← Back to blog

Can you play Tideways solo or with friends? Game modes explained

 ·  Tideways Game modes

Tideways reef fish swimming through a bright coral garden

Quick answer: You can play Tideways solo against an AI opponent or play locally with two to four seats on one device. Tideways also lets you mix people and computer opponents in the same match. It does not currently offer live online multiplayer.

Play solo against a computer opponent

Open the browser game and scroll down to New Match. Choose two players to start a solo game; Player 2 begins as Easy AI. You can select Easy, Normal, or Hard opponents when setting up a match.

Solo play uses the same Coast, Reef, and Open Ocean choices as a shared-table game. You build an ecosystem across Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter while the computer takes its own turns. Classic mode gives each player 20 turns total; Quick mode is a shorter 12-turn match.

Pass the device for local multiplayer

For a shared game, choose two, three, or four seats. Tideways supports local pass-and-play on a single device, so players take turns using the same screen. You can also mix human and AI seats if your group wants computer opponents at the table.

Before starting, agree on the match length and who will take each seat. After each turn, pass the device to the next player. Use the remaining-turn counter and the current season goal to keep the table moving.

Is Tideways online multiplayer?

Tideways does not currently support live online matches. The available multiplayer is local: people share one device and play in the same room. Solo matches are against local computer opponents. Features described as online multiplayer, matchmaking, or remote play between separate devices are not part of the current browser game.

Will Tideways save your match?

The browser game saves an in-progress match in the browser on the device you are using. You can return to it on that same device and browser. Clearing site data, changing browsers, or using private browsing may remove the saved match; it is not a cloud save that automatically follows you to another device.

Which way should you play?

  • Choose solo vs AI when you want to learn the habitats and fish powers at your own pace.
  • Choose pass-and-play for a shared-table strategy game with friends or family on one device.
  • Mix in AI seats when you want computer players alongside the people at your table.

For rules and turn-by-turn basics, read the Tideways beginner guide. For ways to plan your board and score more efficiently, see our strategy tips.