Abstract: A multiplayer handheld game employs individual game units having individual displays. Players can prepare their moves in secret on their game unit using controls and the individual displays, but when the game units are joined together, the game plays out on the aggregated screen. The game units employ digital signatures to ensure that all play is fair and that the virtual game pieces and characters in play have not been doctored or are otherwise fraudulent. Game results can be uploaded to a remote, secure server, which also serves as a backup for user data. Customization, improvements, and additions to the virtual game pieces and characters can be performed in conjunction with the secure server.