Reversi

Reversi is a turn-based board game for Android where one careless move can hand your opponent the entire match. You place black and white discs on an 8x8 grid, capturing pieces by sandwiching them between two of your own. The rules take a minute to learn, but true mastery takes far longer. This version is free with ads.

Setup, First Moves, and Why Charging Early Is a Trap

Every round starts with four discs placed diagonally in the center — two black, two white. Black moves first. On each turn, you place one disc on any empty square that traps at least one opponent piece along a line; that piece flips to your color. If you have no legal move, you pass and your opponent plays again.

My early games went badly because I grabbed quick flips without noticing how much board space I was gifting the computer. The more discs you capture early, the more squares your opponent has to work with. Conservative play near the center, even when it feels counterintuitive, gives you the most attack lines later.

Corners, Edges, and Reversi Game Strategy

Once a corner disc is placed, it stays that color for the rest of the game. That single fact changes how every experienced Reversi player approaches the board. Avoid dropping discs in the three squares directly around an open corner, because that invites your opponent to step in and own the entire row. Force the other side to make that sacrifice instead.

Edge control works similarly. If you string several discs along a side, an opponent who flanks both ends will convert your whole wall into their color. Center pieces look helpless in the middle, but they allow multi-directional captures when the board opens up. Giving up one corner to claim a different one elsewhere is a trade worth learning.

Difficulty Levels, Local Mode, and the Hint Button

There are ten difficulty levels in this version. Level 3 already punished my careless openings. The sharp jump happens around level 7, where the AI starts setting up flanks that only become visible two turns before they trigger. Hot-seat mode puts two players on the same device, no network setup needed. The hint button suggests a safe move, not always the strongest one — relying on it too often turns it into a crutch.

Ads, Permissions, and Honest Limitations

Third-party ads appear between rounds, and they require an internet connection. Poor signal means ad loading will slow down or fail, even though matches themselves run fine. The app asks for access to photos, media, and files — likely to store game data externally and cache ad content. I understand the reasoning, but granting storage permissions to a board game still feels heavy. Visual options are also narrower than expected: four disc and board sets total, with the default wooden theme being the most polished.

Who Should Download Reversi

Reversi fits short sessions perfectly — between classes, on a commute, or while waiting for food. If you expect online multiplayer, flashy animations, or rich audio, this isn't that game. Children may find it quiet and unassuming. Adults who enjoy Othello, chess, or logical domination games will get the most value. I've kept this app on my phone for years, and the simple formula still pulls me back.