One side has a single fast hunter. The other has a whole flock and no way to attack. Fox and Geese unblocked brings this old European hunt game to your screen, where you can take either role against the computer or a friend.
Christopher Müller built it for his PaperGames collection. Uneven sides make it feel like two different games, and switching roles is half the fun.
How to play Fox and Geese
Play happens on 33 points arranged in a plus shape and linked by straight lines. The fox begins at the center, while the flock packs the lower arm plus one more row. Geese go first, and each turn a single piece moves one step to an open spot.
Along the lines, the fox may head any way it likes. Geese can only go forward or sideways, never back. To capture, the fox jumps a goose next to it and lands on the empty point behind it. It can chain more jumps, changing direction, or stop by tapping itself.
Geese win by leaving the fox with no move. The fox wins by thinning the flock down to two geese, too few to trap it, or if the geese get stuck.
Controls
| To… | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move a piece | Arrow keys and Enter to pick the piece, then the target point | Click your piece, then an empty neighboring point | Tap your piece, then an empty neighboring point |
| Jump again or stop (fox) | — | Click the next landing point to keep jumping, or click the fox to stop | Tap the next landing point to keep jumping, or tap the fox to stop |
| Start a game against the computer | — | Click "vs Computer", choose geese or fox and a level, then click "New game" | Tap "vs Computer", choose geese or fox and a level, then tap "New game" |
| Take back a move | — | Click "Undo" | Tap "Undo" |
Tips
- As the geese, stay in a solid line. A goose with another goose behind it cannot be jumped, so advance as a wall with no gaps.
- Never leave a goose behind. Geese cannot step back, so a goose that gets past the hunter can no longer help.
- As the fox, aim for the gaps. Stay close to the front line and pounce the moment a goose steps forward without backup.
- Fox, avoid the corners of the arms. Points at the tips of the cross have few exits, which makes them perfect traps.
- Take it slow with the flock. There is no rush, so close in one careful step at a time.
Fox and Geese questions
Can I play as the fox?
Yes. When you set up a computer game, pick which side you want to control, then pick Easy, Medium or Hard.
Does the fox have to jump when it can?
No. Jumping is optional, and after a capture the fox may keep jumping or stop whenever it likes.
Is there a diagonal on this board?
No. This version uses the older layout with points linked only across and up and down, so every step and jump follows those lines.
