/pic6936255.jpg)
Game Info
Year
2022
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
You have recently become the owners of the leakiest bathysphere this side of Beachside Bay, but that doesn't stop your sense of adventure when it comes to exploring the depths! Well, unless you don't make it back to the surface....
Bargain Basement Bathysphere, designed for the 2018 solitaire print-and-play contest on BGG, is a campaign-styled roll-and-write game with legacy elements; the game becomes more complex as you work your way through the maps. It's designed to be a "no build" game (at least initially), so once you print out the pages you can immediately jump in and play — but try not to look ahead!
—description from the designer
Featured Videos
Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 5
This page: 5
Sentiment:
pos 4 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–5 of 5
Video 3t969YV2OGw
Watch It Played Playthrough at 0:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64273 · mention_pk 157725
Click to watch at 0:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging underwater exploration theme with a campaign structure
- Varied mechanics including salvage, divers, and mini-games
- Upgrade system via Salvage Rama adds long-term progression
Cons
- High risk and heavy luck elements can be stressful
- Complex rules may be challenging for beginners
Thematic elements
- Salvage and diving campaign
- Underwater exploration in Beachside Bay
- Campaign-based, scenario-driven exploration
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Aqua Museum (mini-game) — A side mini-game where discovered aquatic life is tracked; completing tanks grants a one-time re-roll.
- Campaign — Campaign unfolds over multiple scenarios with upgrades unlocked via Salvage Rama.
- Campaign progression — Campaign unfolds over multiple scenarios with upgrades unlocked via Salvage Rama.
- Dice pool management — Start with a pool of dice; dice are spent to move along tracks and to resolve actions; re-rolls reduce the pool and increase risk.
- diver rescue and scoring — Rescuing divers yields points and divers have specific values; some divers can perish if not saved in time.
- Hazard mechanics — Hazards include stress, oxygen loss, and damage; certain spaces trigger hazards or whirlpools that complicate movement.
- map/path progression — Traverse a map with designated spaces; backtracking is not allowed; landing can activate hazards.
- Mini-Games — A side mini-game where discovered aquatic life is tracked; completing tanks grants a one-time re-roll.
- Point Salad — Salvage spaces award points; salvage value is determined by dice spent; accumulating salvages can trigger upgrades via Salvage Rama.
- salvage and scoring — Salvage spaces award points; salvage value is determined by dice spent; accumulating salvages can trigger upgrades via Salvage Rama.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Bargain Basement bathysphere is a solo Roland right campaign
- load up our oxygen tank put on some flippers and uh see how many points we can get from the bottom of this ocean
- divers are always getting lost in Beachside Bay under the water it's a problem and you're going to have to go down and rescue some of these divers
- it's not for the fan of heart
- 42 points
- the Salvage Rama is the way that the Harbor Master is going to help us upgrade our bathysphere through the rest of the game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VL76vVC_YYs
Getting Games Rules Teach at 1:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 63348 · mention_pk 156702
Click to watch at 1:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Rescuing divers, discovering wildlife, and salvaging shipwrecks to score points
- Discovery Cove underwater exploration with ocean life and divers
- Scenario-based solo campaign with dice-driven movement and penalties
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Campaign progression and equation — Twenty scenarios in a campaign; discoveries contribute to an equation that unlocks bonuses like extra dice in future scenarios.
- Dice pool and fixed-movement on a turn — At the start of a turn you select one die from your pool and move exactly that many spaces in a single direction; you cannot change direction mid-move.
- Discovery box and scoring discoveries — Discovery spaces reveal wildlife; matching icons are crossed off in a discovery box; points are earned from these discoveries, with rule-based end scoring.
- Divers salvage and scoring — Purple divers grant points if rescued; each diver has limited oxygen and must be rescued before they run out.
- End conditions and scoring — Win by reaching the surface with 30+ points before any track maxes out; end scoring tallies discoveries, rescued divers, salvage, etc.
- Gray spaces and chained penalties — Gray spaces usually penalize you; you cross off grey spots you pass over and must resolve effects for each crossed spot.
- Map restrictions and loops — Maps include black lines restricting travel; loops may exist and players can choose to loop or proceed, with passing penalties if re-crossing marked spots.
- Ocean floors and maps — Scenario maps include ocean floor spots; landing yields points; there is an additional mini-game about ocean floor mapping that can yield extra oxygen.
- Oxygen management and re-rolls — Oxygen is consumed to reroll dice; running out ends the game; re-rolls can be used to modify dice results, with a limit set by the maximum 'dipole'.
- Salvage actions — Salvage spots allow you to take multiple dice and score points equal to their values; can be used strategically to boost score.
- Stress and damage tracks — There are tracks for oxygen, damage, and stress; taking penalties increases stress and damage; maxing a track can cause loss.
- White action spaces — Landing on white spaces triggers actions (discovery, rescue divers, salvage).
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we are the only player so we can now start the first turn
- this is the solo only game in it
- the game comes with a big pad of paper each one of these is double-sided and the same
- the more discoveries we add into here the more benefits we'll get as we continue on through the campaign
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video n_XZRWVH3wE
Tabletop Tokki Review at 2:51 sentiment: negative
video_pk 32312 · mention_pk 209654
Click to watch at 2:51 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- intriguing theme with strong potential
Cons
- felt at the mercy of dice
- lacked tension due to limited manipulation
Thematic elements
- dice-driven push-your-luck in a bath sphere setting
- sea-diving, bath-themed puzzle world
- lighter, humorous
Comparison games
- Hold Your Breath
- Deep Sea
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice-driven push your luck — manage dice outcomes on a bath-themed board
- Push Your Luck — manage dice outcomes on a bath-themed board
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Two Win was a sleeper hit for me.
- Park Ranger was a delightful little solo treat that really stood out for me.
- I really enjoyed it. It is a quick, concise puzzle
- This one was too long, and I did not enjoy the take that element.
- Flower Fields hit a really nice intersection of being clean, easy to learn, easy to teach, but also having just enough going on that it felt like it has a little bit of a competitive edge.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video GIBNq6AuHCg
AzureDeath | Solo Board Gaming Top List at 19:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9448 · mention_pk 27909
Click to watch at 19:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Great introduction to Legacy games
- Low-cost starting point with accessible print-and-play origins
Cons
- Free prints may require additional printing effort
- Some players may prefer finished physical production
Thematic elements
- Legacy evolution with campaign-based changes
- Undersea exploration with legacy elements
- Educational, gradual reveal of mechanics
Comparison games
- Legacy games like Risk Legacy
- Sea-based exploration games
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dice-driven diving and oxygen management — Roll dice to dive, manage oxygen and bathysphere integrity
- Legacy-style campaign progression — Permanent changes across sessions as you explore deeper into the ocean
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's very thematic, basically a gamification of the process of creating a character in DND
- the AI opponent is very smooth and doesn't take a lot of upkeep
- it's one page front and back, that's it very, very simple rules
- this is known as a raw and ripe game and it's a pretty beloved genre
- the universe games come with mini expansion modules that add replayability
- an 18-card masterpiece
- print this right here to turn it into a flip and ride game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video exEfzPd_3B0
Beyond Solitaire Review at 0:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2782 · mention_pk 8117
Click to watch at 0:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Constantly adds something new across the campaign stages
- Short, accessible sessions (~15 minutes)
- Rulebook and campaign text are well written and humorous
- Charming art and theme with a cohesive tone
- Strong solo play option with a clear progression
Cons
- Early scenarios feel similar; best payoffs come later
- Not ideal for players who dislike push-your-luck dice allocation
- Limited replay value for some players after finishing the campaign
- Price may be high for some buyers relative to other shorter games
- Comparisons to print/print-and-play can be nuanced
Thematic elements
- campy nautical adventure with tongue-in-cheek narration
- Underwater exploration aboard a quirky bathysphere during a humorous campaign
- tongue-in-cheek, self-referential, lighthearted
Comparison games
- print and play version (as a baseline)
- printed version vs. print-and-play comparison
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Campaign — The campaign unlocks new elements over time, adding variety per stage rather than presenting all content at once.
- campaign progression with stage-specific modifiers — The campaign unlocks new elements over time, adding variety per stage rather than presenting all content at once.
- dice allocation / dice pool management — Roll a pool of dice at the start of a turn and allocate results to move, trigger actions, or pay costs.
- push-your-luck / risk budgeting — Choose to take actions that can advance or cause penalties; re-rolls cost oxygen and increase risk.
- resource tracking (oxygen, stress, damage) — A player's oxygen, stress, and damage track the risk of failing; depleting these ends the run.
- space-based rewards and penalties — Landing on spaces yields benefits or penalties; some spaces require selecting upkeep choices when costs are incurred.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This game constantly is adding something new from stage to stage of the campaign.
- The play time is pretty short—it's 15 minutes.
- The rule book is super well written and the campaign is super well written.
- Everything that happens in the little storyline of the game is tongue-in-cheek and so silly.
- Bargain Basement bathysphere is absolutely for you.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–5 of 5