How to play
Twist Five is a five-in-a-row game on a board that will not sit still. The 6 × 6 board is made of four 3 × 3 quarters, and each of them can be turned.
A turn has two parts.
- Place a marble on any empty square. Tap the square.
- Turn one of the four quarters by a quarter turn, clockwise or counterclockwise. A small panel shows the eight choices: tap the quarter and direction you want. Every marble on that quarter moves with it, including the one you just placed.
Winning. The first player to line up five of their marbles in a row, horizontally, vertically or diagonally, wins. The line is checked after the turn, so a twist can complete a line for either player. If a twist gives both players five in a row at once, or the board fills with no line, the game is a draw.
No twist needed. If placing your marble already makes five in a row, you win on the spot and do not turn a quarter.
Black moves first. At the top, choose your Opponent. Against the Computer you play Black and can pick Easy, Medium or Hard. Choose Friend to play two people on one device; the strip of the player to move lights up. Hint shows a good move, and Undo takes back one move against a friend, or your move together with the computer’s answer.
Strategy
- Think in quarters. A line that runs through two quarters can be broken by turning either of them. A line that lives inside one quarter is only disturbed by turning that quarter, and the centre square of a quarter never moves at all.
- Centres are gold. The four centre squares of the quarters stay put no matter how the board turns. Marbles there anchor your lines.
- Count the symmetric shapes. Some patterns look the same after a turn: a marble in every corner of a quarter, for instance. Building shapes that survive rotation makes your threats permanent.
- Use the twist to defend. When your opponent has four in a row, do not look only for a square to block. Turning the right quarter can scatter their line while it builds yours.
- Watch for double lines. A twist that completes five for both players is a draw. When you are ahead, avoid turns that might help your opponent as well.
The computer scores every possible move by the lines it creates and blocks after the twist, then searches a few moves ahead. In our tests the hard level beat the easy level in at least two of three games.
For five-in-a-row on a still board, play Five in a Row; for another square race, try Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe.
If you enjoy Twist Five, try Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe or Wall Race next.
