- BGG rating
- 7.7
Sub Terra: Annihilation
- 1–6 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #791
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Sub Terra
2017
Rules assistance for Sub Terra
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–6 players
- 60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Sub Terra
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sub Terra is a board game released in 2017 for 1–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Tim Pinder and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Push Your Luck, and Dice Rolling.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Sub Terra: Extraction
- 1–6 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Sub Terra: Investigation
- 1–6 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2017
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Sub Terra: Incubation
- 1–6 players
- 45–60 min
- 2023
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About the game
Description from the publisher: A 1-6 player cooperative game of terrifying cave escape. Players take the role of amateur cavers attempting to escape an unexplored network of subterranean tunnels, before the lights flicker out or the darker things beneath the Earth catch up to them... In Sub Terra players spend their turn exploring and revealing the tunnel system around them, attempting to survive the various perils of the cave, from floods and cave ins to gas leaks and scree. Players each have a role which gives them specialist abilities, such as an Engineer with dynamite to blast a new route or a Scout to find a route more easily. New tiles are placed from a randomised stack of cave features, which determines whether you'll be hit with a dead end or a range of new options. At the end of each turn, players face the reality of their situation, with a hazard card drawn to determine what danger causes them damage or cuts off their way out of the horror below. These cards are finite, and when they run out, your torches flicker and the air feels tight, and your chance of survival diminishes quickly.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- NeoTroy Games
- Schwerkraft-Verlag
- Nuts! Publishing
- Second Gate Games
- Inside the Box Board Games LLP (ITB)
- Naylor Games
Questions and answers
Sub Terra supports 1–6 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 Sub Terra is 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 Sub Terra 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.
Sub Terra 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.
Sub Terra belongs to these categories: Horror, Exploration, and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Push Your Luck, and Dice Rolling. 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 Sub Terra are: Tim Pinder. 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 Sub Terra 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.