Onitama is a two-player, perfect-information abstract game with a random starting setup. On a 5x5 grid, both players start with five pawns on their side, with the main pawn in the middle.

Each player has two open cards that each display a possible move for any of the player's pieces. There is a fifth card that cannot be used by either player. On your turn, choose one of your cards, move one of your pieces according to the chosen card, then replaces the card you used with the fifth card. The other player then chooses one of their cards, moves accordingly, and exchanges that card with this fifth card – which is, of course, the card the first player just used.

Moving onto one of the opponent's pawns removes that pawn from the game. Taking the opponent's main pawn, or moving your main pawn into your opponent's main pawn's starting space, wins you the game.