Hex Tide

Claim hex cells to forge an unbroken chain between your two sides — but the tide keeps flooding the board, so connect before the sea cuts you off.

How to play

Hex Tide is the classic connection game played on a rhombic grid of hexagons, with a twist: a rising tide. Two sides take turns claiming a single empty cell. You win by completing one continuous chain of your cells linking your two edges of the board. Every few moves the sea floods a cell — telegraphed by a pulse — turning it into impassable water and shrinking the routes you can use.

• Red connects top to bottom; Blue connects left to right; cells link through their six neighbours.
• Take turns claiming one empty cell each; the first to bridge their two sides wins.
• The pulsing cell floods next, becoming impassable water — plan around it.
• If the tide walls out both sides before either connects, the game is a draw.

Game modes

• Vs CPU: play the computer on Easy, Medium, or Hard.
• 2-Player: hot-seat play on one device as Red and Blue.
• Online: create an invite, join with a code, or quick-match a remote opponent.

Controls

• Desktop: click an empty cell to claim it.
• Phone & tablet: tap an empty cell to claim it.

Tips & strategy

• Build flexible bridges — two cells with two ways to connect — so a single flood can't sever your chain.
• Track the next flood: route through cells the tide can't reach soon, and block your opponent's shortest line when you can.

About Hex Tide

Hex Tide is an original, free browser build that adds a flooding-tide mechanic to the classic two-sided connection game, with three CPU levels, local two-player, and online matches. No download or sign-up required.

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