Item: Kōnane
Rating: 83
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

83/100

Kōnane brings the ancient Hawaiian strategy game to the modern age with a very clean, respectful digital adaptation. Often compared to checkers, it is actually much deeper; the goal is to be the last player able to make a move. This inversion of the usual 'capture everything' goal makes for some very intense endgame scenarios where a single misplaced stone can cost you the match.

The app provides a great range of board sizes, which significantly changes the complexity of the game. Playing on a 6x6 board is a quick five-minute distraction, while the full 13x13 board requires serious concentration and planning. The AI is surprisingly competent, but playing against another human in local multiplayer is where the cultural and strategic depth of the game really shines.

Reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

Dinsun Review

I appreciate the cultural preservation here, but as a game, it’s bare-bones. Kōnane is a deep, mathematical strategy game that King Kamehameha allegedly mastered, yet this app feels like a college project from 2012. The mechanics are sound—it's hard to mess up a board game that's been around for centuries—but the execution is lazy. The UI is clunky, and the AI is either brain-dead or follows a rigid pattern that’s easy to exploit once you see the 'seams' in its logic.

It’s a 1v1 experience that really needs a vibrant online community to thrive, but here you're mostly stuck playing against a computer or a friend on the same screen. The 'lava rock' visuals are okay, but there's no soul to it. If you're a board game purist, you'll play it for the strategy, but you'll be constantly annoyed by the lack of modern features like undo buttons or better board size options. It’s an 'okay' way to kill ten minutes, but don't expect a masterpiece.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Faithful representation of Hawaiian rules
Clean, themed aesthetic
Includes cultural glossary

Very basic AI
No online matchmaking
Menu navigation feels stiff

Technical Report

Performance: Stable but lacks optimization for modern high-refresh-rate displays.

Accessibility:

Tutorial
Hint system

Audience Fit

Buy if: You enjoy abstract strategy games like Go or Checkers and want something unique.

Skip if: You expect high production values or a competitive online scene.

Similar Games:

Checkers
Go
Othello

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun
Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro
Playtime: 3 hours
Status: Defeated Hard AI

The Game

Available on: Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, iPod

464584047

$1.99 4+★4.5 15 reviews

Author : Instant Interactive

Pubish Date : Fri Jan 06 2012

Last Update Date : Mon Apr 02 2018

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 2.0.2Mon Apr 02 2018

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.
Game Center achievements and leaderboards now work correctly on all devices.
Welcome to kōnane, a game played by the ancient people of Hawaii! Legend has is that King Kamehameha could not be defeated. Can you become a master of kōnane as well?
--- FEATURES ---
- Learn to play by viewing the tutorial. Gameplay is similar to checkers.
- Play games on an 8 by 8 board.
- Play against the device or share and play with a friend.
- Earn your place on leaderboards and obtain achievements in Game Center.
- Various settings to control aspects such as difficulty and the inclusion of hints.
- Beautiful graphics to include coral and lava rock playing pieces.
- Hawaiian glossary with visual and audio pronunciations.
Requires iOS 9.3 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Welcome to kōnane, a game played by the ancient people of Hawaii! Legend has is that King Kamehameha could not be defeated. Can you become a master of kōnane as well?
--- FEATURES ---
- Learn to play by viewing the tutorial. Gameplay is similar to checkers.
- Play games on an 8 by 8 board.
- Play against the device or share and play with a friend.
- Earn your place on leaderboards and obtain achievements in Game Center.
- Various settings to control aspects such as difficulty and the inclusion of hints.
- Beautiful graphics to include coral and lava rock playing pieces.
- Hawaiian glossary with visual and audio pronunciations.

Ratings & Reviews

4.5 out of 5 with 15 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Kōnane is a two-player strategy game from Hawaii. It begins with a board full of black and white stones. Players take turns jumping over an opponent's piece to capture it. The game ends when a player is unable to make a jump; that player loses. The app offers various board sizes and AI difficulty levels for a customized experience.

Features

Multiple Board Sizes (6x6 to 13x13)

Challenging AI Opponents

Local 2-Player Mode

Clean, Minimalist Interface

Tips

The Opening Move

The game begins with two stones being removed from the center or corners. After that, you must always jump over an opponent's stone into an empty space. You can make multiple jumps in one turn if they are in a straight line.

Promotion Videos

KONANE - a step-by-step how-to - how to play Konane - YouTube

Gameplays

Endgame Strategy

Don't just jump blindly. The goal is to ensure you have moves left while your opponent has none. Try to keep your stones grouped in a way that allows for long-distance leaping potential.

Q&A

In Kōnane, you only win if you are the LAST person to make a move. If it's your turn and you can't move, you lose, regardless of how many pieces you have.