From Ancient Stones to Digital Screens
The origins of Tic-Tac-Toe date back to the Roman Empire around the 1st century BC. Known as Terni Lapilli, the game was played with pebbles on a grid carved into stone. Unlike modern Tic-Tac-Toe, players only had three pieces each, which they had to move around the board.
The game we play today became popular in the 19th century in Britain and the United States. In 1952, Tic-Tac-Toe became one of the first video games in history. Known as OXO, it was developed for the EDSAC computer, proving that machines could simulate human logic.