
- BGG rank
- BGG #970
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Kanagawa
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2016

Rules assistance for Abyss: Kraken
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.
Abyss: Kraken is an expansion for Abyss released in 2015 for 2–4 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Bruno Cathala and Charles Chevallier and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck.
The Smugglers Guild settled in the heart of the giant sea creatures cemetery, in the darkest depths of the Deep kingdom. In this disconcerting necropolis, with the help of mysterious Krakens, representatives of Guilds are trading NEBULIS, wonderful black pearls, that are the unofficial currency of the realm. That's money stained with blood. They accelerate your way to power, but be careful, because those who are caught with possession face a terrible fate! Abyss: Kraken is the first expansion for Abyss. When playing with the Kraken expansion, the base game rules don't change, although new elements are added: 7 New Allies cards 18 New Lord cards 3 Sentinel tokens 6 New location tiles 25 Loot cards 25 Black pearls (the Nebulis) 1 Kraken figure 1 transparent cup 1 Rulebook
Abyss: Kraken 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 Abyss: Kraken is 30–60 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 Abyss: Kraken for ages 14 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.
Abyss: Kraken has a complexity rating of 2.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Abyss: Kraken belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck. 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 Abyss: Kraken are: Bruno Cathala and Charles Chevallier. 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 Abyss: Kraken as an expansion for Abyss. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Abyss to use it. Check that your edition of Abyss is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.