1. Objective
Two players fight for control on a 7×7 board. Blue and Red each start with one tile and one pawn. The match ends when no neutral tiles remain. Whoever controls more tiles wins.
FAQ
Common questions about Grid Takeover
Everything you need to know about the core game, bot levels and planned online duels.
Getting started
What to know before your first match
What is Grid Takeover?
Grid Takeover is a turn-based 1v1 strategy game on a 7×7 board. The goal is to control more tiles than your opponent at the end.
Can I play Grid Takeover for free?
Yes. You can play the current browser version against the bot for free.
Do I need an account?
No. You do not need an account to play against the bot.
Game guide
How to play
The core rules explained in one flow instead of forcing them into artificial questions.
2. Normal move
Each turn, move your pawn exactly one tile horizontally or vertically. Diagonal moves are not allowed. You may move through your own territory and enter neutral or unoccupied enemy tiles.
3. Direct capture
Enter a neutral tile and it becomes your territory. Enter an enemy tile and it immediately changes to your color. The same applies to your opponent.
4. Jumping over the opponent
If the opposing pawn is directly next to you horizontally or vertically, you may jump over it onto the tile immediately behind it, provided that tile is still on the board. The landing tile may be neutral, yours or your opponent’s.
5. No immediate backtracking
A player may not immediately move back to the tile they left on their previous move as long as another legal move exists. If moving back is the only legal option, it remains allowed.
6. Surrounding areas
The key mechanic: a connected area that is completely surrounded by your territory and has no open path to the edge of the board is captured. Both neutral and enemy tiles inside change to your color.
The area containing the opposing pawn is not automatically captured by this area-capture rule.
7. End of the game
At the regular end of a match, play stops immediately when the last neutral tile is claimed. There is no extra final round. All blue and red tiles are counted; the higher total wins. In Bot Fights, the match can end earlier because of the move limit or, in Unbeatable mode, the 8-second turn timer.
FAQ
Common questions about modes and features
Bot Fight & matches
Which bot level should I choose?
Easy is best for learning. Medium plays much more strategically. Hard looks further ahead and punishes careless positioning more strongly.
Can the opponent block me?
You cannot enter the tile occupied by the opposing pawn. If it is directly next to you, you can jump over it if there is a tile behind it.
When does a match end?
Normally, the match ends when no neutral tiles remain; whoever controls more tiles then wins. A Bot Fight can end earlier as a loss after 150 player moves or, in Unbeatable mode, when the 8-second turn timer expires.
What happens in a draw?
If both sides control the same number of tiles at the end, the match is a draw.
Can I play against friends?COMING SOON
Not yet. PvP is still in development. The Bot Score leaderboard is already available; direct online duels will follow later.
Account & tech
Can I play Grid Takeover on a phone?
Yes. The board and interface are designed for modern desktop and mobile browsers.
New here?
Play the guided tutorial
One continuous match explains movement, legal moves, enclosure, capture, plus Teleport, Conquer and Double Move.