Battleship
The classic naval guessing game for two: hide your fleet, then take turns firing at each other's grid. Hit, miss, “You sank my Cruiser!” First to sink all five ships wins.
2 players · free · no app to installHost a gameBattleship is the classic two-player guessing game of hidden ships and called shots. Each of you hides a fleet of five ships on a 10 × 10 grid, then you take turns firing at each other's waters until one fleet is gone.
On paper you need a screen between you and a lot of trust. On phones each player's fleet stays private on their own screen, hits and misses are tracked for you, and you'll still hear “You sank my Cruiser” when a ship goes down. Put the battle on a TV and the rest of the room can watch both sides at once.
It's strictly for two players, which makes it a good pick for siblings, a couple on the sofa, or a side game while the rest of the party plays something bigger. The host can play, or just set up a game between two guests.
How to play
- 1
Setting up
Battleship is for exactly two players. The host can play, or switch off I'm playing too and run a game between two guests. - 2
Your fleet
Each player gets a random fleet on a 10 × 10 grid: a Carrier (5 squares), a Battleship (4), a Cruiser (3), a Submarine (3) and a Destroyer (2). Shuffle it, or tap a ship to move or rotate it. Ships can touch but can't overlap. Tap Ready when you're happy. - 3
Placement timer
With the placement timer on, you have 90 seconds to arrange your ships, then fleets lock as they are. The host can also start the battle early, which locks both fleets as placed. - 4
Firing
Once both fleets are locked, a coin toss decides who fires first. On your turn, tap a cell on your opponent's grid. You'll see hit, miss or which ship you sank. Your opponent never sees where your ships are, only their own hits and misses. - 5
Hit = shoot again
With this house rule on, a hit earns you another shot. Without it, it's one shot per turn. - 6
Winning
The first player to sink the whole enemy fleet wins, and both fleets are revealed at the end. - 7
Timers and leaving
With a turn timer (15, 30 or 60 seconds), a shot is fired at a random cell when time runs out. After 3 missed turns in a row, the other player can claim the win. You can surrender from the menu, and if you leave, your opponent wins.
Host options
- I'm playing too
- Off: you run a game between two guests.
- Placement timer
- 90 seconds to place ships, then fleets lock as they are.
- Hit = shoot again
- A hit earns another shot.
- Turn timer
- Off, 15, 30 or 60 seconds. When time runs out, a shot is fired at a random cell.
Hosting tips
- Sit the two players apart so nobody can glance at the other's screen.
- Put the TV view up for the audience: it's surprisingly gripping to watch.
- Hit = shoot again makes games faster and swingier. Leave it off for the classic, more tactical game.
- For a bigger group, run a knockout: start a fresh game for each pairing and let the winners play on.
Questions
Is Battleship online with friends free?
Yes. It's free, with no app to install.
Do we need an app?
No. Both players join from their phone's browser and sign in with Google.
How many can play?
Two players, each on their own phone. The host can play, or just run a game between two guests.
Can we play on a TV?
Yes. Open the TV link from the waiting room to show the battle on a big screen.
Can my opponent see my ships?
No. Only hits, misses and sunk ships are shown, and both fleets are revealed when the game ends.
Can ships touch each other?
Yes. Ships can sit side by side, but they can't overlap.
What if someone takes too long?
With the turn timer on, a shot is fired at a random cell when time runs out. After 3 missed turns in a row, the other player can claim the win.