Reversi is an abstract strategy game, which means the game involves no chance, only logic. The rules of the game are simple, however game play can be quite involved.

Main menu

The main menu allows you to choose one or two player mode as well go to the settings, go to the board theme selection and to view some brief instructions.

In one player mode, you compete against a computer opponent. Options are displayed on the main menu to allow you to select your color, the level of the computer opponent and to view the scoreboard, which keeps an overall record of your wins, draws and losses against the computer opponent at each level.

The one-player options cannot be changed whilst a game is in progress and are disabled until the game is over, or the game is ended with the end game button on the main menu screen.

The computer levels are beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert, master and guru; each with its own style of play. If you're new to the game it is advisable to play beginner level until you can regularly beat the computer opponent, before progressing to higher levels. Also be sure to read the tips for beginners. Higher levels are challenging for even very good Reversi players.

In two player mode, you compete against another player on the device.

Game play

The game makes full use of the large iPhone™ and iPod® Touch display, with large animated graphics and single-tap moves. The volume of the in-game sounds are the same as the master volume on your device, or may be completely disabled on the preferences screen, or by muting your device with the hardware switch on the side.

When it's your turn to play, if the option to show valid moves is enabled, squares that represent valid moves (as described in the rules) are shaded a different color to the other squares on the board. To make a move, simply tap the square. The last piece placed on the board is indicated with a blue marker if this option is enabled in the settings. In the status area below the board, a small yellow marker points to the color whose turn it is.

Hints are either provided automatically after four seconds to give you time to assess the board (if this option is selected on the settings screen), or a hint button (a small lightbulb) appears on the bottom left of the screen after 2 seconds. Pressing this button will reveal a hint. In both cases the hint is shown with a flashing translucent piece on the suggested square to play on the board. This works in one player and two player modes. All hints are provided to you by the computer opponent at master level.

If at a particular point during the game one of the players has no valid moves, the other player plays again. In one player mode, if it's you that has no moves, a message is displayed to you and once you tap the screen, the computer opponent plays again.

Any move played may be reverted by pressing the undo button (yellow arrow) and redone with the redo button (blue arrow). All the moves played for the entire game may be undone if so desired (note that the undo and redo buttons are disabled if there is nothing to undo or redo respectively). To return from the game to the preferences screen at any time, push the info button on the bottom right of the game screen. From here, if you wish you can prematurely end the game (either resign, which counts as a loss, or simply abandon the game). When a game ends, you are given the option to start another game, which takes you back to the preferences screen so you can change the number of players, or the level, or the colour before re-starting (with the start game button), or not, which returns you to the game to allow you to undo some of the moves you made to try achieve a different outcome.

The complete state of the game is automatically saved when you leave the game, so if you leave a game in progress to perform some other function on your device, the next time you launch it you are returned to your game as you left it.