The object of this game is to move one of your pieces to the other side of the board. Player 1's pieces start in the bottom two rows and move up; player 2's pieces start in the top two rows and move down. Pieces move one cell forward or diagonally forward. Pieces may capture opposing pieces when making a diagonal move, but not when making a direct forward move. A player wins when one of his pieces reaches the final row.
Breakthrough was designed by Dan Troyka, the winner of the 2001 8x8 Game Design Competition.

Player 2 (blue) can move the highlighted piece to the highlighted empty cell, where it will be able to reach the bottom row unopposed because it can't be captured by the red piece immediately below.