alt.hn

5/30/2026 at 9:43:00 PM

Show HN: Phive, a Gomoku-like game to play with friends or solo

by 0xCA1EB

6/3/2026 at 9:11:40 AM

Nice work, this is fun! I've only played against the AI so far, managed to win on Beginner.

I think it would benefit from some little animations so it's clearer what's going on. But making that work nicely across both desktop and mobile could be a real pain, so I wouldn't blame you for punting it until later. :)

A smaller suggestion: maybe draw all the spare pieces on screen, rather than just displaying e.g. "15 pcs" as text. That way you can see at a glance when your stock is dwindling. Experts won't need that but it could be useful for beginners.

by iainmerrick

6/3/2026 at 9:53:52 AM

Okay so I happened to catch this comment fresh-out-of-the-oven and spent the last 30 minutes working on this: https://cdn.zappy.app/475bb0a1f788709fee92401ee6860bb3.png

I'm happy with that change! I'll get it pushed live.

As for animations ... :grimacing: I'm afraid that's beyond my current skill level lol.

by 0xCA1EB

6/3/2026 at 1:23:07 PM

Here are my thoughts this is an amazing idea and I can see incredible potential because of its simplicity, I won on beginner one so far please play OPus Magnum by Zactronics for some inspiration this could be more developed. I can see myself playing this with piano music in the background and a story line. Additionally, when it start it does not have to start from zero you can add puzzles where a play was already happening and you are trying to win to make it more challenging. PLease talk to people with Game design experience and puzzle solvers. Awesome job

by mainecoder

5/31/2026 at 10:55:15 PM

I played against the AI.

The red "new game" button is too visible. I pressed it twice in the first times, and then I learned to not press it. Perhaps it would be nice to hide it a little.

When the AI has an obvious move like in the case "Ai Hu Hu Hu Hu " , then the AI plays too fast. We made some games a long time ago and we added a minimal delay (like .2 seconds?) so it's easier to understand that you play and later the AI plays. (Also, to make the computer seem smarted, because it has to think a lot :) .)

by gus_massa

6/1/2026 at 1:27:11 AM

I genuinely appreciate that feedback! I'll get a minimal delay patched in tomorrow (plus a new approach to the New Game button).

by 0xCA1EB

6/1/2026 at 6:29:24 PM

I like the new version.

Is it posible to make a bot that is not so good playing the game?

by gus_massa

6/1/2026 at 8:29:00 PM

I took a stab at it - there's a new Beginner / Intermediate / Expert page when starting a solo game. :D

It's tough striking a balance between too easy / too tough. Let me know what you think if you give it a try!

I also added a Share button:

- Beginner: https://phive.app/replay/9ZM3MH455K

- Advanced: https://phive.app/replay/M36SWRHR37

by 0xCA1EB

6/1/2026 at 10:07:39 PM

I finaly won a game! Agaist the easy bot :)

by gus_massa