Play Qix Online

Qix came out on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1981, developed by Taito. It was part of that early wave of NES games where the concepts were often simple and abstract, built around a single clever idea rather than a big story or complex world. You wouldn't find any princesses to rescue here, just a stark, empty screen and a clear, dangerous objective.

You control a small marker that moves along the edges of the playfield. Your goal is to claim territory by drawing lines from one edge to another, boxing off sections of the screen. The main threat is the Qix, a tangled, unpredictable energy core that floats in the unclaimed area; if it touches a line you are actively drawing, you lose a life. You can choose to draw lines slowly for a higher point multiplier, but this leaves you exposed and vulnerable for a much longer time. The pacing is a constant push and pull between cautious, safe maneuvers and daring, high risk grabs for more points. It feels like a tense, minimalist chess match played at high speed against a chaotic and utterly merciless opponent.