# AquaSphere

AquaSphere is a board game for 2–4 players. It plays in 100 minutes and is meant for ages 12 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 4. It is rated 6 out of 10 by 44 Ludoya reviewers.

- **Players:** 2–4 (best with 4)
- **Playing time:** 100 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 12+
- **Complexity:** 3.7 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2014
- **Categories:** Science Fiction, Nautical
- **Mechanics:** Tech Trees / Tech Tracks, Income, Area Movement, End Game Bonuses, Open Drafting, Once-Per-Game Abilities, Tile Placement, Area Majority / Influence, Variable Set-up, Modular Board, Turn Order: Pass Order
- **Ludoya rating:** 6 out of 10, from 44 reviews
- **Owned by:** 79 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 174
- **Unique players:** 221

**Designers:** Stefan Feld

**Artists:** Dennis Lohausen

**Publishers:** Hall Games

## Expansions

- [AquaSphere: Erweiterung](https://www.ludoya.com/games/aquasphere-erweiterung)

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## Rules questions

### How many Bots can I have programmed at once — can I program more than two?

You may not have more than 2 programmed Bots at a time; there are two ways to program a Bot (move your Engineer along the Headquarters or, once per round, pay 3 Time Markers to place a Bot on any unoccupied Program Symbol). (page 6)

### What happens when I move a Bot onto a Control Space that’s already occupied — do we lose Bots from the Loading Station?

The displaced Bot is moved to that Sector’s Loading Station; if the Loading Station then exceeds the permitted number, each player must return all but one of their Bots from that Loading Station to their supply (permitted numbers: 2 players = 2, 3 players = 4, 4 players = 5). (page 7)

### When do Research Cards trigger — do some activate immediately and others later?

Research Cards have different timings: some give an immediate reward when you take them (you also gain Knowledge Points from the Center Tile when taking the card), others trigger on events (e.g., when moving your Engineer or catching Octopods), some are used during Intermediate Scoring, and some must be used immediately or only once — see the Appendix for details. (pages 9, 12)

### Can I place more than one Submarine in the same Sector, and what do I get for placing one?

You may only have one Submarine in each Sector; to place one you take the next Submarine from your board, pay the Time Markers shown on the Submarine space (or you cannot choose the action), and you immediately gain the Knowledge Points shown on the current Center Tile — placing all six Submarines gives a 5 KP endgame bonus. (page 9)

### What if my Lab is full — can I still take Time Markers, Crystals, or Research Cards?

When taking Time Markers or Crystals you may only take as many as your Lab capacity allows and must leave the rest in the Sector, and you may only take a Research Card if you have capacity to accommodate it (you may not discard Research Cards later). (pages 8, 9, 12)

### How do Time Markers work at Intermediate Scoring — do I get extra ones and can I use 'pause' Research Cards then?

At Intermediate Scoring you receive 1 Time Marker per Submarine you have deployed in the Station and you may then use any Research Cards marked with the pause (II) symbol (for example, to pay 1 Time Marker to place a Bot on a Program Symbol); also return any Time Markers shown in the top-right of your Player Board to the general supply. (page 10)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/aquasphere)
- [AquaSphere in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/aquasphere)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/159508)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-18. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._