Free to Play Online

The Game
of Rails™
& Strategy

Ninestone is a modern abstract strategy game for two players. Align three pieces, form a Rail™, and capture your opponent's stones — until they fall below three and you claim victory.

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

The Game

What Is Ninestone?

A modern abstract strategy game built on a classic formula — refined for quick, tense, deeply satisfying play.

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 unfolds in two distinct phases: a strategic Placement Phase where pieces are placed, followed by an intense Movement Phase where pieces slide into position.

The Flying Rule

When you're cornered with only 3 pieces left, despair becomes speed — you may move to any empty node on the board. Fight back from the brink.

Victory Condition

Reduce your opponent below three pieces — or leave them with no legal moves — and the game is yours. Every capture counts.

Play vs AI or a Friend

Challenge the computer bot or pass and play with a friend on the same device. Ninestone II variant adds diagonal connections for even deeper strategy.

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 so they have no legal move. The board belongs to you.

Start Playing Now    Full Rules

Strategy & Guides

Level Up Your Game

From your first placement to mastering the Rail™ trap — our guides take you deeper.

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
Are you over-extending your pieces? Ignoring the spokes? Here are the most frequent blunders — and exactly 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.