Play Othello (Australia) (Unl) Online

Othello for the NES was an unlicensed Australian cartridge, a version of the classic board game that found its way onto the console outside of official channels. It was a product of its time, one of many strategy titles that attempted to translate a physical game into a digital format for home play. Without a major known developer or publisher attached, it existed on the periphery of the NES library, a straightforward adaptation for a system known for action and adventure.

You control a cursor on the 8x8 grid, using the D-pad to select a square and place your black or white disc. The main objective is to end the game with more of your colored discs on the board than your opponent's, achieved by trapping your opponent's pieces between your new placement and an existing disc of your color, flipping all the captured pieces. The game hinges on planning several moves ahead to secure board control from the edges and corners, while the computer opponent provides a decent challenge with its own strategic placements. It feels methodical and thoughtful, a quiet battle of wits that makes you lean in close to the screen.