The Setup
Toss the X and O pieces into the pool and place the game board at the pool’s edge. Once the pieces sink to the bottom, it’s game on.
Game On
On “go,” players race to grab one of their team’s pieces, surface, and place it on the board. Keep diving for more pieces and building your line. First team to get 3 in a row wins — across, up-and-down, or diagonal.
The Details
- One piece per dive
- Leave underwater pieces where they land
- Once placed on the board, pieces stay put
- Steal a space by stacking your piece on an opponent’s
- Hit the top of the board? Once 5 high, each stack is full.
- Two players per team is the sweet spot: all players can dive, retrieve pieces, and race to the board at the same time. If your group is larger, check out the Relay Style option below.
The OG House Rules
There are plenty of ways to play Splash Tac Toe – and some of the best are the ones you make up yourself. Start with our basic rules above, then get creative and share your best twists so everyone can join the fun.
Relay Style
Got a crowd? Keep the chaos under control with a relay-style twist. Have one player from each team dive at a time, then send the next player as soon as their piece hits the board. It works with teams of almost any size so everyone can get in on the action.
Reverse It
Slow it down and take it underwater. Place the game board on the bottom of the pool and stack the pieces along the edge. Take turns grabbing a piece and swimming it down to the board. Take as much time between turns as you need to catch your breath and plan your next move.
Landshark Mode
Tadpole Time
Simplify things by scattering the Xs and Os around the pool and let little swimmers collect them at their own pace. Keep going until every piece has been found—no winners, no losers, just underwater treasure hunting.
