- BGG rank
- BGG #5,035
- BGG rating
- 6.2
504
- 2–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2015
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Rules assistance for Reef Encounter of the Second Kind
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60–150 min
- 10+
- Complexity 3.7/5
Rules assistant for Reef Encounter of the Second Kind
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Reef Encounter of the Second Kind is an expansion for Reef Encounter released in 2006 for 2–4 players, 60–150 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Richard Breese and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Tile Placement.
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About the game
Reef Encounters of the Second Kind is an expansion set for Reef Encounter, introducing new creatures, opportunities, and tactics to the basic game. The crown of thorns starfish with their voracious appetites have now found the reef and will consume any corals that they can reach. Blue shrimps will assist host shrimps in protecting the larger corals, but these blue shrimps are notoriously unreliable. Meanwhile, the polyp tiles now come in a variety of different forms, and even the rocks are liable to change shape. A selection of cards provides one-off opportunities to influence the game, to introduce or to move the blue shrimps, or to affect the scoring at the end of the game. An appropriate card is also required before a parrot fish can consume its first coral.
Designers
Publishers
- Z-Man Games
- What's Your Game?
- R&D Games
Questions and answers
Reef Encounter of the Second Kind 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 Reef Encounter of the Second Kind is 60–150 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 Reef Encounter of the Second Kind 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.
Reef Encounter of the Second Kind has a complexity rating of 3.7 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.
Reef Encounter of the Second Kind belongs to these categories: Animals, Territory Building, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, 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 Reef Encounter of the Second Kind are: Richard Breese. 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 Reef Encounter of the Second Kind as an expansion for Reef Encounter. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Reef Encounter to use it. Check that your edition of Reef Encounter is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.