Simple Hex is an engaging two-player connection game that's easy to pick up yet challenging to master. In this game, players select either red or blue and take turns filling in a single empty cell on the playing board. The objective is to create a connected path of your colored cells from one side of the board to the opposite side designated by your color. The first player to successfully forge this connection wins the game.

Simple Hex comes with versatile play modes to suit various preferences: "Play with AI," "Play with Friends," and "Pass & Play." In the AI mode, you can choose from three difficulty levels—easy, medium, or hard—and decide whether the AI plays as the first or second player. For those looking to play with others, the "Play with Friends" option allows for gameplay across different devices, while "Pass & Play" facilitates local multiplayer fun.

If you're not satisfied with your last move, you can use the undo button to correct it, though this feature is not available in the AI version. To balance the game, we've introduced a "Steal Move" option for the second player, which allows them to switch positions with the first player after the first move, compelling the initial player to make a strategic opening move. This feature, however, is also not available in the AI version.

To cater to players of varying skill levels, Simple Hex offers three board sizes: 7x7, 9x9, and 11x11. These sizes allow players to gradually increase the challenge as they become more adept at the game. The AI in the current version employs a technique known as 'stable' unbounded best-first minimax, which enhances the gameplay experience.

For those interested in learning more about the game of Hex, you can visit Wikipedia's page on Hex. We extend our gratitude to interns Saatvik Inampudi and Shoheb Shaik for their contributions to the performance improvements of the AI algorithm in the first version.

If you want to delve deeper into the AI techniques used in Simple Hex, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

What's New in the Latest Version 0.45

Last updated on December 18, 2024, the latest version of Simple Hex includes adjustments to make the easy level truly easy and the medium level slightly less challenging than before.