Play Battleship with Friends — 2–8 Players
Choose Create Private Lobby above and send your friends the invite link or lobby code. Split into two teams of up to four players, place your assigned ships, and ready up. Teams take turns searching the opponent's board, with shooting turns rotating between teammates. You can also play a 1v1 match with one player commanding each fleet.
This Battleship browser game runs on separate phones, tablets, or computers. Everyone needs an internet connection, but no one needs to install an app or create an account.
Battleship Multiplayer: Teams and Public Lobbies
Bring a larger group for a team battle with 2–8 players and up to four captains per team. Teammates share one board and five ships. Each player places their assigned ships, then shooting turns rotate through the team. You stay in the match even if your ships are sunk.
Use private team chat and colored hover markers to plan attacks together. Global chat is visible to both teams and spectators, so keep your fleet positions in team chat. To play against other people, choose Browse Lobbies and join an available public room, or create a public lobby and wait for opponents.
Battleship Rules and Strategy
- Each team has five ships, covering 5, 4, 3, 3, and 2 squares. Place them horizontally or vertically; ships may touch, but cannot overlap or extend beyond the board.
- The host chooses an 8×8, 10×10, or 12×12 board and the time allowed for each shot.
- Teams alternate one shot at a time. A hit does not give an extra turn. Sink the entire enemy fleet to win.
- After a hit, try neighboring squares to work out the ship's direction. Use your previous misses to rule out positions instead of scattering every shot at random.
- In team matches, watch your teammates' target markers and agree on where to search next. Only the current captain can fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Battleship free to play?
Yes. You can create or join a match and play the full game in your browser for free, without downloading anything or signing up.
How do I play Battleship online with friends?
Create a private lobby and share its invite link or code. Your friends join on their own devices. For a 2 player game, put one person on each team; larger groups can split into two teams of up to four.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. Tap to place ships, use the Rotate button to change their direction, and double-tap a target to shoot on your turn. Switch between Your fleet and Enemy waters to inspect each board, or use Enlarge grid for a closer view.
Can I play alone against a computer?
Battleship currently needs at least two real players. Invite a friend or browse public lobbies to find an opponent. For solo games, try the daily challenges.
More games with friends: try Guess Who for a deduction duel or Knockout for an arena battle.