Free tic tac toe games on Google Play come in two kinds: two-player apps you share on one phone, and games against a computer opponent with difficulty levels. Most here show ads, a few show no labels at all, and many say they play offline. For a twist, a solo logic puzzle uses the same X and O grid.
Noughts and crosses is probably the first strategy game most of us ever played, scribbled on the back of a school book or drawn in steam on a car window. It's also one of the easiest games to put on a phone, which is why Google Play has so many versions.
I read the Google Play listings for ten of them and noted the developer, installs, the Contains ads and in-app purchases labels and any wording about offline play. All ten are rated Everyone. They're listed in no particular order.
Because the rules never change, what really separates these apps is the extras: how clever the computer opponent is, whether two people can share one screen and how many adverts you'll sit through between rounds.
Noughts and crosses apps compared
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tic Tac Toe 2 Player: XO Game | Onetap Global | 100M+ | Contains ads, no in-app purchases | 'anyone can play online or offline' |
| Tic Tac Toe - 2 Player XO | CDT Puzzle Studio | 100M+ | Contains ads, no in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Tic Tac Toe 2 Player: XOXO | HDuo Fun Games | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Online & offline 2 player games for anytime fun' |
| OX Game - Tic Tac Toe Games | ZeroMaze | 5M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'stay ready with or without a connection' |
| Tic Tac Toe Game | Adam Duda | 100K+ | No ads label, no in-app purchases | 'You can enjoy all of this for free, offline.' |
| Tic Tac Toe 2 Player XO Games | Onegame Global Limited | 100K+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Our smart offline AI features multiple difficulty levels' |
| Tic Tac Toe The Classic | Ascendtis | 100K+ | Contains ads, no in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Tic-Tac-Logic: X or O? | Conceptis Ltd. | 100K+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Tic Tac Toe - XOXO 2 Player | Sb Dev | 100K+ | No ads label, no in-app purchases | 'Play Offline: All games are available without an internet connection.' |
| 2 Player Games: Tic Tac Toe | BiBoGames | 100K+ | Contains ads, no in-app purchases | 'Anyone can play online or offline.' |
Ten ways to play X and O
Tic Tac Toe 2 Player: XO Game
Onetap Global's version has more than 100M installs. Its listing calls the game XO or Noughts and Crosses and talks about bringing back old memories for adults. It shows ads but no in-app purchases label.
Tic Tac Toe - 2 Player XO
Also past 100M installs, this one from CDT Puzzle Studio leans on a smart computer opponent and a 2 player mode, with glow effects and animations. It has a Contains ads label and no in-app purchases label.
Tic Tac Toe 2 Player: XOXO
HDuo Fun Games describes simple, relaxing noughts and crosses for quick games with friends. It shows both ads and in-app purchases, and its listing says you can play online or offline.
OX Game - Tic Tac Toe Games
ZeroMaze dresses the classic in a bright neon setting. The listing calls it a paper-and-pencil pastime brought to your phone and says it works with or without a connection. Ads and in-app purchases are both listed.
Tic Tac Toe Game
A small app from Adam Duda that shows neither an ads label nor an in-app purchases label. Its listing mentions tournaments on a single device and a review of your game after it ends, which is handy for learning from a loss.
Tic Tac Toe 2 Player XO Games
Another neon take, from Onegame Global Limited. You can challenge a friend on the same screen or face a computer opponent with several difficulty levels, and the listing says that opponent works offline.
Tic Tac Toe The Classic
Ascendtis keeps things traditional, with solo play, games against friends and a multiplayer option. It shows a Contains ads label but no in-app purchases label.
Tic-Tac-Logic: X or O?
Not a two-player game at all. Tic-Tac-Logic from Conceptis Ltd. is a solo logic puzzle where you fill a grid so there are never more than two X's or O's in a row. No ads label, but it has in-app purchases.
Tic Tac Toe - XOXO 2 Player
Sb Dev bundles four classic casual games in one download, with noughts and crosses among them. It shows no ads label and no in-app purchases label, and the listing says every game in it plays offline.
2 Player Games: Tic Tac Toe
BiBoGames' listing reads almost word for word like the Onetap one, so expect a similar neon look. It shows ads and no in-app purchases label.
Why a game with a known outcome stays fun
Here's the odd thing about tic tac toe. If both players make no mistakes, every game ends in a draw. Grown-ups usually work that out quickly, which is why the game lives on mostly as a first taste of strategy for children and as a quick time-filler for everyone else.
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The apps keep it interesting in two ways. Some add a computer opponent that makes deliberate slips on easy mode, so a child can win and learn. Others add bigger grids or puzzle variations, like Tic-Tac-Logic, where the challenge isn't beating someone but filling the board correctly.
Simple tactics against the computer
- Take the centre square if it's free. It sits on more winning lines than any other.
- If the centre's gone, take a corner rather than an edge.
- Always check whether your opponent has two in a row before you place your mark.
- Look for a move that sets up two winning threats at once. They can only block one.
- On easy mode, try to win. On the hardest mode, aim for a draw and count it as a good result.
Sharing one phone between two players
Pass-and-play is the real strength of these apps. Most of the listings here mention a 2 player mode on the same device, so you can hand the phone back and forth across a café table or in the back of the car. No accounts, no waiting for someone online.
If you've got a child who loses badly, the computer mode can be kinder than a sibling. Start them on the easiest level and let them feel what a win looks like before you step it up.
The ads question
Seven of the ten apps on this page show a Contains ads label. For a game that lasts seconds, that can mean an advert after almost every round. If that bothers you, the Adam Duda app and the Sb Dev collection show no ads label and no in-app purchases label on their listings.
Beyond the three-by-three grid
If noughts and crosses has become too easy, the next step is a classic with a bit more depth. My guide to timeless classic board games for every age is a good place to find one.
Plenty of those classics have official phone versions too, and I've rounded up the best of board games on your phone, including pass-and-play options.
And when a third or fourth person joins the table, you'll want something built for a group, so here are board games for two to four players that work well in small numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Are there free tic tac toe games for Android?
Yes. Every app on this page is free to install from Google Play.
Can I play tic tac toe offline?
Many listings here say you can, including the Sb Dev collection, the Adam Duda app and the Onetap Global version. Check the offline column in the table above.
Which tic tac toe app has no ads?
The Adam Duda app, the Sb Dev collection and Tic-Tac-Logic show no Contains ads label on Google Play.
Can two people play on one phone?
Yes, most of these apps include a 2 player mode on the same device.
Is it possible to always win at tic tac toe?
No. If both players make no mistakes, the game ends in a draw. Against a weaker opponent, the centre and corners give you the best chances.
Is tic tac toe the same as noughts and crosses?
Yes. It's the same game, and several listings here use both names, along with XO.
