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Oceans (2020) Board Game

ByMichail

Oceans is a board game released in 2020 by NorthStar Game Studio. It is designed by Nick Bentley, Dominic Crapuchettes, Ben Goldman, and Brian O’Neill, with artwork by Guillaume Ducos and Catherine Hamilton. The game falls under the categories of Animals, Card Game, Educational, Environmental, and Prehistoric, offering a unique gaming experience that combines strategy and thematic elements.

Game Components of Oceans

  • Species boards**
  • Trait cards:** 120 regular traits and over 80 unique Deep cards
  • Population tokens (fish):** Used for food and scoring
  • Reef and Ocean zone boards:** Divided into three ocean zones
  • Player screens and bonus tokens**
  • Variation cards:** Introduce mid-game changes and challenges
  • Custom insert:** For organized storage

    How To Setup Oceans

    To set up Oceans, start by placing the Reef and Ocean zone boards in the middle of the table. Each player receives a player screen and a bonus token based on turn order. Shuffle the Surface trait card deck and deal six cards to each player. Distribute population tokens across the Reef and three Ocean zones, with additional tokens in a reserve bag. Each player chooses a starting species board and places it in front of them.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Playing Cards:** Each turn, play one trait card to either evolve a new species or add to an existing one.
  • Feeding:** Feed all your species at least one food token; species that cannot be fed go extinct.
  • Aging:** Remove one food token from each species; if a species has no tokens, it goes extinct.
  • Drawing Cards:** Discard cards and draw back up to six.
  • Migration:** Use trait cards to migrate population tokens between the Reef and Ocean zones.
  • Cambrian Explosion:** Triggered when a certain amount of food is taken, increasing the number of traits played and food required per turn.

    Player Experience

    Oceans offers a dynamic and interactive ecosystem where players must balance the evolution of their species with the need to feed and protect them. The game introduces a sense of wonder and exploration, particularly with the Deep cards that bring massive and game-changing effects. Players need to strategize between herbivore and carnivore builds, leveraging trait interactions and adjacency effects to outmaneuver their opponents. The game’s streamlined rules make it accessible while maintaining complexity and depth.

    Pros

  • Simplified yet deep gameplay:** Easy to learn but with complex interactions.
  • Variety and replayability:** Deep cards and variation cards introduce new challenges each game.
  • Beautiful components and design:** Custom insert and well-designed boards enhance the game experience.
  • Less cutthroat:** Unlike other games in the series, Oceans focuses more on ecosystem balance than direct competition.

    Cons

  • Card variety limitations:** Without Deep cards and scenario cards, the base game can become predictable.
  • Token material:** Some players find the cardboard population tokens hard to handle and prefer more substantial materials.

    Personal Thoughts on Oceans

    Oceans is an excellent choice for fans of evolutionary and strategy games. It combines accessibility with deep gameplay mechanics, making it a great addition to any board game collection. The game is particularly suited for those who enjoy strategic planning, trait combinations, and a dynamic ecosystem. However, it may appeal less to players seeking highly competitive or aggressive gameplay, as it focuses more on balance and adaptation within an ecosystem.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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