Play Taikyoku Renju (Japan) (En,Ja) Online

Taikyoku Renju is a 1991 Game Boy release from Ponos, a straightforward adaptation of the classic board game Gomoku, also known as Five in a Row. It arrived during the handheld's early years, a time when simple, focused games were common, offering a portable version of a familiar strategic challenge without much fanfare.

You take turns with an opponent, either the computer or a friend via link cable, placing black and white stones on a grid. The main objective is to be the first to form an unbroken row of five of your stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The game's signature mechanics involve anticipating your opponent's moves, blocking their developing lines while secretly building your own. The pacing is deliberate, and the difficulty ramps up considerably as the AI begins to predict and counter your strategies several steps in advance. It feels like a quiet battle of wits, where every move matters and a single mistake can cost you the entire game.