Skift 2025

Skift is an abstract strategy game for two players, ages 8 and up. Average playing time is 10 to 15 minutes.

Outmaneuver your opponent by shifting your pieces and the board itself. Your objective: eliminate all of your opponent’s kings or pawns.

Setup

The game board consists of 9 square tiles, with each tile divided into 4 quadrants. Game pieces include 2 kings and 6 pawns per player. Arrange the 9 tiles in a 3×3 grid to form the board, then place the pieces in a checkerboard pattern around the center.

Gameplay

Players choose colors and randomly determine who goes first. On your turn, perform one of three actions: a piece move, a tile move, or a tile rotation.

Piece Moves

Move one of your kings or pawns one quadrant in any direction (orthogonally or diagonally), pushing any pieces in its path. Pieces may move (and be pushed) within a tile or across tiles. Pieces pushed off the board are removed from the game.

Tile Control

The player with more kings on a tile controls it. If tied in kings, the player with more total pieces on the tile controls it. If still tied, neither player controls the tile.

Tile Moves

Move a tile that you control one space orthogonally (not diagonally), pushing any tiles in its path. Pieces on that tile move with it, retaining their positions as it is moved. Tiles can also be pushed off the board (see “Tile connectivity and Splintering” below).

Tile Rotations

Rotate a tile that you control 180 degrees. Pieces on that tile rotate with it, retaining their positions as it is rotated.

The No-Undo Rule

You may not undo your opponent’s last move. If they moved a piece, you may not return any piece to its previous position. If they moved a tile, you may not return any tile to its previous position.

The Landlocked Tile Rule

A tile is landlocked if it is surrounded on all four orthogonal sides. A landlocked tile may not be moved or rotated, even if you control it.

Tile Connectivity and Splintering

All tiles must remain connected, either orthogonally or diagonally. If a move causes the tiles to splinter into two or more disconnected groups, only the largest group remains; all other tiles and any pieces on them are removed from the game. If multiple groups are tied for largest, the player who caused the splinter chooses which group remains.

Suicide Moves

You may make a move that results in your own pieces or controlled tiles being removed from the board.

Winning the Game

You win the game if your opponent runs out of either kings or pawns. However, if the same move also causes you to run out of either kings or pawns, the player with more remaining pieces wins. If tied, the game ends in a draw.

Click here for official rules and diagrams: https://splinterboardgame.blogspot.com/2025/07/skift-game-of-strategic-shifts-and.html

—description from the designer