- BGG rating
- 7.9
Aquatica: Cold Waters
- 1–5 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #585
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Aquatica
2019
Rules assistance for Aquatica
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 30–60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Aquatica
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Aquatica is a board game released in 2019 for 1–4 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Ivan Tuzovsky and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Race.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Aquatica: Coral Reefs
- 1–5 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2024
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About the game
Aquatica is a deep, but easy to learn family engine builder about underwater kingdoms. In the game you will become one of the mighty ocean kings, struggling to bring glory to his realm. To win the game, you need to capture and buy locations, recruit new characters, and complete goals; each of these actions gives you victory points at the end of the game. To do so, you need to play cards from your hand (each with a unique set of actions) and combine them. Don't think it's simple! With a good strategy during your turn, you can take up to ten actions in a row. You will encounter plenty of mysterious ocean creatures and take them to your hand. With their help you will explore the unknown locations and raise found resources from the ocean depths to your kingdom. Mechanically this is represented with the help of three-layered player board and the unique mechanism of card-rising. —description from the publisher
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Broadway Toys LTD
- BoardM Factory
- Gigamic
- Portal Games
- Frosted Games
- Cranio Creations
- Jumping Turtle Games
- 数寄ゲームズ (Suki Games)
- Arcane Wonders
- Cosmodrome Games
- Dice Tower Essentials
Questions and answers
Aquatica supports 1–4 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 Aquatica 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 Aquatica for ages 12 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.
Aquatica has a complexity rating of 2.3 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.
Aquatica belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Race. 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 Aquatica are: Ivan Tuzovsky. 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 Aquatica 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.