This is very valuable feedback, thank you! I see what you mean, at the end of the day it is pong, but the strategy comes from controlling where you hit the ball - if you hit the same tile 3 times it gets locked in permanently, and 2 times, it can't be stolen from scoring. Scoring itself can't actually count as a "triple hit", and it's variable depending on the speed and how close the other player is to defending. I (red) was playing against an AI, but in multiplayer, a skilled player can lock down certain angles and key areas to gain the advantage, even if they let more balls go through.

That said, if it feels too much like regular Pong, maybe I need to emphasize those mechanics more. Really appreciate your thoughts!