
- BGG rank
- BGG #99
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Azul
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2017
- Ask about the rules

Rules assistance for Martian Tic-Tac-Toe
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Martian Tic-Tac-Toe is an expansion for Tic-Tac-Toe released in 2005 for 2 players and 10 minutes per game. It was designed by Chris Goodwin (I) and its main mechanics are Pattern Building.
Martian Tic-Tac-Toe is an Icehouse game for 2 players played on a 3x3 square board. Each player starts with a stash of three small pieces, three medium pieces and three large pieces, all of one color. On each player's first turn, that player must place a small piece into a square. After that each player may make one of the following moves: 1. Place a small piece from your stash into an empty square. 2. Swap one of your pieces in play with a piece from your stash (up to one size larger or any size smaller). 3. Capture an opponent's piece by replacing it with a piece from your stash exactly one size larger and sending the captured piece back to the opponent's stash. A player wins when they get three of their pieces of the same size in a straight line (orthogonal or diagonal).
Martian Tic-Tac-Toe supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Martian Tic-Tac-Toe is 10 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
Martian Tic-Tac-Toe has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Martian Tic-Tac-Toe belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Pattern Building. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Martian Tic-Tac-Toe are: Chris Goodwin (I). These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Martian Tic-Tac-Toe as an expansion for Tic-Tac-Toe. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Tic-Tac-Toe to use it. Check that your edition of Tic-Tac-Toe is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.