
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,616
- BGG rating
- 7.1
One Deck Dungeon: Forest of Shadows
- 1–2 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2017

2021
Rules assistance for The Mariana Trench
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Mariana Trench is a board game released in 2021 for 1–2 players, 10–20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Tom Layton and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Melding and Splaying.
A game of deep-sea submarine exploration in the Mariana Trench. The goal of The Mariana Trench is to score the most research points (RPs) by researching deep-sea creatures and the floor of the trench. The game is played in alternating turns until your submarines run out of oxygen. The player with the highest amount of research points collected is the winner. —description from the designer
The Mariana Trench supports 1–2 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 The Mariana Trench is 10–20 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 The Mariana Trench for ages 8 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.
The Mariana Trench has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
The Mariana Trench belongs to these categories: Adventure and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Solo / Solitaire Game, and Melding and Splaying. 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 The Mariana Trench are: Tom Layton. 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 The Mariana Trench 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.