- BGG rating
- 6.8
Aquaretto: The Training Camp
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,139
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Aquaretto
2008
Rules assistance for Aquaretto
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Aquaretto
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Aquaretto is a board game released in 2008 for 2–5 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Michael Schacht and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Tile Placement.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Aquaretto: The Trains
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2008
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Aquaretto: Three Coworker Tiles
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2008
- BGG rating
- 9.0
Aquaretto: XXL Tiles
- 2008
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Zooloretto: Octopus
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2010
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About the game
In Aquaretto, the players are managing the planning and selection of animals for their water themed zoo, in the hope of acquiring the most victory points. The players can expand the size of their water park and victory points can be earned in a number of ways. The most common way is to collect a large number of animals to your park in a variety of species. The core of the game play is the decision to select another random animal from the draw bag to add to one of the transport trucks or to take a truck in play. Taking a truck requires a player to add the animals on their selected truck to their water zoo. The catch is that animals need their space and thus different species cannot be placed adjacent to one another, there needs to be a separation. This then leads back to how the players decide to place animals on the trucks as they are drawn. A player cannot afford to create a truck in which one player gets all the animals their park needs, so the aim is to place animals in such a way that a player gets something they want but also take some pain as well. Aquaretto is a cousin to Zooloretto so there are other cute factors such as allowing animals to breed if a male and a female of a species are acquired, which allows the placement of a baby. There are also coin options that allow a player to do a range of things. Aquaretto can be played as a stand alone game or used in conjunction with Zooloretto for a mega-game of sorts. It should be noted that Aquaretto is a slightly more involved experience than Zooloretto, with some more involved options, such as scoring bonuses for acquiring workers that interact with how many fish symbols a player has in their water park.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Gémklub
- ABACUSSPIELE
- Rio Grande Games
- Playgo Ltd (Hong Kong)
Questions and answers
Aquaretto supports 2–5 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 Aquaretto is 45 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 Aquaretto for ages 10 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.
Aquaretto has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
Aquaretto belongs to these categories: Animals. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Tile Placement. 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 Aquaretto are: Michael Schacht. 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 Aquaretto 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.