Reversi vs Othello: Understanding the Difference
If you’ve ever searched for information about Reversi, you’ve probably noticed that many people call it “Othello” — and vice versa. Are they the same game? Different games? The answer is nuanced, and understanding the relationship between Reversi and Othello requires a brief journey through gaming history. For the full timeline, see the history of Reversi.
The Short Answer
Reversi and Othello are essentially the same game in modern practice. Both are played on an 8×8 board with black and white discs, using the same bracketing-and-flipping mechanic. The differences are primarily historical, legal, and procedural rather than fundamental.
However, there are subtle distinctions worth knowing.
Historical Origins of Reversi
Reversi was invented in England in 1883. The game’s invention is disputed between two men:
- Lewis Waterman — A Londoner who claimed to have invented the game and published rules for it
- John Mollett — Who also claimed invention and marketed the game
Both men published versions of the game around the same time, leading to a public dispute. Regardless of who truly invented it, Reversi quickly became a popular parlor game in Victorian England and spread across Europe.
Original Reversi Rules
The original Reversi rules had some differences from modern Othello:
- No fixed starting position — Players could place their first few discs more freely in the center area
- Starting player choice — Either player could go first (not always Black)
- Disc placement — In some versions, the first four moves involved placing discs in the center without flipping
The Birth of Othello
In 1971, Japanese game enthusiast Goro Hasegawa (長谷川五郎) patented and trademarked a game he called Othello. According to the World Othello Federation, Hasegawa credited his father for teaching him a game similar to Reversi, which he then refined and standardized.
Why “Othello”?
Hasegawa named the game after William Shakespeare’s play “Othello, the Moor of Venice.” The connection is poetic:
- The play features dramatic conflict between characters associated with black and white
- The game features black and white discs in constant conflict
- The dramatic reversals in the play mirror the dramatic reversals on the game board
Hasegawa also coined the famous Othello tagline: “A Minute to Learn, A Lifetime to Master” — one of the most iconic game slogans in history.
Othello’s Standardized Rules
Hasegawa’s Othello established fixed rules:
- Standard starting position — D4: White, E4: Black, D5: Black, E5: White (always the same)
- Black goes first — Always
- Green board — The official Othello board is green (like a Reversi board)
- All other rules — Same as Reversi (bracketing, flipping, passing, most discs wins)
Key Differences: Reversi vs Othello
| Feature | Traditional Reversi | Othello |
|---|---|---|
| Invented | 1883, England | 1971, Japan |
| Starting Position | Could vary | Fixed (standard) |
| First Move | Either player | Black always first |
| Board Color | Varied | Green (official) |
| Trademark | Public domain | Trademarked name |
| Core Mechanics | Bracket and flip | Bracket and flip |
| Board Size | 8×8 | 8×8 |
| Disc Count | 64 | 64 |
The Trademark Situation
“Othello” is a registered trademark, currently owned by Mattel (through its acquisition of various game companies). This has important implications:
- Physical board games sold as “Othello” are licensed products
- Other versions of the same game are often sold under the name “Reversi” to avoid trademark issues
- Online and digital games frequently use “Reversi” or include it as an alternative name
- The game mechanics themselves are not patented — only the “Othello” brand name is protected
This is why you’ll see many websites and apps use “Reversi” as the primary name while mentioning “also known as Othello.”
Modern Usage
Today, the terms are largely interchangeable in common usage:
- Tournament players typically use “Othello” because the World Othello Championship (established 1977) uses this name
- Casual players use either name depending on their region and familiarity
- In Japan, the game is almost exclusively called “Othello” (オセロ)
- In Europe, both names are common, with “Reversi” sometimes preferred
- Online, both names are used to help players find the game regardless of which name they know
World Othello Federation
The World Othello Federation (WOF) was founded in 1977 and has organized annual World Championships since then. The WOF uses Othello rules (standard starting position, Black goes first) as the official competitive standard.
Countries with active Othello federations include Japan, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and many others. Japan has historically been a powerhouse in competitive Othello, reflecting the game’s deep cultural roots there. See the World Othello Championship history for the full story of the annual championship.
Which Name Should You Use?
Both names are perfectly acceptable, and most people will understand you regardless of which one you choose:
- Use “Reversi” if you want the historic, public domain name
- Use “Othello” if you’re referring to competitive/tournament play
- Use “Reversi (Othello)” if you want to be completely clear — which is what we do at Reversi Pro!
The Bottom Line
Whether you call it Reversi or Othello, you’re playing one of the world’s greatest strategy games. The core experience — the satisfying flip of discs, the battle for corners, the dramatic reversals — is the same regardless of the name. What matters is enjoying the game!
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How Othello Became a Global Phenomenon
The standardisation of rules under the Othello brand in 1971 was only the beginning. Goro Hasegawa licensed the game to Japanese toy maker Tsukuda Original, which commercialised it extensively in Japan through the 1970s. The game’s elegant tagline — “A Minute to Learn, A Lifetime to Master” — resonated globally, and international licensing deals brought Othello to Western markets.
Mattel picked up the rights for Western distribution and became the primary publisher of Othello in North America and Europe. The game became a bestselling board game in the late 1970s and 1980s, appearing in toy shops worldwide under the Othello name with its distinctive green board.
This commercial success created an interesting naming dynamic: consumers in markets where Mattel’s Othello was sold knew the game exclusively as “Othello.” Meanwhile, the original game name “Reversi” survived in encyclopaedias, older game books, and digital implementations that couldn’t use the trademarked name.
The World Othello Championship and the Name “Othello”
The founding of the World Othello Championship in 1977 cemented “Othello” as the name of the competitive game. Because the championship used the Othello name — and the World Othello Federation (WOF) was founded under that name — all subsequent competitive infrastructure used “Othello”:
- National federations became “Othello federations” (e.g., British Othello Federation, Japan Othello Federation)
- Players are ranked in the Othello community
- Tournament formats, rating systems, and game databases use “Othello”
For competitive players and enthusiasts who engage with this ecosystem, “Othello” is unambiguously the correct name. “Reversi” to them refers to the historical predecessor or to non-standard implementations.
Why “Reversi” Persists Online and in Digital Games
Despite Othello’s dominance as a brand name, “Reversi” has remained the primary name in digital contexts for several reasons:
Trademark restrictions: Digital game publishers cannot use the “Othello” name without a licence from the trademark holder. Many online games, apps, and browser games use “Reversi” to avoid this issue while still offering the same game.
Search behaviour: Many users search for both “Reversi” and “Othello” interchangeably. Websites and apps that want to be found by both types of searchers naturally include both names.
Public domain name: “Reversi” has no trademark encumbrances. A developer can call their game Reversi without any legal considerations; calling it Othello requires licence agreements.
This is why you’ll find major digital platforms calling the game “Reversi” or “Reversi (Othello)” — not because they’re playing a different game, but because the trademark situation makes “Reversi” legally simpler.
Regional Naming Conventions
The name used varies significantly by geography:
| Region | Common name used |
|---|---|
| Japan | Othello (オセロ) — almost exclusively |
| United States | Othello (commercial) or Reversi (digital) |
| United Kingdom | Both; Reversi slightly more common in casual use |
| France | Othello (competitive) and Reversi (casual) |
| Germany | Reversi slightly more common |
| Online / international | Both; sites often use “Reversi” as primary with “Othello” mentioned |
In Japan, the name “Othello” is so dominant that “Reversi” is virtually unknown to the general public. The game is simply オセロ (Osero). This reflects both the game’s commercial history (Tsukuda Original’s strong marketing) and cultural embedding.
Are the Rules Actually Identical Today?
In practical terms: yes, the rules played in all competitive and most casual contexts are identical, regardless of whether you call it Reversi or Othello:
- 8×8 board
- Fixed starting position (d4:W, e4:B, d5:B, e5:W)
- Black moves first
- Bracketing and flipping mechanic
- Passing when no legal move exists
- Most discs wins
The historical differences — original Reversi allowed free initial placement and either player could go first — are entirely historical at this point. No serious player plays the pre-1971 “traditional Reversi” rules. When anyone says “Reversi” today, they almost universally mean the standardised game that is functionally identical to Othello.
Practical Implications for Buyers and Players
Buying a physical set: Look for “Othello” — that’s the trademarked product sold under licence. Generic versions may say “Reversi” on the box. Both contain the same game components: an 8×8 board and 64 reversible discs.
Joining a club or competition: Look for “Othello” clubs and federations. The competitive community universally uses the Othello name. Search for “[your country] Othello Federation” to find local clubs. Once found, see how Reversi tournaments work and the rating system to understand the competitive structure.
Playing online: Search for both names — you’ll find games under either. Reversi Pro uses the Reversi name (as the public domain name with no trademark constraints) while fully covering the game in all its strategic depth.
Discussing the game: Either name is understood by anyone familiar with the game. If precision matters (e.g., specifying standard starting position and Black-moves-first rules), either “Othello rules” or “modern Reversi rules” both convey this unambiguously.