Aqua Regia is a card game that dives into the world of chemistry, but in a fun way. Each player starts with a deck of metal cards representing different elements, and the goal is to get rid of those cards before the others. The core mechanic is ladder climbing: players must place their cards in the correct ionization order, from lithium (the easiest to lose) to gold (the strongest). When a player empties their hand, they place their cards on the victory board, and the final order of pieces follows the ionization column, not just the number. Meanwhile, the game’s setting evolves through four phases: water → steam → acid → Aqua Regia. Each phase changes the type and amount of metals that can be produced, forcing players to adapt quickly. This creates constant tension, as you must decide whether to speed up production or wait to place cards in the right spot. The pace is fast, with games lasting 15 to 30 minutes, and the learning curve is moderate: the ionization logic may seem complex at first, but it quickly becomes intuitive. Components are simple – metal decks, field tokens, and a victory board that shows the ionization ladder. The deck contains 60 metal cards, each with a chemical symbol and an ionization value. Field tokens represent the four game phases, and the victory board has 12 positions, each indicating an ionization level. The final goal is to be the first to place your cards in the correct position and empty your hand before the field shifts to the hardest phase, where few metals can be produced. Players must balance card production with the need to place cards on the ladder. If you place a card out of order, you could lose the game. Therefore, ladder climbing requires forward thinking and constant attention to the game state. Although the theme is chemical, the game does not require prior chemistry knowledge; players can learn about elements as they play. With shuffled cards, each game offers a different challenge, keeping the fun alive in every play.