You can call it Dots and Boxes, the Dot Game, Pigs in a Pen, or Paddocks. Whatever name your family has for this simple pen and paper game, it new ceases to be fun. The Dot Game was created in 1889 by French mathematician Édouard Lucas. Since then, this delightful diversion has ventured out from the City of Love, and today has become a de facto time filler for restaurant waits, road trips, and plane flights.
But drawing all those dots can be tedious. Fortunately, a remedy has been found combating this pressing issue, and it has taken the shape of a printable dots and boxes game board. Just print and play. It’s that easy. You’ll never have to draw dots again, which I’m sure is a great weight off your mind.
Dots and Boxes Game Boards
Dots and Boxes Game Rules
Don’t know how to play the Dot Game? No worries, here are the rules:
Number of players: 2+
Start with an empty dot grid. Have each player take a turn adding a single horizontal or vertical line between two unjoined adjacent dots. When a player closes the fourth side of a 1×1 box, they write their initials in the box, signifying they won that box, and it belongs to them. That player then takes another turn. The game is over when no more lines can be drawn. The winner is the player with the most closed boxes.