
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,144
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Arcane Legions
- 2–6 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2009

2012
Rules assistance for Got 'Em!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Got 'Em! is a board game released in 2012 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Zach Weisman, Tyler Bielman, and Jonathon Loucks and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Majority / Influence, and Enclosure.
Game description from the publisher: Seize your friends' pawns in this delightful game of capture with two unique ways to play! "Brainy" Got'Em! offers the strategic challenge of outsmarting and cornering your opponents with deliberately placed walls, while the tricky yet fun-for-all-ages "Bright" Got'Em! has the same goal of trapping your opponents, plus colorful surprises that will keep you on your toes! From the Box: Corner Your Friends! Trap their pawns in one of two delightful games of escape and capture. In Bright Got 'Em you outsmart and corner your opponents through savvy card play, sly movement, and clever placement of blocking walls. In the still-casual, but even-trickier Brainy Got 'Em! you toss aside card actions in favor of a purely strategic challenge. Both games share the same goal, the same exciting intrigue, and the same social fun. Place walls to trap your opponents' pawns before they trap yours! Surround yourself with friends and family. Get ready to enjoy mroe fun than any four walls could ever contain! It's time you Got 'Em! Play Summary: The goal: trap your opponents' pawns before they trap yours. Last pawn free wins! Bright Got 'Em! (use colored side of the board) In Bright Got 'Em!, each player starts with 3 cards and pawn. Place your pawn on the same-colored start square (one of the four squares at the corners of the board's center square). The player who's birthday is closest, goes first. On your turn you will play a card, following each rule in the order they appear. Most cards have 2 instructions. The first tells you where you can place a wall and the second how many square you can move your pawn. Wall Placement Rules: Walls can only be placed along one edge of a square, between two squares. When a player's pawn is trapped by walls in a single square, that player is eliminated from the game. The edge of the board counts as a wall. There are a few cards that allow you to remove a wall or pass through a wall. However, you have to play these cards before your pawn is trapped! Once your pawn is trapped in a single square, you're out and your pawn is removed from the board. When you trap another player's pawn, thus eliminating him from the game, you may remove any 1 wall from the board. Moving Your Pawn Most cards allow you to move your pawn up to a specific number of squares. You can't move through walls, unless you play a card that allows it. You can't move through a square occupied by another pawn. You may only move orthogonally, never diagonally. You can stay where you are. You don't have to move the exact number of squares listed on the card. You can move fewer squares if you want. You can move zig zag, first in one direction, then in another, just not diagonally up to the number of squares specified on the card you played. After placing a wall and moving (or not), discard the card you played and draw another. (You should always have 3 cards in your hand.) Play passes to the player on your left. The last player to have a pawn on the board wins! Brainy Got 'Em! (use white side of board) You don't need any cards for this version. The goal is the same: trap your opponents' pawns while illuding capture yourself. On your turn, place a wall anywhere on the board, then move your pawn. The number of squares you can move your pawn is equal to 1 plus the number of walls on your square. You may place a wall on the square your pawn occupies to increase your pawn's movement on the same turn. All other rules are the same as Bright Got 'Em! Contents: 1 double-sided game board (Bright Got 'Em! on one side, Brainy Got 'Em! on the other), 84 wall pieces, 55 Got 'Em! cards, 4 pawns, game rules.
Got 'Em! supports 2–4 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 Got 'Em! is 30 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 Got 'Em! 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.
Got 'Em! 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.
Got 'Em! belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Majority / Influence, and Enclosure. 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 Got 'Em! are: Zach Weisman, Tyler Bielman, and Jonathon Loucks. 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 Got 'Em! 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.