Free to Play Online

The Game
of Rails™
& Strategy

Ninestone is a two-player strategy game. Align three pieces to form a Rail™ and capture your opponent's stones. Get them below three and you win.

2 Players
7+ Age Range
~15 Minutes
Replayability
Free Online Play
$20 Physical Edition

The Game

What Is Ninestone?

A two-player strategy game built on a classic formula: simple rules, real depth, and matches that rarely run long.

Three Rings, 24 Nodes

The board features three concentric squares — an outer, middle, and inner ring — connected by spokes. Every node is a battlefield.

Form a Rail™

Align three of your pieces in a row along any ring edge or spoke to form a Rail™. When you do, you earn the right to remove one of your opponent's pieces.

Two Phases of Play

The game has two phases: a Placement Phase, where you place your pieces, and a Movement Phase, where you slide them into position.

The Flying Rule

Down to your last 3 pieces, you can move to any empty node on the board instead of just an adjacent one — a last chance to turn the game around.

Victory Condition

Reduce your opponent below three pieces, or leave them with no legal moves, and you win.

Play vs AI or a Friend

Play against the bot, or pass and play with a friend on the same device. Try the Ninestone II variant for diagonal connections and extra Rail™ paths.

Get Started

How to Play in 60 Seconds

1
Place Your Pieces

Players take turns placing one piece on any empty junction. Each player places all 9 stones before movement begins.

2
Form a Rail™

Any time you complete three pieces in a straight line — along a ring edge or a spoke — you've formed a Rail™ and must remove one enemy piece.

3
Slide & Strike

Once all pieces are placed, slide your stones one space along any connected line each turn. Keep reforming Rails™ to eliminate pieces.

Win!

Reduce your opponent to fewer than 3 pieces, or trap them with no legal move, and the game is yours.

Start Playing Now    Full Rules

Strategy & Guides

Level Up Your Game

Guides covering everything from your first placement to advanced Rail™ tactics.

01
Beginner Strategy Guide: Your First 10 Games
Master the fundamentals of Ninestone — where to place your first stone, how to spot a Rail™ forming, and the three positions every new player should know.
02
Advanced Rail™ Tactics: The Double Threat
Learn how to set up two simultaneous Rail™ threats — forcing your opponent into an impossible choice. Includes diagrams and example sequences.
03
7 Common Mistakes New Players Make
Overextending your pieces? Ignoring the spokes? Here are the most common blunders, and how to fix them.
04
Ninestone vs Nine Men's Morris: What's Different?
If you've played Nine Men's Morris, you're already halfway there. Here's a side-by-side comparison of both games — rules, strategy, and feel.
05
How to Win More Games: Endgame Mastery
The endgame in Ninestone is where matches are truly won or lost. Learn Flying Phase tactics, piece coordination, and how to close out a lead.