English

Devil's Games and $\text{Q}\mathbb{R}$: Continuous Games complete for the First-Order Theory of the Reals

Computational Geometry 2025-12-03 v1 Computational Complexity Logic in Computer Science

Abstract

We introduce the complexity class Quantified Reals (QR\text{Q}\mathbb{R}). Let FOTR be the set of true sentences in the first-order theory of the reals. A language LL is in QR\text{Q}\mathbb{R}, if there is a polynomial time reduction from LL to FOTR. This seems the first time this complexity class is studied. We show that QR\text{Q}\mathbb{R} can also be defined using real Turing machines. It is known that deciding FOTR requires at least exponential time unconditionally [Berman, 1980]. We focus on devil's games with two defining properties: (1) Players (human and devil) alternate turns and (2) each turn has a continuum of options. First, we show that FOTRINV is QR\text{Q}\mathbb{R}-complete. FOTRINV has only inversion and addition constraints and all variables are in a compact interval. FOTRINV is a stepping stone for further reductions. Second, we show that the Packing Game is QR\text{Q}\mathbb{R}-complete. In the Packing Game we are given a container and two sets of pieces. One set of pieces for the human and one set for the devil. The human and the devil alternate by placing a piece into the container. Both rotations and translations are allowed. The first player that cannot place a piece loses. Third, we show that the Planar Extension Game is QR\text{Q}\mathbb{R}-complete. We are given a partially drawn plane graph and the human and the devil alternate by placing vertices and the corresponding edges in a straight-line manner. The vertices and edges to be placed are prescribed before hand. The first player that cannot place a vertex loses. Finally, we show that the Order Type Game is QR\text{Q}\mathbb{R}-complete. We are given an order-type together with a linear order. The human and the devil alternate in placing a point in the Euclidean plane following the linear order. The first player that cannot place a point correctly loses.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2512.02779,
  title  = {Devil's Games and $\text{Q}\mathbb{R}$: Continuous Games complete for the First-Order Theory of the Reals},
  author = {Lucas Meijer and Arnaud de Mesmay and Tillmann Miltzow and Marcus Schaefer and Jack Stade},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.02779},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

65 pages, 37 figures