Official Aquatica Rules

Last Updated on January 12, 2026 by The Official Game Rules Team

Aquatica is a strategy board game for 1 to 4 players where you take on the role of an Ocean King ruling a vast underwater kingdom. Your realm’s success depends on how well you explore the ocean depths, recruit powerful allies, control valuable locations, and complete long-term goals.

Over the course of the game, you will gather resources, train mantas, and raise locations to unlock their full potential. When the game ends, the player with the most Prosperity Points is crowned the greatest ruler of the Great Kingdoms of Aquatica.

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How to Play Aquatica – Complete Rules Guide

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Objective of the Game

Your goal is to earn the most Prosperity Points by the end of the game.

You gain Prosperity Points by:

• Recruiting and holding Character cards
• Discovering, buying, or conquering Locations
• Raising and scoring Locations
• Completing Goals before other players

The player with the highest total Prosperity Points at the end wins.

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Game Board Setup

1. Place the main game board in the center of the table.
2. Shuffle the Ocean Character deck and place it below the board. Draw six cards and fill the Character row.
3. Shuffle the Location deck and place it on the board. Draw six cards to fill the lower Location row.
4. Place all Wild Manta miniatures next to the board with their effect side facing up.
5. Use the four printed Goals on the top of the board for your first game. Advanced Goal rules can be used in later plays.

Character deck note:
The Ocean Character deck consists of three identical sets.

• Use the full deck in 3–4 player games.
• In a 2-player game, remove all cards marked with the ○ symbol before shuffling.

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Player Setup

1. Each player takes a player board and places it face up in front of them.
2. Choose a player symbol and take:
   • Six starting Character cards with that symbol
   • Four Trained Mantas
3. The last player to have gone swimming becomes the first player.
4. Assign King cards in order for Basic Mode: first player gets King 1, second gets King 2, and so on.
5. Each player forms a starting hand with their Characters and King card.
6. Place all Mantas effect side up. The game is ready to begin.

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Cards and Components Overview

Character Cards

Character cards represent sea-folk who assist your kingdom. They allow you to recruit allies, explore the ocean, gain resources, and interact with Locations.

There are three types of Characters:

• Starting Characters
• Ocean Characters recruited during play
• King cards, which represent each player and provide unique abilities

Each Character card shows:

• Player symbol
• Name
• One or more effects

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Location Cards

Locations represent underwater regions you can control. Each Location can be bought with Coins or conquered using Power.

Each Location card shows:

• Power cost to conquer
• Coin cost to buy
• A vertical track of Depths
• Prosperity Points value
• A Wild Manta reward
• Location type

There are four Location types:

• Shark Bays
• Sunken Ships
• Ocean Volcanoes
• Decayed Civilizations

Locations provide resources, effects, Mantas, and end-game scoring.

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Mantas

Mantas are powerful helpers that provide resources or special effects.

• Each player starts with four Trained Mantas.
• Wild Mantas can be earned by fully raising Locations.
• A ready Manta can be flipped to use its effect.
• Once flipped, the Manta becomes tired and cannot be used again until refreshed.

The Matrona starting Character is the most common way to refresh tired Mantas.

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Resources

Aquatica uses two types of resources, represented by icons rather than tokens. Resources do not carry over between turns.

Coins

Used to buy Locations and recruit Characters. Coins are gained from Depths and Mantas.

Power

Used to conquer Locations. Power is gained from Depths and Mantas.

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Gameplay

Players take turns clockwise, starting with the first player.

On your turn, you must:

• Perform one main action
• You may also perform any number of additional actions

Actions can be taken in any order unless stated otherwise.

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Main Action: Playing a Character Card

Play one Character card from your hand and resolve its effects in order.

• If you can perform all effects, you must do so.
• If you cannot fully resolve an effect, you may still play the card and perform what you can.
• After resolving the effects, place the card face up in your personal discard pile.

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Additional Actions

Using Mantas

Flip a ready Manta to use its effect, then turn it to its tired side.

Exploiting Location Depths

Locations have Depths that may contain:

• Coins or Power (gained only during your main action)
• Effects (usable before or after your main action)

To exploit a Depth:

• Slide the Location up one space, covering the used Depth
• You may only use the top visible Depth
• Empty Depths block progress until you raise the Location

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Effects Explained

Recruit

Choose one Ocean Character, pay its Coin cost, and add it to your hand. Slide remaining Characters left and refill the row.

Buy a Location

Choose a Location, pay its Coin cost, and place it into an empty slot on your player board with the top Depth visible.

Conquer a Location

Choose a Location, pay its Power cost, and place it into an empty slot on your player board.

Raise a Location

Raise one or more Depths on your Locations. Covered Depths are ignored, including any bonuses. Fully raising a Location earns you a Wild Manta immediately.

Score

Move a fully raised Location from your board to your Scoring Pile. Only scored Locations grant Prosperity Points.

Scout

If there are four or fewer Locations in the lower row:

1. Discard all Locations in the top row
2. Move the bottom row to the top
3. Refill the bottom row with six new Location cards

Locations in the top row require one less Power to conquer.

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Goals

Goals provide large amounts of Prosperity Points, especially when completed early.

When you meet a Goal’s requirement, you may place one of your Trained Mantas onto the next available spot on that Goal track. Each Goal can only be claimed once per player.

The four basic Goals are:

• Hold 10 Character cards in hand
• Control 4 Locations of the same type
• Have 3 or more Locations in your Scoring Pile
• Have 5 or more tired Mantas

Placing a Manta is optional, even if you qualify.

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End of the Game

The game ends after every player takes one final turn once any of the following occurs:

• A player completes all four Goals
• The Location deck runs out
• The Ocean Character deck runs out

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Scoring Prosperity Points

You score points from:

• Character cards in your hand (including your King)
• Goal tracks where your Mantas are placed
• Locations in your Scoring Pile

Locations still on your player board do not score.

The player with the most Prosperity Points wins.

Tiebreakers:

1. Most Mantas in reserve
2. Lowest King card number

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Advanced Mode

Advanced Mode adds:

• Variable Goals using shuffled Goal tokens
• Drafting King cards instead of assigning them by turn order

These changes add replayability and deeper strategy.

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Goal Tokens

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Solo Mode Overview

Solo Mode pits you against the Ichthyanders, a virtual rival faction.

• Use only one set of Ocean Characters
• Choose one King from three
• Each time you play Matrona, place one Ichthyander Manta on a Goal
• When all Ichthyander Mantas are placed, take one final turn and score

Your Prosperity total determines which Sea Monster the Ocean Council awards you.

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Reference Sheet

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Final Thoughts

Aquatica blends engine-building, resource management, and timing into a visually striking and deeply strategic experience. Whether played competitively or solo, mastering when to raise, score, and recruit is the key to building the most prosperous underwater kingdom.