Prime

Prime is an abstract strategy board game for two players. You move numbered pieces across a chess-like board and capture your opponent’s pieces, with each piece’s number determining how it moves, how far it travels and how it captures. There is no luck or hidden information: every piece is visible, and every move follows fixed rules.

Numbered pieces

Pawns move one square forward. Even-numbered pieces move forward and sideways, while odd-numbered pieces move forward and diagonally. Prime-numbered pieces from 5 upward can move in any direction like a chess queen, provided the path is clear. When you capture a piece, you add its number to the capturing piece’s number, changing the material balance.

Promotion and victory

When a piece reaches the far side of the board, its value increases and its direction of movement reverses. Pawns and even-numbered pieces gain 1 in value; odd-numbered pieces gain 2.

You win by capturing all of your opponent’s pieces, or by ending the game with more Prime pieces if only Prime pieces remain. The game is fully deterministic, with no dice, cards or hidden information.

Head-to-head play

Prime is played one-on-one. Its rules are quick to learn, while planning ahead gives you room to keep improving. An online leaderboard tracks the world’s top 10 scores.