Reversi vs. Othello: Are They the Same Game?

If you've searched for one and found the other, you're not imagining things — here's the actual relationship between the two names.

Same core game, different name

Othello is a trademarked, standardized version of the older game Reversi, introduced in the 1970s with a fixed starting position and official rule set. "Reversi" is the older, more generic name for the underlying game.

Do the rules differ?

For practical purposes, no — the core rules (flanking discs to flip them, winning by controlling the most squares) are identical. Most online implementations, including GAMEAREA's, use the standard fixed starting position that Othello popularized.

Which name should you search for?

Either works — "Reversi" and "Othello" both point to the same 8×8 strategy game online, so use whichever term feels natural.

Play Reversi on GAMEAREA — free, instant, no download.