Ninuki Renju, the Advanced Gomoku Variant, Launches as Online Multiplayer Game for 2-4 Players in 'Dokopa'

Qdan Inc. (Musashino, Tokyo; co-CEOs: Keisuke Saito, Kazuki Sato) launched 'Ninuki Renju' on May 20, 2026 within its online party game app 'Dokopa,' which has approximately 360,000 monthly active users as of April 2026. This is the app's 39th game title and is completely free with no in-app purchases.

Ninuki Renju is a traditional Japanese board game that adds a capture mechanic to Gomoku (five-in-a-row): players can remove two adjacent opponent stones by flanking them on both sides. This creates tactical depth beyond simple five-in-a-row play. By incorporating multiplayer rules from the American board game Pente — itself derived from Ninuki Renju in 1977 — the app supports 2-4 players in both individual and 2v2 team matches.

Key features: (1) Capture mechanic adds strategic depth to Gomoku; (2) Multiplayer support for 2-4 players including team mode; (3) Customizable settings including board size (15x15 or 19x19), capture rules, and forbidden-move options.

Ninuki Renju was systematized in Japan during the Taisho era. Go player and Renju master Katsukiyo Kubomatsu founded the 'Ninuki-sha' school in 1922. Pente became a major US hit in the 1980s, selling over 1 million units. Available on iOS and Android.