Open Ocean

About this board game

Open Ocean is a card drafting and placement game for 1–5 players, with play lasting about 30 minutes. As budding marine biologists, players explore a coral reef battered by a typhoon and work to restore its vibrant ecosystem.

The reef begins with just one tiny coral. Most of its residents have fled into the open ocean, and players must coax them back while building the most valuable collection of colorful creatures.

Each turn follows a simple but meaningful sequence:

1. Pick one card from your current hand.
2. Play the selected card into your Reef.
3. Pass the remaining cards clockwise to the next player.

As cards move around the table, players compete to collect creatures passed by their opponents. They can also attract additional creatures from the Ocean, a shared pool of cards in the center of the table, before another player claims them.

Special cards provide extra opportunities to influence the reef. Use them to snag specific fish from the Ocean or take a creature from an opponent’s Reef, turning the tides when the right opportunity appears.

After three rounds, players score their reefs and earn bonuses based on the types and placement of the creatures they collected. Careful drafting and thoughtful card placement are essential to creating the highest-scoring ecosystem.

With its combination of shared card movement, creature collection, and tactical placement, Open Ocean challenges players to make the most of every hand as they rebuild the reef and compete for the highest score.