Territory is modelled on the territory-capture genre popularised by Xonix, a 1984 PC game, which was itself inspired by Qix — an innovative 1981 arcade game developed by Taito. In Qix, players drew lines to partition the play field while avoiding a sparkling energy field (the Qix) and electrified sparks (Fuses) that chased along the player's incomplete lines. The mechanic of "claiming" sections of a play field by completing closed shapes is deceptively simple but generates enormous strategic depth. Xonix democratised this concept for home computers with a clean implementation that became widely shared as shareware across BBS networks in the 1980s and 1990s. Classic Arcade's Territory preserves the core challenge — capture 75% of the play field without being intercepted — and adds a neon visual style with multiple ball types, each with different speeds and movement patterns to vary the challenge between levels.
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Arrow Keys | Move your cursor to draw territory borders |
| P | Pause / resume |
| Swipe in any direction | Move (mobile) |
Points are awarded based on the percentage of territory you capture in each completed border draw. Capturing a larger area in a single uninterrupted line segment awards a percentage bonus multiplier. If you trap one or more balls entirely within a captured region, you earn a significant bonus for each ball enclosed. You reach the next level once 75% or more of the play field has been captured. Extra lives are awarded at score milestones. Losing a life occurs when an enemy ball intercepts your path while you are actively drawing a border line.
Make small, fast captures near the edges to build up territory safely, then attempt one large central capture when the balls are clustered at the opposite side of the field. Never draw a long line with a fast ball moving toward you.
Q: What percentage of the field do I need to capture?
You must capture at least 75% of the available play area to advance to the next level. The percentage indicator is displayed at the top of the screen and updates in real time as you complete each enclosed section.
Q: What is the difference between fast and slow balls?
Slow balls (also called border balls) travel along the walls and the edges of your captured territory. Fast balls move freely across the full play field. Both types can intercept your active drawing line and cost you a life — you must keep both types in mind simultaneously.
Q: Can I trap balls inside captured territory?
Yes — if you complete a border that encloses one or more enemy balls within a newly captured region, those balls are eliminated for the rest of the level and you earn a bonus. This is the highest-value strategy in Territory.
Fan-made tribute · Not affiliated with or endorsed by any original game publisher