How to start
- Open bigboard.games on one phone or tablet and tap Start a table.
- Pick the game; the players at this device are set before the match.
- Lay the device flat between you and play.
One sheet for both of you
Start a table on one phone or tablet with two people on it and pick Islands. The whole sheet of grid paper fills the screen, and it stays exactly where it is all game: it never scrolls, flips or turns on its own between moves, so neither of you loses track of what you were looking at.
There is no card to hand over and no screen to cover. The edges glow in the colour of whoever is to move, their disc is ringed, their timer ring runs and "Your turn" sits under their name, so a glance tells you whose dot comes next, as in 2 player chess. Pass is always the mover's.
Turns, clocks and the first dots
Each of you gets your own "Tap again to place" for your first three dots: tap a point to see a ghost of your dot, tap again to put it down. After that the hint steps aside, and comes back only if a ghost dot waits a while.
The move timer is 30 seconds unless you pick 15 or no limit before the game. When one of you captures or seals an area, the fence draws and the dots fly to the stash first; the next player's clock then restarts in full, 0.45 seconds later, so nobody loses time to an animation. Alone? Play the dots game vs the computer.
Board size, edges and the end
Pick a small board of 15 × 10 points for a quick game, the regular 19 × 13, or a large 25 × 17 for a long one. Edges wrap around by default, so a fence can leave one side of the sheet and come back on the other; drag with one finger to move the sheet, or choose bordered edges.
Two passes or skipped turns in a row end the game, and the higher score wins. The end card is one upright card for both of you, naming the winner, the score and the biggest island. A phone each instead? The dots game plays on two devices too, each with its own view.
Pass and play: questions and answers
Does the board stay still between moves?
Yes, it never moves or turns on its own; only you scroll or zoom it.
Is there a move timer?
Yes, 30 seconds by default, or 15, or no limit; a turn that runs out is skipped.
Do two passes in a row end the game?
Yes, two passes or skipped turns in a row end it, and the higher score wins.
Is this hotseat play?
Yes, hotseat or pass and play: you share one screen and take turns, with no device to pass between you.