- BGG rating
- 7.7
Hands in the Sea: Kickstarter Expansion
- 2 players
- 90–120 min
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,477
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Hands in the Sea
2016
Rules assistance for Hands in the Sea
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 90–120 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Hands in the Sea
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hands in the Sea is a board game released in 2016 for 2 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Daniel Berger (I) and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Point to Point Movement, and Simulation.
Expansions
Hands in the Sea: Deus Ex Machina Cards
- 2 players
- 2026
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About the game
Hands in the Sea is a two-player deck building wargame on the First Punic War, between Rome and Carthage, 264–241 BC. Each player has a starting deck of cards they use to perform various actions, up to two per round. Actions range from colonization, to naval movement, to battle, with most activity centered in and around Sicily and Sardinia/Corsica. Players may also purchase additional cards from their own custom decks, or from a set of neutral cards that either player may purchase. There are also Strategy cards that each player can purchase (one, max) that give the owning player some special advantage. The game is played over the course of several turns, up to a maximum of twelve. At the end of each turn, players resolve random events, collect income and score victory points. There are several paths to victory, ranging from simply having the highest score at the end of the game, to capturing the opposing player's capital. Inspired by A Few Acres of Snow, this game features several new elements, including navies, naval battles, cavalry superiority, mercenaries, field battles, sieges, manpower, strategy cards, random events, turn based scoring, bribery and tactical bonuses. The name of the game is based on a quote from a Carthaginian commander, who claimed at the outbreak of hostilities that the Carthaginian control of the seas was such that the Romans would not even dare wash their hands in the sea.
Designers
Publishers
- Doit Games
- PHALANX
- Knight Works, LLC
Questions and answers
Hands in the Sea supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Hands in the Sea is 90–120 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 Hands in the Sea 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.
Hands in the Sea has a complexity rating of 3.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Hands in the Sea belongs to these categories: Wargame and Ancient. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Point to Point Movement, and Simulation. 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 Hands in the Sea are: Daniel Berger (I). 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 Hands in the Sea 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.