap places only with an adjacent large piece.

CONNECTED PIECES[edit | edit source]

  • Pieces of the same color which are on adjacent spots are said to be connected to each other.
  • Any piece of the same color adjacent to a connected group is part of that group.
  • If your move produces a connected group of five pieces of the same color, then if that does not end the game, those five pieces are removed from the board and are out of play for the rest of the game. You might form such a connected group for an opponent with a "swap places" move, although this is generally not advisable.
  • You are not allowed to form a connected group of more than five pieces of the same color, either for yourself or an opponent. Any such move is illegal.

Game End[edit | edit source]

The game ends when any player has achieved three connected groups of their color (the third group will occur on the board, while the previous two groups are stowed by their owner). That player wins. If two players get three groups at the same time, the winner is the one whose move ended the game. Players may agree to a draw if no one sees a way to make progress.

Other Languages[edit | edit source]

Hextris (French)

External Links[edit | edit source]

Entered in the Icehouse Game Design Competition, Winter 2005
Winner: Hextris 2nd: Blam! 3rd: A-A-Arctic Kettering
4th (tie): Influence and Synapse-Ice 6th: Quintazone 7th: Martian Race
8th: Icebomb Arena 9th: What Blind Ninjas? 10th: Ice Soo Sorry 11th: StarRunners
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