- BGG rank
- BGG #7,962
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Bismarck (Second Edition)
- 2 players
- 150–240 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 1978
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,219
- BGG rating
- 6.8
They Come Unseen
2015
Rules assistance for They Come Unseen
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 60–120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for They Come Unseen
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
They Come Unseen is a board game released in 2015 for 2–5 players, 60–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Andrew Benford and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Square Grid, and Grid Movement.
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About the game
Description from the publisher: Submarines and surface fleets battle for dominance of the seas! One team must use submarines to sneak troops into enemy ports and destroy vital strategic targets, while the other team deploys a surface fleet to hunt down the subs and protect their crucial supply lines. Designed by retired Royal Navy Officer and submarine commander Andrew Benford, and developed deep beneath the waves, They Come Unseen is an asymmetrical strategy game of bluffing and deception that uses two boards: one for action on the surface, seen by both players, and one for movement underwater, seen only by the submarine commanders. The game also comes with specially designed control panels to aid each player in tracking vital information such as fuel, ammunition and current cruising depth.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Osprey Games
Questions and answers
They Come Unseen supports 2–5 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 They Come Unseen is 60–120 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 They Come Unseen 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.
They Come Unseen has a complexity rating of 2.7 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.
They Come Unseen belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and Modern Warfare. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Square Grid, and Grid Movement. 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 They Come Unseen are: Andrew Benford. 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 They Come Unseen 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.