# Shallow Sea: Nesting Season ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2025 - **BGG Rating**: 8.1 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 2, 3) - **Duration**: 30-45 min - **Weight**: 2.00 / 5 - **Designers**: Yeom.C.W - **Artists**: Sophia Kang - **Publishers**: Bad Comet, DSV Games, GaGa Games, Ogry Games, Strohmann Games - **Categories**: Animals, Environmental, Expansion for Base-game, Puzzle - **Mechanics**: End Game Bonuses, Grid Coverage, Open Drafting, Pattern Building, Set Collection, Solo / Solitaire Game, Tile Placement, Variable Set-up ## Verdict If you love Shallow Sea and crave more depth, this expansion will make your heart race!New ecosystem cards5x5 grid layoutOpen drafting funShort but intenseNot overly complexHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Shallow Sea: Nesting Season is the expansion that turns your base game into a wave of fun. The premise is simple: while you and your opponents fight to dominate the grid, you must also build an underwater ecosystem that lets turtles head to the shore and lay their eggs. Each turn you draw ecosystem cards, place tiles on a 5x5 board, and try to complete patterns that award bonus points. The open drafting mechanic ensures everyone can pick the most desirable cards, but real strategy lies in timing and placement to maximize grid coverage. At the end, end‑game bonuses reward those who amassed the most marine resources and guided turtles to the best nesting sites. The expansion adds new corals, marine creatures, and cards that shift the dynamic of each game, keeping it light and quick—30 to 45 minutes—yet deep enough for strategy lovers. If you enjoy the base game and want to mix things up, this expansion is a dive worth taking. The gameplay experience is highly visual: the colorful grid looks like a reef map, and the turtle tiles are made of translucent plastic, giving a sense of depth. The ecosystem cards act as a “boost” that can change the course of the game in a few turns. Variable setup ensures each session feels unique, as card distribution changes each play. Even though the game is light in weight (2/5), it offers strategic depth that appeals to both casual players and those seeking a solid challenge. With 1 to 4 players, don’t worry: the solo mode provides an engaging experience with its own challenges that test your grid‑optimization skills. It’s also a great fit for fans of environmental themes, highlighting the importance of protecting marine habitats and ensuring turtles have safe nesting spots. In short, Shallow Sea: Nesting Season adds new cards, new tiles, and an extra layer of strategy to the base game. If you’re looking for something that blends fun, competition, and an ecological touch, this expansion is the right choice. ## How to Play Game Objective In Shallow Sea: Nesting Season, you take on the role of a sea turtle on a risky journey to find the perfect nesting spot. The central theme is "natal homing," where turtles return to the beaches where they were born to ensure the next generation. The goal is to establish a healthy and safe ecosystem by meeting specific conditions to ensure your turtles can successfully nest before your opponents. Victory is determined by the accumulated score at the end of the game, where the strategic placement of your turtles on Turtle Island and the completion of Nesting Tiles objectives are key to achieving the highest score. Setup To prepare the game, follow these steps: Island Board: Place the Turtle Island Board with the side corresponding to the number of players face-up in the center of the table. Ecosystem Cards: During base game setup, select 1 Ecosystem Card from the Orange and Blue colors and place it face-up next to the Pools. If using the Turtle Island module, use only 1 Ecosystem Card instead of 2. Base Game Setup: Follow the base game manual instructions, with the following exceptions: In 3-4 player games, the 3rd and 4th players start with 3 Seashells instead of 2. Each player chooses a color and takes their Turtle Marker and 2 Turtles, placing them in front of their Ocean Board. Turtle Eggs: For 1-2 players: Place 3 random Large Turtle Eggs on the top row. Place 3 random Medium Turtle Eggs on the middle row. For 3-4 players: Place 3 random Small Turtle Eggs on the bottom row. The Medium Turtle Eggs will not be used and should be returned to the box. Nesting Tiles: Depending on the number of players, place the corresponding Turtle Eggs on the Turtle Island Board so the scores are visible. Select 1 Tile of each color from the Yellow, White, and Blue Nesting Tiles and place them on the corresponding spaces on the Turtle Island Board. Sealife Tiles: Follow the Sealife Tiles setup guide to select 10 types of Sealife Tiles (from the base game and expansion) to use in the game. Tile Restrictions (Solo/Scenario): If playing Solo or Scenario mode, place the Tile Restriction Markers to the left of the Turtle Island Board as indicated by the chosen scenario. Game Flow The game progresses through turns where players attempt to meet conditions to place their turtles. The Turtle Island module introduces a competitive "first-come, first-served" element, where turn order is crucial for securing scoring bonuses. Refer to the manual for details on the full turn structure and specific maintenance or global event phases. Actions and How to Play During your turn, you can perform the following actions and interactions: Turtle Placement (Free Action) Placing a turtle on Turtle Island is a free action that can be taken at any time during your turn, provided the conditions of a Nesting Tile have been met. Turn Restriction: A player can only place 1 Turtle per turn, even if multiple conditions are met simultaneously. Space Restriction: You cannot place a turtle on a space that is already occupied. Quantity Restriction (Solo/Scenario): In Solo or Scenario mode, you can only place a turtle if the number of Tiles in your ocean is equal to or less than the value of the corresponding Tile Restriction Marker (e.g., 11 for the top row or 14 for the bottom row). Completing Tiles When you meet the conditions of a Nesting Tile, you can place your turtle on the corresponding slot. The earlier you fulfill the condition, the higher the score you receive. Example mechanic: If you complete a Coral Tile and place a Fish of a specific color, this may fulfill the condition of a Nesting Tile requiring a certain number of fish of that color. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when the end-game conditions are met (refer to the manual for the specific end-game trigger). Scoring Points are calculated based on various criteria: Nesting Tiles: Players who complete a Nesting Tile condition first receive bonus points. Turtles not placed on Turtle Island do not provide Nesting Tiles points. Coral Tiles: When completed, they provide either 6 or 8 VPs (Victory Points). Sealife Tiles: Points are awarded based on color combinations and types of Completed Coral Tiles or Completed Fish in specific directions (rows, columns, or diagonals). Ecosystem Cards: May grant additional VPs based on specific fish in your ocean. Victory and Defeat (Scenario Mode) In Scenario Mode, there are no specific objectives beyond scoring. To win a scenario, the player must reach the minimum score required for that scenario. If the minimum is not met, the scenario is considered failed. Tips for Winning Prioritize Speed: In the Turtle Island module, turn order is vital, as scoring bonuses are awarded to those who complete objectives first (first-come, first-served system). Strategic Planning: You may strategically delay or forgo fulfilling a Nesting Tile condition to optimize your ocean for larger objectives. Watch the Limits (Solo): In Solo mode, monitor the number of Tiles in your ocean to avoid exceeding the Tile Restriction Markers, which would prevent you from placing turtles on the island. ## FAQ ### How many players can play with the expansion? The expansion supports 1 to 4 players, just like the base game. ### What is the approximate playtime with the expansion? Games last between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on player experience. ### Does the expansion increase game complexity? No, the mechanics stay simple but add layers of strategy and competition. ### What new components does the expansion include? New ecosystem cards, corals, turtle tiles, and a 5x5 board. ### Is there a solo mode with the expansion? Yes, the solo mode offers its own challenges while using the same grid and card mechanics. ### Is the expansion suitable for beginners? Yes, it keeps the light weight (2/5) and is accessible for new players. ### Do I need any extra components to play? No, all necessary components are included in the expansion; just set up the base game. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 27.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=7033202&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/80020/shallow-sea-nesting-season-expansion?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com