incomplete
Explanation
This comic presents a rules sheet for a game called "Incomplete Information Tic-Tac-Toe." The game modifies standard tic-tac-toe by adding a hidden-goal mechanic: each round, players secretly roll a die to determine whether their goal is to win, tie, or lose. After the board is filled, goals are revealed and points are awarded accordingly.
The humor comes from the fact that this is a genuine, fully thought-out game design presented in comic form -- SMBC's Zach Weinersmith often posts small game ideas or thought experiments. The bracketed note at the bottom reveals that posting this on Twitter sparked a real debate about whether a dominant strategy exists, highlighting how even a simple-sounding modification to tic-tac-toe can create genuinely interesting game theory questions. The comedy is in the contrast between the triviality of tic-tac-toe and the surprising strategic depth introduced by incomplete information, a concept borrowed from serious game theory and economics.