Board Game Review: Aqua (Pocket Edition)

 Designer: Ta-Te Wu

Artist: Ta-Te Wu

Publisher: Sunrise Tornado

2 Players

Playtime: 15 minutes

Aqua is a light tile placement and set collection game designed by Ta-Te Wu and published by Sunrise Tornado. The game features an aquatic theme where players act as roles of curators managing an art exhibit, working to display a beautiful underwater-themed collection of cards. Unfortunately, the curators are squabbling and can’t agree on whether the art should focus on vertical alignment or horizontal structure. Who is right?

A Brief How To Play

In Aqua, players take turns placing cards, with one player scoring for rows and the other for columns. Each player starts with a hand of three cards, placing one card orthogonally adjacent to an already-played card on their turn. If a player places their card next to a face-down card, they flip it face-up, and vice versa. After drawing a new card, the turn ends, and players continue until the deck and their hands are exhausted. Once all cards are placed, the scoring begins.

The scoring system is based on sets of cards in rows and columns, with each card featuring one of four icons (waves, lily pads, boats, or sea turtles) and a number. To score a row or column, the total of the numbers on the cards must fall between 10 and 20. Players score based on the number of matching cards in their row or column, not the total number value. After scoring waves, lily pads, and boats, sea turtles score based on adjacent wave cards, and visitor tokens—earned by playing boats—award additional points. The player with the most points after all scoring is complete wins.

Pacing and Interaction

With quick turns and a playtime of no more than 15 minutes, Aqua offers a fast-paced experience where downtime is minimal, keeping all players engaged throughout the game. Though there’s a lot to track, the speed of play prevents analysis paralysis, as players are encouraged to make their moves quickly. There is some mild tension as players attempt to remember which cards are face-down, but the short duration makes it easy to jump right back into the game if mistakes are made.

The game is surprisingly interactive for a tile placement and set collection game. Although players never have complete information about their opponents’ rows or columns, they can still anticipate how their card placements might affect their opponent’s scoring opportunities. It creates a tug-of-war dynamic where players may block or disrupt their opponents’ plans by either withholding cards or overfilling rows or columns, forcing the total to exceed the 20-point threshold. While Aqua isn’t designed to be a “mean” game, there is potential for playful strategic interference, which adds a competitive edge without undermining the overall tone.

Replayability

While Aqua is a small game with a limited number of cards, it feels like a puzzle, which  encourages replayability. The key to success lies in balancing one’s score while avoiding giving opponents easy points. Every hand is a little different, making each playthrough feel unique. The simple mechanics allow for repeated sessions, especially for fans of puzzle games, and the small card deck keeps the game easy to set up and play multiple times in a row.

That said, while Aqua has a lot of replay value, additional variety could enhance its long-term appeal. Introducing hidden player objectives or more diverse ways to score would add another layer of strategy without complicating the game too much. Maybe we can see something similar in an expansion one day.

Theme and Components

The theme of Aqua is simple, but it works. Players take on the role of curators in charge of an underwater art exhibit. The idea of organizing and displaying aquatic life in a vertical and horizontal format feels intuitive, making the theme work seamlessly with the gameplay.  The curators have opposing ideas, which makes this game feel right as a competitive one. While the theme isn’t deeply immersive, it provides just enough context to support the tile placement and set collection mechanics.

In terms of components, the game has a small footprint, which is great for those with full shelves. The pocket edition includes a deck of cards, two player aids, and six cube pieces to represent visitors, making it an excellent choice for portable play. There is also a deluxe edition that includes meeples, an art print to play on, and a scoreboard with score tokens. While the deluxe edition adds extra flair, the pocket edition is perfectly functional and compact. The art by Ta-Te Wu is vibrant and fitting for the aquatic theme, capturing a dreamy, serene atmosphere.

Aqua Is Great For Fans Of…

Aqua is ideal for fans of quick games with light set-collection elements. If you enjoy games like Sushi Go, Aqua offers a similar puzzle-like experience with a focus on balancing your own goals while managing the opportunities given to opponents. Its small size and fast playtime also make it perfect for those who enjoy portable games or like to have quick sessions during a busy night.

Disclosure: A copy of Aqua was provided for free for review by Flat River Games.