# Aqua Garden

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2021
- **BGG Rating**: 7.4
- **BGG Rank**: #2626
- **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 40-60 min
- **Weight**: 2.17 / 5
- **Designers**: Totsuca Chuo
- **Artists**: Rocinante Urabe, Tatsuki Asano, 別府さい (Sai Beppu)
- **Publishers**: uchibacoya, CrowD Games, Rosiness, Underdog Games (II)
- **Categories**: Animals, Puzzle
- **Mechanics**: Set Collection, Turn Order: Time Track

## Verdict
Fish lovers and time‑track fans will fall in love.Stunning artworkTime‑track mechanicClear, fun rulesOxygen limitShark separation rulesHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
Aqua Garden is the aquarium game that blends strategy, collection, and a dash of time‑tracking. You start as a small aquarium owner with six empty tanks and one employee who must be moved carefully. Each round, the player furthest from the start of the time track moves to any empty space and performs that space’s action—if it’s an ad, you collect money; if it’s a creature spot, you capture the fish and place it in the tank next to your employee. But watch out: each tank only has four oxygen units, so you can’t overload without adding algae that boost oxygen. Placement rules apply: sharks must stay apart, small fish form schools, and turtles love algae. You can also buy fish, algae, and coral from the sea board using the money earned from ads. When the time track loops, players start a new round in arrival order, and the game continues until everyone finishes. At the end, you score for complete sets in each tank, remaining cash, finish order, and milestones achieved. The final result is a balance between resource management and positioning strategy. If you enjoy collection games with a hint of time pressure, Aqua Garden will surprise you with its simplicity and depth.

The Japanese design brings beautiful artwork and quality components, and the time‑track mechanic adds a steady pace that keeps everyone engaged. The learning curve is gentle, but there are nuances in fish placement and oxygen management that require attention. In 40‑to‑60‑minute sessions, you can play solo or in groups, and the game scales well to different experience levels.

In short, Aqua Garden turns fish collection into a race against time, with clear rules and an aesthetic that feels like a real observation tank.

## FAQ
### How long does a typical game last?
Between 40 and 60 minutes, depending on player count and movement speed.

### What’s the complexity level?
Medium. The learning curve is gentle, but oxygen management and placement rules need attention.

### Can I play solo?
Yes! It works well solo with solitaire rules that let you face AI or time.

### What are the main components?
Central board, each player’s personal board, 6 tanks, 1 employee, fish pieces, algae, coral, and money tokens.

### Who is this game recommended for?
Fans of collection games, time‑track mechanics, and nature/aquarium themes.

### Is there a tricky rule I should know?
The oxygen limit per tank and the rule to keep sharks separate from other fish are critical.

### Are there any expansions?
None officially yet, but the community often creates casual rule variants.

## Price Comparison
### Best International Offers
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 128.10 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4416148&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
  - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/38760/aqua-garden?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com