The Great Barrier Reef Card Game

About this board game

The Great Barrier Reef Card Game is a small-box card game for 1–5 players, with play lasting about 45 minutes. Each player grows a portion of the reef in a tableau in front of them, developing patterns as the game progresses.

On your turn, play a card from your hand to extend your reef. The scoring cards in play are selected randomly, so the patterns you need to create can change from game to game. Every card placement is an opportunity to improve your reef while working toward the current scoring conditions.

After playing a card, draw from the card row according to the number on the card you played. This gives each turn a dual purpose: strengthen your tableau and make sure you are drawing the right card for future plays. The result is a compact card game that connects reef growth with hand and draw management.

• Build a personal reef tableau from cards in your hand.
• Create patterns based on randomly selected scoring cards.
• Draw from the card row according to the number on your played card.
• Alter scoring conditions by covering sharks and sponges.

The game ends when the deck runs out. Players then score their reefs according to how well they completed the indicated patterns, with scoring conditions able to change through covered sharks and sponges.

In The Great Barrier Reef Card Game, the winner is the player who builds the healthiest reef. Its small-box format and changing scoring conditions make each reef-building challenge depend on the patterns in play and the cards available for future turns.