History of Ataxx
A simple game that has lasted decades, from arcade halls to web browsers.
Origins
Ataxx belongs to a family of grid conquest games in which pieces multiply and convert their neighbours. Games of this kind have existed since the first personal computers, and the idea of cloning or jumping was refined over time.
The arcade
The name Ataxx is tied to the arcade version released in 1990, which brought the concept to a wide audience with a 7x7 board, fast games and bright colours. Console and home computer versions followed.
From computers to engines
Short rules and a small number of moves made Ataxx a popular playground for programming artificial intelligence. Specialised engines and their own communication protocols exist today, and the game is a classic exercise for search algorithms.
Today
Ataxx Online aims to bring the game back for those who knew it and introduce it to those who never played, in a fast, free format with nothing to install.