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Oceans box art

Oceans

Game ID: GID0231200
Game Info
Year
2020
Players
2-4
Age
12+
Playtime
90 min
Collection
Your Tier
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Mechanic profile
Percentile rank vs. all games
Vibe profile
How this game feels to play
Description

Three years in the making, Oceans is a stand-alone game in the award-winning Evolution series. With over 120 works of art, 40 scenarios cards, and more than 100 unique trait cards, Oceans is the most ambitious project North Star Games has ever tackled.

Theme
Oceans depicts the boundaries between the known world near the ocean’s surface, and the mysteries lurking in Earth’s deepest unexplored region. Enter a vast, underwater cosmos: a mysterious interconnected world of sharp teeth, glowing eyes, and black ink, where your survival depends on your ability to adapt to the unknown.

The foundation of the oceanic food chain are billions of one-celled organisms called phytoplankton that capture the sun's energy through photosynthesis. Every other species in the ocean is a predator, each bigger than the next, all the way up to the dreaded Apex Predator. And even bigger than Apex Predators are enormous Whales that gently swim through the ocean scooping up everything in their path. This ecosystem mimics the known world near the surface.

But there is more if you are willing to dive deeper...

Oceans also includes a deck of 100 unique power cards called The Deep that represents the unknown. These powerful cards break the seams of the reality you've come to accept, ranging from astonishing things found in the ocean, to the fantastical Kraken or Leviathan.

Gameplay
Oceans is an interactive engine builder, where players evolve their species in a continually changing ecosystem. Players must adapt their interconnected ecosystem to survive against the inevitable march of time (Aging), as well as a multitude of predators looking for food.

During the first half of the game, players use traits from a deck of Surface cards to modify their species. With only 12 Surface traits, it’s easy to wade into your first game without being overwhelmed by new cards. These traits were chosen for their rich thematic interconnections, providing synergistic card play that mimics an oceanic ecosystem. The Surface traits bring stability to the game environment.

During the second half of the game, players can use power cards from The Deep to disrupt the stability. With over 100 unique traits in The Deep, players will slowly discover game-altering traits over the course of many games. These traits were designed to evoke wonder and disbelief - to spark your imagination as you consider the fantastic synergies that are possible in Oceans.

Additionally, there are 2 randomly chosen scenario cards that activate and deactivate at various points during the game. The scenario cards impact the basic tenets of gameplay, encouraging people to vary their play style and strategy each game.

The Evolution Series
Oceans is a stand-alone game in the Evolution series, but it's a vast departure from other games in the series. The turn structure has been simplified, the game play is much more forgiving, and the web of interconnections has increased dramatically. Whereas Evolution has the feeling of a traditional back-and-forth battle game like Magic: The Gathering, Oceans has the feel of an interactive engine builder where everything is interconnected, and where your engine must continually adapt to a changing environment.

Join the Oceans Discord community for rule questions, strategy discussions, and to get involved in future playtesting.

https://discord.gg/GMaDycjKBV

Description

Three years in the making, Oceans is a stand-alone game in the award-winning Evolution series. With over 120 works of art, 40 scenarios cards, and more than 100 unique trait cards, Oceans is the most ambitious project North Star Games has ever tackled.

Theme
Oceans depicts the boundaries between the known world near the ocean’s surface, and the mysteries lurking in Earth’s deepest unexplored region. Enter a vast, underwater cosmos: a mysterious interconnected world of sharp teeth, glowing eyes, and black ink, where your survival depends on your ability to adapt to the unknown.

The foundation of the oceanic food chain are billions of one-celled organisms called phytoplankton that capture the sun's energy through photosynthesis. Every other species in the ocean is a predator, each bigger than the next, all the way up to the dreaded Apex Predator. And even bigger than Apex Predators are enormous Whales that gently swim through the ocean scooping up everything in their path. This ecosystem mimics the known world near the surface.

But there is more if you are willing to dive deeper...

Oceans also includes a deck of 100 unique power cards called The Deep that represents the unknown. These powerful cards break the seams of the reality you've come to accept, ranging from astonishing things found in the ocean, to the fantastical Kraken or Leviathan.

Gameplay
Oceans is an interactive engine builder, where players evolve their species in a continually changing ecosystem. Players must adapt their interconnected ecosystem to survive against the inevitable march of time (Aging), as well as a multitude of predators looking for food.

During the first half of the game, players use traits from a deck of Surface cards to modify their species. With only 12 Surface traits, it’s easy to wade into your first game without being overwhelmed by new cards. These traits were chosen for their rich thematic interconnections, providing synergistic card play that mimics an oceanic ecosystem. The Surface traits bring stability to the game environment.

During the second half of the game, players can use power cards from The Deep to disrupt the stability. With over 100 unique traits in The Deep, players will slowly discover game-altering traits over the course of many games. These traits were designed to evoke wonder and disbelief - to spark your imagination as you consider the fantastic synergies that are possible in Oceans.

Additionally, there are 2 randomly chosen scenario cards that activate and deactivate at various points during the game. The scenario cards impact the basic tenets of gameplay, encouraging people to vary their play style and strategy each game.

The Evolution Series
Oceans is a stand-alone game in the Evolution series, but it's a vast departure from other games in the series. The turn structure has been simplified, the game play is much more forgiving, and the web of interconnections has increased dramatically. Whereas Evolution has the feeling of a traditional back-and-forth battle game like Magic: The Gathering, Oceans has the feel of an interactive engine builder where everything is interconnected, and where your engine must continually adapt to a changing environment.

Join the Oceans Discord community for rule questions, strategy discussions, and to get involved in future playtesting.

https://discord.gg/GMaDycjKBV

Ask a Rules Question
All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 37
This page: 37
Sentiment: pos 21 · mix 4 · neu 3 · neg 3
Mentions per page
Showing 1–37 of 37
Video zaZDkMvIXCE The Dice Tower Unboxing at 4:24:48
video_pk 93406 · mention_pk 253565
The Dice Tower - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 4:24:48 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Hello everybody. Welcome to the Dice Tower most boring unboxings in the world
  • This is a box made by AEG.
  • Well, that looks interesting.
  • I reviewed Pirate King before. This is a nicer box for it for sure.
  • The embargo is as of the moment that I opened it.
  • Rocket Ranchers, herding cats in space.
  • Sushi Go Party! is a fun little game. It's quick.
  • This is a fun little game, it's quick.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video S54FKQH-_sw Tantrum House Top List at 25:51 sentiment: other
video_pk 93044 · mention_pk 251047
Tantrum House - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 25:51 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Intrigued
Pros
  • High player count (4-6)
  • Team-based interaction
  • Emphasis on card play timing
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Card shedding, team-based
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • card shedding — A card-shedding game.
  • Hand Management — Playing cards strategically.
  • team-based play — Players form teams and their actions affect teammates and opponents.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • All right. Number four, we've got Cano from Mad to Go for two to four players. Takes about 30 minutes to play. I like games about art and this one has that creating Japanese painted scrolls in the game.
  • but the art is what sort of really drew me in.
  • you're trying to make patterns when you put them on your board to lay tiles. It did look interesting.
  • I have Night at the Zoo. This is another tiling game. I love laying tiles.
  • really interesting it's designed The designer is the same person who did Sagrada and Aquatica, which are heavy Euro games, but this is a lighter tiling game.
  • I thought it was a fun theme.
  • So, I'm anticipating Pulitzer from 25th Century Games, and this is an investigative journalist themed game. I was a journalism major in college, so I'm always interested in these themed games.
  • With strings that you're I don't know exactly how it all it but it just looks really cool and interesting being able to put your strings from the different pieces of evidence you've found. tactile
  • So, if nothing else, the theme and the components have definitely made me interested in this game.
  • We've got Lord of the Rings: Circle of Conflict. I should say right off the start, it says this is an Essen release, but I believe they might have a limited copies available at Gen Con, so I'm going to call this a pre-Gen Con pre-release at Gen Con.
  • My understanding is you're playing against your two neighbors, the players to your left and right. So, each person has a shadow troops and the free peoples army. And so, your shadow troops are playing against your neighbors free people, and your free people is playing against your other neighbors shadow troops.
  • I believe this is a dice allocation game. So, rolling dice and then using them to do actions and powers and things like that.
  • Lord of the Rings theme, which is a theme that we really enjoy.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WAQsPb8sx8g Getting Games Discussion at 12:35 sentiment: positive
video_pk 91203 · mention_pk 244511
Getting Games - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 12:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Railroad Evolution is super cool and I want to play that one more
  • there were many things I liked about the game and there were several things that I really didn't like about the game
  • I just think brass is a better game
  • the scoring for the way you put your stuff out seemed pretty illogical to me
  • I really enjoyed this game
  • it's like being a kid in a candy store
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RXTZ6dBx_ZY kovray Challenge at 5:55 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 90544 · mention_pk 242028
kovray - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 5:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • the challenge i think it was really fun
  • i would definitely recommend uh trying it out
  • it was a blast
  • it's easier than i thought it would be but once you get stuck on a set it's so hard to branch out
  • i'm so nervous i have to unlock my phone
  • not very good
  • tag us if you do it because we'd love to see how you folks do
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video gurLpvfhprY All You Can Board Announcement at 30:58
video_pk 89686 · mention_pk 238580
All You Can Board - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 30:58 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • the first ever aycb 24 hour charity live stream in support of mental health
  • 100 of all proceeds are going to be going to a local mental health organization here in Winnipeg called the Sarah Riel
  • every five dollars you donate will get you one entry into every single prize package
  • we're going to be playing board games for 24 hours straight
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 35jThje0w-A Watch It Played Playthrough at 0:12 sentiment: positive
video_pk 89272 · mention_pk 236861
Watch It Played - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Engaging two-player nature with strong interaction mechanics
  • Varied path options and expansions to alter play
  • High tension and dynamic turns
Cons
  • Potentially punishing with extinctions and complex hand management
  • Deck-building through foraging depth may be slow
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Aging — population aging occurs, can reduce or risk extinction
  • Deep cards — the game introduces Deep cards with special abilities; Cambrian explosion triggers changes
  • Feeding — feeding phase where predators attack and take population from others
  • Foraging — players forage to gain population from ocean zones; actions specify how much can be foraged
  • Legend Cards — Legends are introduced as part of expansion cards with special effects
  • long-haul migration — a high-value migration that moves many populations to the reef
  • migration — players can migrate populations between ocean zones and reef to trigger fertility/migration effects
  • parasitic/leech — parasitic cards leech population from adjacent species during feeding
  • symbiotic — traits gain benefits based on adjacent species interactions
  • triggered events — Cambrian explosion and Fertile/Long-Haul status influence game state
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Naveen is the winner first time ever winning ocean today
  • this game is all about survival
  • the ocean's not a friendly place
  • Cambrian explosion boom
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 9NcJCvUliUY Watch It Played Discussion at 3:51 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 88006 · mention_pk 230848
Watch It Played - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 3:51 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • 200 games in one go
  • The Shelf of Shame
  • these games aren't going anywhere
  • I'm killing two birds with one stone
  • The joy of a legacy game is that you can all pitch in together and buy it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ub38X82ReHs Tim Chuon Top 10 List at 6:55 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 87623 · mention_pk 229329
Tim Chuon - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 6:55 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • high production quality
  • expansion options (legend monsters) appealing to some
Cons
  • perceived repetitive turns
Thematic elements
  • ecosystem management and species interaction
  • marine ecosystem
  • mechanics-driven with a thematic veneer
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • area_control_or_resource_management — balancing food and population while expanding influence
  • Engine Building — developing an ecosystem with recurring effects and interactions
  • engine_building — developing an ecosystem with recurring effects and interactions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • objectively the greatest game of all time
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video d_wNkoT7bms Zilla Blitz Discussion at 9:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84390 · mention_pk 214422
Zilla Blitz - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 9:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Really like that one
  • Really fun, too
  • Want to play more
Cons
  • Can be very nasty to opponents
Thematic elements
  • Ecosystem building
  • Ocean/Aquatic
Comparison games
  • Evolution
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • This reminds me of Coin Light. And the game that comes to my mind is Root. And not that this is the same thing or a spin-off, but it's got a Root type feel.
  • I've read through the rules looks very accessible and pretty easy to jump into.
  • Production values on this one are really high.
  • I really appreciate I think Fal has a nice touch on accessibility, depth of gameplay, quality of components, just really putting things together in a nice package that builds some very interesting things with good gameplay and a lot of accessibility.
  • 42% tactical, 30% operational, 29% strategic.
  • My favorite game of all time is Combat Commander, which is a tactical level game.
  • I'm split between the different scales. Given the time I'd play them all, I love the idea of grand tactical, but don't have the space they generally acquire.
  • Wow, it's taking a while here. Oh, we've got Arvin Runstein5707.
  • New to these games. So, still learning, but strategic seems like my jam.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Aei05cGUV5g Get into games Interview at 1:13:37 sentiment: positive
video_pk 81312 · mention_pk 201116
Get into games - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:13:37 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Highly Positive
Pros
  • Visually stunning
  • Great production with shiny cards
  • Engaging player interaction and communication dynamics
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Tarot
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • card shedding — Card shedding, trick-taking game kind of thing.
  • team-based play — It is a team trick taking game.
  • Trick-Taking — The highest card at the table wins the trick, wins the hand.
  • Variable player powers — Whenever you play a card, the card's going to do something. And it might mean that you get comm get information from someone else or you get to swap cards or do whatever.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Strange World Above the Clouds because who doesn't love a cuddle monster?
  • Temple Code because I was terrible at it and I decided I need to do something about it because I was really embarrassed to play it with other people.
  • hydrate, bring a bottle of water, refill it.
  • don't put a lot of pressure on yourself to try and play all of the games. It is impossible.
  • It's the people, right, that make the show somehow
  • this whole hobby is about the people we play the games with rather than just the games.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7YhgO6_E5BI The Dice Tower News at 5:43 sentiment: negative
video_pk 80318 · mention_pk 195266
The Dice Tower - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 5:43 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
  • Simple cards that might be easy to grasp.
Cons
  • Don't like the title, card look, or theme.
  • Looks like a cut-rate trading card game.
  • Not compelling.
  • Theme is all over the map.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • card battler — They're very simplistic cards. I really don't like the look of this. I don't like anything about this.
  • Deck Building — competitive deck building battle.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I like the idea of building out the dungeon and trying to make it all work, you know, within your pattern goal, but then also having the corridors and stuff line up, you know, so where you can make your way through the dungeon to make other goals.
  • There was nothing about this that I I couldn't think of anything positive to say.
  • This looks great, right?
  • It manages to feel like it will be strategic and engaging and cozy.
  • This is This is a bag builder where you're like you're making your own your own bag where you're upgrading dice. You're getting better sewing.
  • It's the most euro, I think, of any IV Studio game.
  • I like the look. I like the sort of 80s action movie post-apocalyptic thing.
  • This stupid super early bird thing. You are upsetting everybody outside of a hundred people.
  • That is bull.
  • You've alienated all these other people because as interested as I am in this, there's no way I'm buying it right now for $100 when I know people in this very project got it for 60.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video IlCE96ABK_Y Rules Teach at 0:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 70961 · mention_pk 168121
Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • High variability due to scenario deck and AI's randomized actions.
  • Engaging engine-building with meaningful strategic choices.
  • Interesting thematic integration of ocean ecosystems and evolution.
  • Solo mode provides a challenging and engaging experience against the AI.
  • Deep strategy involving species placement and trait synergies.
Cons
  • Can be difficult to manage all the species' traits and interactions.
  • The game end can be very close, leading to a dramatic but potentially frustrating loss (e.g., losing by 1 point).
  • Remembering all the effects and interactions requires attention to detail.
Thematic elements
  • Evolving marine life
  • Ocean ecosystem
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Action Point Allowance — Players have a limited number of actions per turn, like playing cards, feeding, aging, and discarding/drawing.
  • AI Opponent — The solo mode features an AI opponent named Nautilus, controlled by tokens and specific rules.
  • Area management — Species are placed on a player board and have positional importance in relation to other species.
  • Card Drafting — Players draw cards from a deck to play species or evolve existing ones.
  • Deck Building — Players add cards to their hand or play them, influencing their available actions and species.
  • Player Elimination — Species can go extinct if they cannot feed or age, effectively being removed from the player's board.
  • Set Collection — Players collect fish tokens to score points.
  • Variable player powers — Species have different traits and stats that modify their abilities for foraging, attacking, or defense.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • we're playing oceans but with a difference we're playing oceans with the upcoming solo mode
  • we're playing against an ai opponent called nautilus
  • the aim of the game is to collect and score points
  • the trick is the more species we have that are self-sustaining the more points we get from aging that's how we win the game
  • this is really an engine building
  • we're getting close to the end
  • we are scoring more than nautilus now because they're only getting four every turn i'm getting six
  • we're looking for 70. your score is equal to everything in your score pile plus anything still out here in the population
  • we've got 69 points we are one point shy
  • what's a dramatic ending to our game of oceans solo
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video p0sBL-COAaA Meeple University Playthrough
video_pk 70128 · mention_pk 167029
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video o_9LHix3eyI kovray Playthrough
video_pk 68798 · mention_pk 165089
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Oceans is played until all the fishies run out basically
  • Legends cards provide a variety of different abilities either ongoing or specific things that you can see throughout the whole game
  • Oceans is a lot of fun to play you get to make all these species and it's really interesting to see the interactions
  • Legends of the deep expansion is really cool
  • the Dragon King is mighty and very strong; it's a big centerpiece for late-game power
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video o_9LHix3eyI kovray Playthrough at 2:12 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 68798 · mention_pk 236931
kovray - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • strong thematic flavor with evolving ecosystems and multiple interaction points
  • rich strategic depth through feeding, aging, and migration choices
  • a lot of potential for emergent play and interesting synergies
Cons
  • steep learning curve for new players
  • rule density can be challenging to absorb upfront
Thematic elements
  • marine life interactions, evolution, and ecological competition
  • Underwater ecosystems including reef zones, surface level, and deep ocean layers
  • procedural card-driven evolution of species with population management
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Aging and scoring — at the end of actions, populations age and points are tallied behind a scoring board.
  • feeding phase — on each turn, players feed their species from reefs, ocean, or other sources to grow populations.
  • migration — players can migrate populations between reef and ocean zones to optimize feeding and survival.
  • population management / species boards — players manage populations on individual species boards and age score points as populations grow or shrink.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Oceans is played until all the fishies run out basically
  • Legends cards provide a variety of different abilities either ongoing or specific things that you can see throughout the whole game
  • Oceans is a lot of fun to play you get to make all these species and it's really interesting to see the interactions
  • Legends of the deep expansion is really cool
  • the Dragon King is mighty and very strong; it's a big centerpiece for late-game power
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Mq2mTcBar98 Top List at 0:54 sentiment: positive
video_pk 67039 · mention_pk 162945
Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:54 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • team-based
  • play cards with special abilities
  • find cool combos
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • card abilities — You're trying to play cards with special abilities.
  • Combo Building — You're trying to find cool combos.
  • Hand Management — You are trying to be the first team that discards your cards.
  • team play — team-based card game Omens.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Here are my top five.
  • All of that questionable thematic stuff has been removed and now you can just enjoy a great game for its mechanisms.
  • If you want silliness and laughs, this is a great one.
  • If you want to see my game ratings for all of the games I played in a month, including the games I did not like, then join my monthly newsletter.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video dXKGMLfZERo BoardGameGeek Top 10 List at 0:34
video_pk 66099 · mention_pk 160638
BoardGameGeek - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:34 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Survival in a continually changing environment
  • Vast underwater cosmos
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it seems there's always another game on the shelf waiting to be discovered
  • this episode is made possible in part by oceans from north star games
  • You know what's even better than the idea of a lifetime spent exploring space doing so from the comfort of your own home where the potato chips are kept and that's why I joyfully wept gently for several minutes in secret where nobody else could see my shame once I discovered that this month's countdown would be starting with the economic space strategy game Master of Orion the board game
  • The winner being granted the coveted title of emperor of the galactic council which is essentially just an honorary title for a glorified administrative desk job
  • Now that we've conquered space which took way less time than I was anticipating let's now turn our attention towards conquering the sea because it's just sitting there being all damp and such
  • Aquatica with a recent second edition from arcane wonders is a strategic but easy to learn family engine building game about underwater kingdoms
  • You know I always enjoy a good bluffing game or do I perhaps I was bluffing just now you can't no I'm unknowable I barely know myself
  • Vindication is a wonderful feeling like when you warn someone not to sit on wet paint but they ignore you and then immediately get eaten by a crocodile
  • Every year sorcerer city gets built and rebuilt in magically new ways with blocks moving and rotating in crazy directions
  • It sounds like a workers compensation insurance nightmare but that's what you get for hiring Howard Howard and Fine as your city planners
  • Keith Forge's world was always in a constant state of change but now a vault containing mysterious dark amber is open causing strange and unusual transformations unlike anything seen before
  • If you're anything like me then you also have a hilarious crocodile-based anecdote locked and ready to go at a moment's notice but you'd also probably fare pretty well if you ever came time to live underground
  • Fallout shelter the board game a post nuclear worker placement board game for two to four players from fantasy flight games based on the hit mobile game from Bethesda softworks
  • Three orders nobles civilians and religion unlike today where it's organized around media influence and high fructose corn syrup
  • Typically a roll and write game is only a proper roll and right game if it's from the Roland Right region of France
  • Otherwise it's a sparkling dice based activity
  • And now for some lip smacking cracking action in the upcoming hidden role deduction game from Fun Tales Feed the Kraken featuring three asymmetric factions for feuding friends
  • In 1871 with Canada only four years old the prime minister calls for a massive undertaking a transcontinental railway to link eastern and western provinces
  • It would be a nation defining project shaping not only the economy of this young fledgling country but also his identity as the well-mannered cousin of the United States who lost a bunch of weight and finished community college
  • Brazil Imperial coming from Meepo BR in 2021
  • The best monarch receives a title a Brazilian emperor which is essentially just an honorary title for a glorified administrative desk job
  • Losers are banished to a ship lost at sea where they inevitably go madam pledge allegiance to a kraken
  • That's our list of games we wanted to make sure did not go overlooked this month
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video U56Z-FefrbU kovray Top List at 3:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 65083 · mention_pk 158686
kovray - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 3:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Really enjoy the game
  • Very cool
  • So pretty
  • A joy to play
  • Creating different species
  • Claiming a spot in the ocean hierarchy
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • Ecosystem / Species
  • Ocean
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Ecosystem Building — Basically you are creating different species and fighting against everybody else on the board to leech out everybody else, to like claim your spot in the ocean hierarchy.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • i adore this game it's just so much fun to play
  • it's actually one of the few games i feel like i can not stop playing like i always feel like i can play this game
  • it looks very cozy it looks very fun and relaxing it's not it's a little bit stressful
  • tyler keeps taking all your pieces like he does in every other game
  • it is paladins of the west kingdom
  • i really really just i just love this game
  • every time we have people over or we play games tyler asks if we can play paladins
  • it's not exactly easy to teach
  • there's a lot of depth to the game so you have to be willing to put in the time to really learn it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video oBDHmi7lsqI Watch It Played Rules Teach at 0:10 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 64664 · mention_pk 158161
Watch It Played - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • survival and adaptation in a changing ecosystem with predators and scarce food
  • vast underwater cosmos, an interconnected underwater world
  • evolution of species through traits and population shifts in an evolving ocean
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • aging phase — Remove tokens behind the screen; pay aging costs or risk extinction.
  • draw cards phase — Draw from deep or surface decks; manage gene pools and Cambrian explosion effects.
  • feeding phase — Choose to forage or attack; compute forage/attack values from icons and move tokens accordingly.
  • migration — Move population tokens between locations according to a migration value on traits/cards.
  • overpopulation check — If any species board is full, remove tokens to prevent overpopulation.
  • playing cards phase — Play surface cards to create new species, add traits, or migrate population tokens.
  • Scoring and end game — End game triggers when third ocean zone runs out; final scoring based on tokens and traits.
  • setup and population tokens — Set up ocean board with reef and zones; divide population tokens among zones and allocate to players.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • "two to four player game oceans published by North Star Games"
  • "an ever-changing ecosystem where food is scarce and predators are lurking all around"
  • "the player who manages to collect the most food wins the game"
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video LacAsf0mdwM watch it played Rules Teach at 0:13 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64580 · mention_pk 158048
watch it played - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:13 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
  • survival and evolution of species in a changing ocean
  • an underwater ecosystem with reefs and ocean zones
  • abstract ecological simulation with evolving species
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Aging — during the aging phase, remove population tokens from each species; if a species cannot pay aging costs, it may go extinct
  • attacking — a species may attack another (including one's own); total attack value is the sum of red icons; transfer population tokens from target to attacker, with defense icons reducing losses
  • Compound Scoring — final scoring involves population behind your screen, tokens on your species boards, and setup bonuses
  • drawing and deep cards — draw from deep and surface decks; Cambrian explosion changes rules to allow more card play; deep cards become accessible but require costs to be used with species
  • Foraging — choose a species to forage, combine its green icon values to determine how many population tokens you gain from the reef
  • Migrate — play a card to move population tokens between locations by their migration value
  • playing cards phase — on a turn you play a surface curve from your hand to create or modify a species, placing traits and potentially adding new species
  • scoring — final scoring involves population behind your screen, tokens on your species boards, and setup bonuses
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • oceans published by northstar games who helped sponsor this video
  • an ever-changing ecosystem where food is scarce and predators are lurking all around
  • the secrets of the sea are waiting to be discovered
  • so join me at the table and let's learn how to play oceans
  • the player who manages to collect the most food wins the game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video E3wyIwR7T-Y Zilla Blitz Top 10 List at 0:35 sentiment: positive
video_pk 41820 · mention_pk 126837
Zilla Blitz - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • creative problem solving and trait evolution
  • dynamic responses to opponents' threats
  • fish traits continually evolve, altering strategy
Cons
  • high competition; potentially harsh/no quarter
Thematic elements
  • evolution under threat, adaptation
  • oceanic ecosystem with evolving fish
  • emergent, problem-solving driven
Comparison games
  • Evolution
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • This video is about traditional board games. Many of them, however, more complex or crunchier, as we might say.
  • This is the game I played the most in 2025.
  • The major point, Solitare Eldritch Horror, is it's a marvelous soup of creative problem solving.
  • Final Girl is my number one game for 2025.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video KmgVtsAE09I Zilla Blitz Top 10 List at 2:42 sentiment: positive
video_pk 40862 · mention_pk 123941
Zilla Blitz - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:42 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Great depth; huge variety of creatures
  • Strategic depth and replayability
  • Brutal but fair; engaging maps and strategies
Cons
  • Nasty mechanics; can be brutal; may be harsh for casual players
Thematic elements
  • evolution of sea creatures and ecosystems
  • Oceanic ecosystem evolution
  • narrative-driven, evolving creatures and survival
Comparison games
  • Evolution
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card-driven growth — Cards modify attributes and interactions among species
  • Compound Scoring — Survival and predation drive scoring and competitive dynamics
  • Evolution/ creature card drafting — Players evolve sea creatures using cards to achieve survival criteria
  • Survival-based scoring — Survival and predation drive scoring and competitive dynamics
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • You're building a planet. I mean, you're taking this barren planet of Mars and you're building cities and woods and oceans.
  • you're basically trying to be the best terraformer of Mars.
  • tells such amazing stories.
  • The five mission campaign. You give each one of your soldiers a a name, so you're hanging on their lives.
  • If you like things like The Hunters, Silent Victory, or Western Front Ace... beer and pretzels feel to it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video buaK9AnfWa8 Game Night Picks - Pair Of Dice Paradise Discussion at 18:31 sentiment: positive
video_pk 37969 · mention_pk 114121
Game Night Picks - Pair Of Dice Paradise - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 18:31 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Introduces a European convention cluster with a cultural tie-in
  • Offers strategic use of mulligans to refine guesses
Cons
  • Potential confusion between actual vs. fictional convention names
  • Spatial reasoning can be abstract without a visual map
Thematic elements
  • open, exploratory convention exploring game culture
  • Lyon region, France
  • descriptive, travelogue-like
Comparison games
  • KublaCon
  • Gingaskhan (Aurora, Colorado)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Proximity-based guessing with a regional cluster target — Darts are aimed toward a European cluster while the actual convention name references and local culture guide guesses.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Leprechaun is Ireland's oldest gaming convention and is run every year by the students and alumni of DU Gamers.
  • Board Game Festa is a board game experience fair sponsored by the Soul Metropolitan Government in South Korea and is a festival style free board game experience event designed to widely promote board games.
  • Mega XP is the most important event for lovers of board games, TCGs, and role playing games in Mexico City, Mexico.
  • The name of this convention is Octagons.
  • Genghask Khan was born from forward-thinking university students in need of a more affordable science fiction fantasy and gaming convention in Bentley, Western Australia.
  • There is also a Gingask in Aurora, Colorado, and I suppose says Matthew won in Mongolia, but he was a warlord and not a board game convention.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6epG1UL-GZU TheGameBoyGeek - Hi Quality Hi Energy Board Game Reviews Review at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 30476 · mention_pk 89702
TheGameBoyGeek - Hi Quality Hi Energy Board Game Reviews - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Strong thematic integration between mechanics and ocean ecology
  • High player interaction and dynamic engine-building
  • Beautiful artwork and thematic presentation
  • High replayability due to diverse trait cards
Cons
  • Initial learning curve with many traits (roughly a dozen) to grasp
  • Early cards can clog your hand until later in the game
  • Complexity may overwhelm casual players on first play
Thematic elements
  • Ecological balance and inter-species interactions in an adaptive ocean ecosystem
  • Oceanic ecosystem spanning reef and deep-sea zones, with species that grow, feed, and migrate across environmental layers.
  • Mechanistic with strong thematic integration between card-driven traits and population dynamics
Comparison games
  • Evolution
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Aging and scoring — Species age to place fish behind shields; aging yields points and risks extinction.
  • Attack/defense interactions — Some traits allow attacking other species; defenses mitigate or trigger consequences.
  • Card Drafting — Players acquire trait cards that modify species behavior and interactions.
  • Card drafting / trait cards — Players acquire trait cards that modify species behavior and interactions.
  • Compound Scoring — Species age to place fish behind shields; aging yields points and risks extinction.
  • Deck variability / high replayability — A large deck of unique cards ensures each game feels different.
  • End Game Bonuses — Once certain conditions are met (timer/fish depletion), endgame approaches and players evaluate counts behind shields.
  • Endgame trigger and population management — Once certain conditions are met (timer/fish depletion), endgame approaches and players evaluate counts behind shields.
  • Engine Building — As cards are added to species, players build increasingly powerful engines.
  • Hidden scoring via shielded fish — Points are earned by the number of fish placed behind shields at round end.
  • Resource Management — Fish tokens are spent to feed species and unlock abilities.
  • Resource management / feeding — Fish tokens are spent to feed species and unlock abilities.
  • set collection / engine-building — As cards are added to species, players build increasingly powerful engines.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I enjoyed oceans better than Evolution
  • the art is beautiful and it draws you in
  • it's very thematic and interactive
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video IRGG_KCICOY Board Game Coffee Discussion at 1:31:59 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13449 · mention_pk 39405
Board Game Coffee - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:31:59 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Beautiful art, high variability, deep strategy
Cons
  • Complex for new players
Thematic elements
  • Evolutionary dynamics and ecological interaction
  • Oceanic ecosystem
  • science-informed yet approachable
Comparison games
  • Evolution
  • Oceans (expansion)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • deck-driven interaction — Fish tokens and state boxes influence actions and scoring
  • trait deck / evolving ecosystem — 11-trait deck; evolving interactions among species; cards trigger fish movement
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • we just finished our first playthrough of Copenhagen the deluxe edition
  • Kickstarter this fall with analog games means it's a game where you are constantly trying to meet the demands of the King
  • four paths to victory
  • table presence is incredible
  • everyone was so welcoming and I can't wait to go back
  • subscribe to our Channel
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BVXQz2BQ1x4 Getting Games Playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 13124 · mention_pk 38385
Getting Games - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Rich, dynamic interactions among many species and trait synergies
  • High variability due to trait decks, deep cards, and scenario events like Cambrian explosion
  • Thematic flavor is strong, with recognizable ecological concepts (predators, cleaners, symbiosis) driving decisions
  • Replayability is high due to multiple trait combos and evolving board states
Cons
  • Complex rule set that can be intimidating for new players
  • Endgame can swing dramatically due to population explosions and overpopulation penalties
  • Balance can shift depending on deep cards and scenario cards, which may favor certain strategies in a given session
Thematic elements
  • Predation, symbiosis, competition, ecological balance, and population management across ocean zones.
  • Oceanic ecosystem with reef zones and three distinct ocean layers, featuring predators, cleaners, symbiotic relationships, and migration dynamics.
  • Turn-by-turn narration of ecosystem interactions, with emphasis on foraging, aging, leeching, and triggering global events (Cambrian explosion).
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Aging — At the end of aging phases, population on each species decreases according to base aging, with modifiers from traits like schooling or inhospitable environment.
  • Deep cards and trait swapping — Deep trait cards introduce powerful effects and can be swapped or replaced under certain conditions, adding strategic depth.
  • End-game scoring behind screens — Scores come from population on the board plus population behind players’ screens; endgame triggers grant final-turns to all players.
  • Epic events and mechanics shifts — Cambrian explosion and inhospitable environment cards suddenly change aging rate, foraging, and population management for all players.
  • Foraging and attack interactions — Species forage to gain population; various traits affect defense, attack power, and whether attacks are allowed or amplified.
  • Leeching and parasite effects — Some traits pull population from adjacent species before feeding, affecting target choices and strategic threats.
  • Population zones and HIV/Reserves — Population is tracked across reef zones and ocean zones; depletion and reserve replenishment influence endgame timing and scoring.
  • Symbiotic interactions — Symbiotic trait effects allow one species to gain population as a result of another species' actions, sometimes across multiple turns.
  • Trait cards — Players attach trait cards to species to gain special abilities, defenses, and attack modifiers.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • they are going to forage seven times and of that is going to leave two fish left here in the reef
  • this means they will gain three population from the leftmost ocean zone
  • as soon as this happens our shark cleaner will activate
  • the Cambrian explosion has happened aging is now a minimum of two
  • we are going to finish this round and then every player is going to get one more turn
  • forage seven times and we can add all seven of this population to this species
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video p2EoUiKBQHI Our Family Plays Games Discussion at 19:18 sentiment: positive
video_pk 12975 · mention_pk 37951
Our Family Plays Games - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 19:18 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • ambitious thematic scope
  • interesting solo-relay or campaign-potential
Cons
  • not currently owned by the speakers, noted as nominee
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • engine-building / resource management — Exploration and resource management in an underwater ecosystem setting.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • diversity is extremely important especially for even our older community who may not be tech savvy
  • it's the atmosphere at the table
  • representation really matters
  • we're the products of that student
  • we want to keep their brain active and engaged; brain activity is important
  • three big ones is Calico, Fort and The Crew
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video vFXLv61J070 Foster the Meeple Top List at 7:21 sentiment: negative
video_pk 9179 · mention_pk 27070
Foster the Meeple - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 7:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
  • beautiful art in concept contexts outside tub
Cons
  • ocean-themed game with materials not suited to tub conditions
Thematic elements
  • marine biodiversity and exploration
  • oceanic ecosystem
  • educational-adventure with art emphasis
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • unknown — unknown
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • hot tub gate
  • soggy tarp hot tub a fun game that's not what I asked for
  • Publishers watching please put in the comments why don't they make every game hot tub proof
  • stupid stupid game can't play it in a hot tub
  • I hate it all
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3Mx3r3qEUAY Getting Games Discussion at 11:50 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 6941 · mention_pk 20552
Getting Games - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 11:50 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
  • Not discussed in depth in vlog.
Cons
  • No explicit evaluation or preference stated.
Thematic elements
  • Ocean biodiversity and predator-prey dynamics
  • Underwater ecosystem
  • informational/educational
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • unknown — Not discussed in transcript; no mechanics described.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I'm not doing great
  • this is my entire income right now
  • I miss doing the work I miss the people that I've worked with
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ud9gcuPFwxk Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Rules Teach at 0:27 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5941 · mention_pk 17607
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:27 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Strong thematic integration with components and terminology
  • Clear visual representation of oceanic elements
  • Rules are approachable despite thematic depth for many players
Cons
  • Unfamiliar terminology can hinder early learning
  • Rulebook may require supplementary guidance to avoid misinterpretation
Thematic elements
  • Evolution and ecology of ocean life
  • Oceanic ecosystem context; marine environment
  • Educational yet thematic with vivid sea life imagery
Comparison games
  • Evolution
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card Drafting — Players select cards or actions from a row to shape their turn and strategy.
  • Resource Management — Tokens represent population or resources that influence scoring and strategic choices.
  • resource/population management — Tokens represent population or resources that influence scoring and strategic choices.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I think it walks a very fine line between getting its theme across and using unfamiliar terminology
  • these tokens are called population tokens
  • this box here is called the reef
  • the cards refer to population
  • why do they need to tell us that as if we would do anything
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Nu-vezJCHUE Board Game Coffee Discussion at 15:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4044 · mention_pk 11823
Board Game Coffee - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 15:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • stunning art
  • deep strategic options
Cons
  • setup can be lengthy
Thematic elements
  • underwater civilizational development
  • oceanic world with environmental and civilizational themes
  • beautiful art; heavy theme
Comparison games
  • Mosaic
  • Terraforming Mars
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • area control / project completion — building projects and advancing civilization for points
  • Resource Management — players manage resources to expand their oceans civilization
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • we are going to give away board games to you
  • this is such a great game
  • stronghold games thank you so much for supplying this
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video c2EZMOtG6Wo 3 Minute Board Games Review at 2:42 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2901 · mention_pk 8483
3 Minute Board Games - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 2:42 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Deep card system with unique, paradigm-shifting Deep cards
  • Strong alignment between theme of competitive evolution and practical scoring decisions
  • Solid two-to-four player experience with engaging player interaction and engine-building
Cons
  • Fiddly fish management can be annoying; the reef/ocean boards can feel like finger traps
  • Can be brutal and less suitable for casual family game nights; better suited for mature gamers
Thematic elements
  • Evolution, adaptation, predator-prey dynamics, and trait-driven competition
  • Ancient oceans, evolving ecosystems with reef and open-ocean zones
  • Abstract simulation of natural selection and trait interaction to maximize points
Comparison games
  • Evolution
  • Darwin's Choice
  • Origin of Species
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • board interaction and drift — Reef and ocean sections drive placement, fish movement, and strategic blocking of opponents.
  • Card Drafting — Players draft and attach trait cards to evolving species on sideboards; manage multiple color-coded traits (green for foraging, red for attack, yellow for defense, blue for food gain).
  • card management / trait drafting — Players draft and attach trait cards to evolving species on sideboards; manage multiple color-coded traits (green for foraging, red for attack, yellow for defense, blue for food gain).
  • Engine Building — Traits interact to form an evolving ecosystem engine that affects feeding, aging, and scoring paths.
  • population management and aging — Species age along tracks; aging affects population and can lead to death if population hits zero.
  • Resource Management — Fish tokens are gained and spent to feed species; feeding decisions influence population and survival.
  • resource management and feeding — Fish tokens are gained and spent to feed species; feeding decisions influence population and survival.
  • scenario cards and mid‑game rule shifts — Blue constant-effect and purple-trigger scenario cards shape ongoing conditions; Cambrian explosion mid‑game changes core rules.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • oceans is a sequel to a game called Evolution and that's exactly what the game is about, Evolution
  • The best thing about this game is the Deep cards everyone is unique and Paradigm shifting
  • it's a little nasty in places for family game night and would definitely recommend it for mature Gamers
  • low-key brutal as heck, people can and will eat your species off the board if you let them, so be prepared to evolve some thick skin if you play it
  • oceans: the real intelligent design
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VwVs5egZsM4 Adam in Wales - Board Game Design Top List at 0:28 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2289 · mention_pk 6647
Adam in Wales - Board Game Design - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:28 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive_with_reservations
Pros
  • fantastic deep game with lifestyle potential
  • beautiful artwork and production
  • stunning wooden and cardboard tokens
  • many card combinations for variety
  • excellent component quality
  • evolution game series quality maintained
Cons
  • overwhelming for casual players
  • marine trait names lack imagination compared to land animals
  • difficult to visualize undersea creatures
  • fish tokens represent both food and population confusingly
  • better as 3-4 player game, not 2-player
  • themes less evocative than other Evolution games
Thematic elements
  • evolution
  • species_adaptation
  • marine_ecosystem
  • predator_prey_dynamics
Comparison games
  • Evolution
  • Evolution Climate
  • Evolution The Beginning
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control
  • area_control
  • attack_and_defense
  • Card Drafting
  • card_drafting
  • Combat: Damage Based
  • Engine Building
  • engine_building
  • trait_building
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • i'm adam porter and this is my board gaming vlog and it's my annual top 10 board games of the year
  • this is not an authoritative list of the best games of the year or anything like that it is just the 10 games that i've enjoyed the most
  • the game is ultimately endlessly replayable even though there's only something like nine different final solutions
  • i find the game thoroughly entertaining
  • this is exactly the sort of game i wish i could design something that simple that streamlined that looks that beautiful
  • this game pretty much got us through lockdown
  • it's gone immediately right to the top as far as my wife is concerned this is one of her favorite games of all time
  • i'm really hoping for a better 2021
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6ZKBYJGSe3Q 3 Minute Board Games Top List at 8:28 sentiment: negative
video_pk 2083 · mention_pk 6049
3 Minute Board Games - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 8:28 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
  • Rich thematic potential and depth when fully explored
Cons
  • Difficult for new players
  • Compared unfavorably to other evolution games
Thematic elements
  • biological progression and adaptation
  • evolutionary life in an oceanic ecosystem
  • educational yet abstract
Comparison games
  • Evolution: Oceans
  • Darwin's Choice
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — control of ecological spaces contributes to scoring
  • engine-building — evolution-themed deck/kit to gain abilities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • 2020 was the year that i finally decided i don't like legacy games
  • if you like discovering new games and if you like playing a new game every week that's fantastic
  • the experience for paradise lost was ... terrible
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 3p6Svet1zBE Getting Games Discussion at 20:48 sentiment: positive
video_pk 1713 · mention_pk 4961
Getting Games - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 20:48 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Engaging thematic setting with solid mechanics
Cons
  • Mechanics can be complex for new players
Thematic elements
  • science-themed exploration and expansion
  • Oceanic exploration and ecosystem management
  • tableau/hand-management for engine-building
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Card drafting / hand-management — Selecting and utilizing cards to optimize turns.
  • engine-building — Build up a system of actions and combos to maximize scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • it's almost like you're playing a video game
  • nothing was automated and it was a real chore moving every single coin back and forth
  • TableTopia has seen a lot of play for me because of the variety
  • John gets games is 100% of my income
  • it's really fun to hang out with a bunch of friends and laugh together
  • sheltering in place has shifted how we game and how we connect with people
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 74gyb2qf4RE Good Time Society Playthrough sentiment: positive
video_pk 900 · mention_pk 2575
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Complex strategic gameplay
  • Interesting ecosystem mechanics
  • Multiple ways to develop species
Cons
  • Complex rules
  • Long gameplay
  • Can be challenging to understand
Thematic elements
  • Evolution and survival of marine species
  • Marine ecosystem
  • Competitive ecosystem simulation
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Control — Controlling different ocean zones
  • Resource Management — Collecting and managing population tokens
  • Species Development — Players create and evolve marine species
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • Peace for the ocean!
  • Survival of the fittest
  • We're all just trying to survive in the ecosystem
References (from this video)
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Video KF5RDKms7vk Beyond Solitaire Interview at 5:17 sentiment: positive
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Beyond Solitaire - Oceans video thumbnail
Click to watch at 5:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Used as a primary example of early solo mode design exploration
  • Demonstrates the process of testing and validating a solo design
  • Illustrates collaboration with mentors and publishers
Cons
Thematic elements
Comparison games
  • Wakon (PX Premiere)
  • Mythic Mischief
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • unknown
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • solo gamers are inherently selfish and I don't mean that in a bad way because I'm saying this about myself but I always want it to be my turn
  • the critique is a way of sharing love and appreciation with another person you want them to succeed
  • ideas are cheap, it's about execution
  • a good designer can take a bad idea and make a good game; a bad designer cannot take a bad idea and make a good game
  • the duality of myself between the confidence and the ego and the humility
  • it's not here to tear down egos but to help others succeed
  • I want it to always be my turn
  • being visible is an incredibly important thing for people in this industry
References (from this video)
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