Tic-Tac-Toe XO-5, by Funyards Australia

Tic-tax-toe is probably the most popular abstract game ever invented. A paper-and-pencil game, transcending across cultures and nations, with each round literally taking just 5 seconds or less to complete. @funyardsaustralia recently sent over this “Tic-Tac-Toe XO-5”, an interesting variant of the classic noughts and crosses game, but with a unique sliding theme. I am truly excited to share about this beautiful game with you today!
Why I love ❤️ this game: (1) I am not a big fan of games without a theme, but I LOVE clever modifications and a competitive match with fun twist! This XO-5 game comes with 25 cubes that fit within a wooden base in a 5x5 grid. Each of the cube has 4 blank sides, one “X” and one “O”. The game begins with a board of 25 cubes with their “blank” sides facing upwards. Next, players take turn to rotate a selected cube from the edge to reveal either “X” or “O” (the player’s chosen symbol), remove it from the base, and slide the cube into a new location at the end of one row, pushing the other 4 cubes towards the empty space. The objective? Match 5 symbols in a row (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) to win the game. On each move, the outcome changes, and that, is where all the excitement and unpredictability happen!
(2) I love the strategy element and foresight planning incorporated within the new game rules! Unlike the usual Tic-Tac-Toe, this improved version requires players to think one step further tactically (but not overly complicated). My seven-year-old enjoys this game and demands for numerous rounds of re-match. We race against each other to control and own as many “strategic” blocks as possible, whilst doing our best to limit the opponent’s moves and mess up their plan.
(3) I love the wooden material - the cubes, the base, their nice craftsmanship and smooth finishes. I also like how light weight, sturdy, and compact the components are. All we need is a medium-sized resealable bag or a drawstring bag to keep the items neat and organised, and the game is ready to go! This is a portable and convenient game to accompany us on the road - anywhere and anytime!
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Recommended age: 7 year-old ++