
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,008
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Shipyard
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2009

Rules assistance for Underwater Cities: New Discoveries
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.
Underwater Cities: New Discoveries is an expansion for Underwater Cities released in 2019 for 1–4 players, 100–180 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Vladimír Suchý and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Modular Board, and Network and Route Building.
UNDER THE SEA A NEW WORLD AWAITS. Welcome to New Discoveries, the first expansion for Underwater Cities. Inside, you will discover several new components which will offer new ways to play and new strategies to explore. NEW CARDS − 52 cards will add new options to every deck. NEW ASSISTANTS − New assistants, each with its own special ability, will make every underwater nation unique. STARTING RESOURCE TILES − Starting resource tiles allow players to start the game with construction already underway, which speeds up the game by one round. NEW PLAYER BOARDS − New player boards are used with new game variants. This expansion also includes the original player boards reprinted with upgraded quality. NEW METROPOLISES − The green metropolises offer new benefits. They are used differently in different variants of the game, adding new strategic dimensions. MUSEUM − At the bottom of the sea, you will make new discoveries which will earn your nation prestige as you help build the international museum. —description from the publisher
Underwater Cities: New Discoveries supports 1–4 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 Underwater Cities: New Discoveries is 100–180 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 Underwater Cities: New Discoveries 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.
Underwater Cities: New Discoveries has a complexity rating of 3.6 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.
Underwater Cities: New Discoveries belongs to these categories: Card Game, Nautical, and City Building. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Modular Board, and Network and Route Building. 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 Underwater Cities: New Discoveries are: Vladimír Suchý. 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 Underwater Cities: New Discoveries as an expansion for Underwater Cities. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Underwater Cities to use it. Check that your edition of Underwater Cities is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.