- BGG rank
- BGG #28,103
- BGG rating
- 5.5
Aquarium
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2011
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,431
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Alarm!
2013
Rules assistance for Alarm!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 20 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Alarm!
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Alarm! is a board game released in 2013 for 3–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Sander Vernyns and Tim De Rycke and its main mechanics are Set Collection.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,206
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Experiment
- 3–6 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,149
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Clocks
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #2
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Ark Nova
- 1–4 players
- 90–150 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #38
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Wingspan
- 1–5 players
- 40–70 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #47
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Everdell
- 1–4 players
- 40–80 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #117
- BGG rating
- 7.7
7 Wonders
- 2–7 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #150
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Forest Shuffle
- 2–5 players
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #188
- BGG rating
- 7.6
It's a Wonderful World
- 1–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #191
- BGG rating
- 7.8
7 Wonders (Second Edition)
- 3–7 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #194
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition
- 1–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #202
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Castle Combo
- 2–5 players
- 10–25 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2024
About the game
In the card game Alarm!, you play a burglar who's "hard at work" during his "nightshift". On your turn, you deal a card to each of the players that can increase or decrease that chances of that player being caught by the police – and this is a Bad Thing, of course, since the presence of the police is antithetical to you doing a good job at your work. In the end, the player who doesn't get caught by the police wins!
Questions and answers
Alarm! supports 3–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Alarm! is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Alarm! for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Alarm! has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Alarm! belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Alarm! are: Sander Vernyns and Tim De Rycke. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Alarm! as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.