How to play Pathstone
Pathstone is a two-player strategy board game about connection. Players take turns placing stones on a square board and moving stacks of stones called towers. The first player to join two opposite edges of the board with an unbroken path wins. The rules fit on one page, and every board size from 3×3 to 8×8 plays differently.
Play Pathstone in your browser. It is free, and a friend can join from an invite link without an account.
The rules
Build a path. Change the board.
Connect left to right or top to bottom with a path of your topmost flats and Crowns, including those atop towers. Walls do not count. Connections may turn but must join edge-to-edge, never diagonally.
Setup
Start with an empty square board and all pieces in reserve. Each player receives:
| Board | Stones | Crowns |
|---|---|---|
| 3×3 | 10 | 0 |
| 4×4 | 15 | 0 |
| 5×5 | 21 | 1 |
| 6×6 | 30 | 1 |
| 7×7 | 40 | 2 |
| 8×8 | 50 | 2 |
Choose the first player randomly for the first game; alternate thereafter. Player 1 places a flat for Player 2, then Player 2 places a flat for Player 1. No walls, Crowns, or movement on these opening turns. Regular play starts with Player 1.
Pieces
Builds paths. Can be covered.
Cannot be covered. Does not build paths.
Builds paths. Flattens walls. Cannot be covered.
Each turn: place or move
Place: put one reserve piece—flat, standing stone (wall), or Crown—on an empty square, never onto another piece. Walls and Crowns can only be placed from reserve, not created by movement.
Move: you control a tower if its top piece is yours. Take 1 to the board’s width in pieces from its top (up to 5 on a 5×5 board). Move horizontally or vertically in one straight line, never diagonally. Drop all carried pieces, bottom first, leaving at least one on every square visited. Land only on empty squares or flats, never walls or Crowns, except when flattening. Tower height is unlimited.
Flattening: only a Crown, dropped alone on the final square of a move, can flatten a wall. It may travel with other pieces before that final drop. The wall becomes a flat even atop a tower; pieces beneath it stay unchanged. Nothing can cover a Crown.
Winning
Path win: completing a path ends the game immediately. If both players complete paths in the same move, the player who moved wins.
Flat win: placing your last reserve piece or filling the board ends the game immediately. If there is no path, count each player’s exposed flats (including single flats). Most wins; a tie is a draw. Covered flats, walls, and Crowns do not count.
Pathstone
You are in Pathstone when your opponent could complete a path with their next move if you did nothing. Any move counts: placing a piece, moving a tower, uncovering a stone underneath, or flattening a wall with a Crown. It works like check in chess. You get your turn first, so block the threat or win before your opponent can. Being in Pathstone does not end the game.
The game watches for Pathstone unless the player who created the game turned it off. When a player is in Pathstone, both players see a notice, but not where the threat is. While you choose a move, your notice goes away if that move gets you out, and another appears if the move would put your opponent in Pathstone.
Reading towers
Layers run from bottom to top. Each square shows up to the board width plus one layers. The small number is total height; “+” counts deeper pieces. Select a square to inspect it.
Ways to play
- With a friend: start a private game and send the invite link. Your friend joins as a guest in their browser.
- With a friend next to you: start a game and choose Play on this device. You take turns on one screen, such as a tablet. These games do not count toward the leaderboard.
- With anyone: list a public game in the lobby, and any signed-in player can take the other seat.
- Against the computer: pick an opponent by level.
- Pebble (level 1): Just learning. Counts flats and not much else.
- Cobble (level 2): Builds toward paths, one move at a time.
- Flint (level 3): Sees your threats coming, and makes a few of its own.
- Basalt (level 4): Thinks as deep as time allows. Bring your best game.
- Granite (level 5): Plays out thousands of futures before it moves.
- Obsidian (level 6): Learned the game from 2.5 million games against itself.
Games are turn-based. Make a move, close the tab, and come back when it is your turn again. Finished games count toward the all-time leaderboard.
Strategy tips for new players
- Start on a 4×4 or 5×5 board. Small boards show quickly how paths are built and blocked.
- A wall cannot be part of a path, but it cannot be covered either. Use walls to block, and keep your reserve in mind: every wall you place is one fewer flat for the count at the end.
- Control the tops of towers. Only the top piece of a tower counts for a path, and only the player on top can move it.
- One move can drop stones across a whole row. Before you finish a turn, check which of your opponent's towers could reach your path.
- Save your Crown. It counts toward a path, nothing can cover it, and it is the only piece that can flatten a wall.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of game is Pathstone?
Pathstone is an abstract strategy board game for two players. There is no luck and no hidden information. Each player tries to build a connected path of their stones between two opposite edges of a square board.
How do you win Pathstone?
Connect two opposite edges of the board, left to right or top to bottom, with an unbroken orthogonal path of your flat stones and Crowns. If the board fills up or a player places their last piece first, the player with more flat stones on top of the towers wins.
How long does a game take?
It depends on the board. A 3×3 or 4×4 game is short and good for learning. A 5×5 or 6×6 board gives room to build, and 7×7 or 8×8 games are longer and deeper. Games are turn-based, so you can also play a move whenever you have a moment.
Can I play Pathstone online with a friend?
Yes. Start a game, share the private invite link, and your friend can join from any browser without creating an account. You can also list a public game in the lobby for any signed-in player to join, or choose Play on this device to take turns on one screen with someone next to you.
Can I play against the computer?
Yes. Signed-in players can play 6 computer opponents, from Pebble at level 1 to Obsidian at level 6.
Is Pathstone free?
Yes. Pathstone is free to play in the browser on a phone, tablet, or computer. You can add it to your home screen and turn on notifications for your turn.
What does it mean to be in Pathstone?
You are in Pathstone when your opponent could complete a winning path on their next move if you did nothing. It works like check in chess: you get your turn first, so block the threat or win.