Play Battleship Online Free: Solo vs Smart AI or 1v1 with Friends
Classic 10x10 Battleship that starts the moment the page loads. Hide five ships, trade shots, and sink the whole enemy fleet first. No download, no sign-up. Play a quick solo game against a probability-heat-map AI, take the daily challenge, or send a link to a friend for a private 1v1 duel.
Official Rules & Scoring
The goal
Each player secretly places a fleet of five ships on a 10x10 grid, then the two sides take turns firing at one cell of the opponent's waters. The first admiral to sink all five enemy ships wins.
Fleet
| Ship | Length |
|---|---|
| Carrier | 5 |
| Battleship | 4 |
| Cruiser | 3 |
| Submarine | 3 |
| Destroyer | 2 |
The fleet covers 17 cells in total. Ships may be placed horizontally or vertically, may not overlap and may not leave the grid, but they may touch.
Taking a turn
- Pick one cell of the enemy grid and fire. You are told only hit or miss.
- A hit lets you fire again; a miss passes the turn to your opponent.
- When every cell of a ship has been hit it is sunk, and its outline is revealed on your radar.
Playing here
A random fleet is already deployed when the game opens, so you can fire right away. Before your first shot you can press Re-deploy to arrange the ships yourself. The Daily Challenge gives every player the same enemy fleet for the day and records your best shot count. Choose Play with Friends in the top bar to get a room link; your friend can watch your solo game live and, once they tap Ready, you can switch into a 1v1 match.
Strategy & Tips
Placing your fleet
- Avoid obvious patterns such as ships hugging the edge or lined up in a row; experienced opponents search those first.
- Mix orientations and leave small gaps so one lucky hit does not reveal a neighbouring ship.
- Do not always start in the same layout. The Re-deploy button gives you a fresh random fleet in one tap.
Hunting
- The smallest ship is two cells long, so firing on a checkerboard pattern still finds every ship while skipping half of the grid.
- Fire into open areas where the most remaining ship shapes could still fit, not into corners.
Finishing a target
- After a hit, test the four neighbouring cells. Two hits in a row give you the ship's direction, so follow that line to both ends.
- Once a ship sinks, mark its surroundings as clear and go back to hunting with the remaining ships in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Battleship free to play?
Yes. The game is free, needs no account and has no ads or in-app purchases. Open the page and play.
Can I play Battleship with a friend?
Yes. Choose Play with Friends in the top bar, copy the room link and send it. Your friend can watch your solo game, tap Ready, and you can switch into a private 1v1 match at any time. There is no stranger matchmaking.
Does my solo game survive a page refresh?
Yes. The game saves after every shot in your browser, so refreshing or closing the tab and coming back restores the exact position.
How does the AI opponent play?
It uses a probability heat map: it searches on a checkerboard pattern, weights cells by how many remaining ship placements cover them, and chases hits along a line until the ship sinks.
Does the person watching my game see where the enemy ships are?
No. A friend watching your room only sees your own fleet and the shots that have been fired and their results, exactly what you see. The AI's fleet stays hidden.
What is the Daily Challenge?
Every player gets the same enemy fleet for the day. Win using as few shots as possible; your best count for the day is saved on your device.