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Underwater Cities New Discoveries Expansion アンダーウォーターシティーズ：新たな発見 徹底レビュー｜傑作を「完全版」へ進化させる拡張

Underwater Cities New Discoveries Expansion Review: The expansion that evolves the masterpiece into a complete version

Underwater Cities: New Discoveries Review: The Essential Expansion That Transforms a Masterpiece into a Complete Edition

If you are a fan of Underwater Cities and want to play more comfortably and strategically,
This expansion set may be the answer to make that wish come true.

The high-quality, concave board dramatically improves the playing environment, and the new strategy module
Take your underwater city development to the next level.

📊 Game Basics and 30 Seconds to Understand Its Appeal

Game Name Underwater Cities: New Discoveries
Number of players 1 to 4 people
Play time 100-180 minutes (approximately 40 minutes per person)
Age range 12 years and older
Genre/Mechanics Worker Placement / Engine Building / Expansion Set

The biggest feature of this game

  • The recessed, multi-layered board prevents components from shifting, dramatically improving playability.
  • The Museum module has been added, creating new interactions where players collect discovery tiles and compete for bonuses.
  • With the introduction of asymmetrical personal assistants , each player starts with a different, powerful unique ability.

The key difference from other games

While regular expansion sets often just add new elements,
This title combines elements that directly address player dissatisfaction, such as "improved component quality" and "shortened play time (quick start)."

Underwater Cities: Top 5 Unique Charms You'll Only Discover Once You Visit

1. Stress-free building experience! Multi-layered player board

"The building won't move anymore, so that alone makes it worth buying."

When playing with the basic set, have you ever felt frustrated when the domes and tunnels on the board shifted with even the slightest vibration?

This expansion includes a triple-layer board with recesses that allow tiles and pieces to fit snugly.
It makes board management incredibly easy without compromising the immersive city-building experience.
This isn't just a cosmetic improvement, it's a game-changing improvement to the quality of your playing experience.

"The multi-layer board is a fantastic quality of life improvement that alone justifies the expansion's price."
(Summary from BGG user reviews)

💡
The absence of physical stress allows players to focus purely on strategy and mind-boggling puzzles.

2. Competition to donate to museums leads to heated interactions

"Be the first to display your finds! The tension of being the first to get them!"

In the newly added "Museum Module," you can collect relics (discovery tiles) from ancient civilizations that have sunk to the bottom of the ocean and donate them to the museum board to receive rewards.

These rewards are first come, first served , encouraging the competitive spirit of trying to achieve a specific combination before other players.
Not only will you need domestic policy to develop your own city, but you'll also need a keen eye to keep an eye on your opponents' movements.

"The museum board adds a great racing element and interaction to the game."
(Summary from BGG user reviews)

💡
By adding a clear "racing element" to sandbox games, which tend to have a strong solo play feel, the thrill of interacting with others is created.

3. A unique design from the start! An asymmetrical personal assistant

"Draw your own unique strategy with your own powerful abilities"

Unlike the standard secretary from the core set, each player starts with a new personal assistant of their choice, each with their own unique special abilities .

Due to differences in abilities such as "certain construction costs are reduced" and "certain actions are strengthened,"
Right from the start of the game, it becomes easier to set guidelines such as "This time, let's build a city that makes use of this ability."

"The new assistants have powerful asymmetrical abilities that will greatly increase replayability."
(Summary from BGG user reviews)

💡
The different initial conditions make you want to try different strategies each time, so you can keep playing with a fresh feeling no matter how many times you play.

4. Increased speed! Quick Start Mode

"You can cut out the troublesome beginning and enjoy the best parts first."

This Quick Start Mode is the answer to the problem of "playing for too long."

Skip the first round and start the second round with some resources from the start.
It's not just a time-saver; it allows you to skip the difficult early stages and move straight into the most enjoyable phase, where expansion and reproduction begins to get on track.

"Quick Start is a great addition, shortening game time while still giving you resources from the start."
(Summary from BGG user reviews)

💡
You can enjoy the fun of building an engine sooner, so you can immerse yourself in the game with high excitement without getting bored.

5. The race for Metropolis intensifies the strategy

"Major cities are not achieved by luck, but by skill."

Previously, "Major Cities (Blue and Green)" were distributed randomly, but with the expansion's "Metropolis Race" rules,
You will be able to choose any city to acquire from players who meet the conditions.

You can target and capture the cities you truly need for your strategy, reducing the element of luck and rewarding strategic city planning.

"I like that it's not random, but you can compete to get the metropolis that fits your strategy."
(Summary from BGG user reviews)

💡
This reduces the sense of injustice that comes with "unlucky draw of a city that doesn't go well with you," and gives you a sense of satisfaction (control) that your decisions are directly connected to the outcome.

Three things you should know before purchasing

To get the most out of this game, here are some things to keep in mind:

[Point 1] There is a slight difference in the color of the back of the card

It has been reported that the back colors of the cards added in the expansions (Ages I and II) are slightly different from those in the base set.

  • 💡 Solution: This can be completely solved by using opaque card sleeves .
  • In fact, this is a good thing: it gives you an opportunity to put your precious cards in sleeves, protecting them from dirt and scratches and allowing you to play with them for a longer period of time.

[Point 2] Play time is still long

Because of the increased number of elements, the gameplay time is still heavy, at around 40 minutes per player (more than two and a half hours for four players).

  • 💡Solution : By adopting "Quick Start Mode," you can shorten play time while increasing density.
  • In fact, this is a good thing: on weekends or holidays, when you want to sit back and enjoy a deep experience, it's the ultimate luxury.

[Point 3] High mental load and easy fatigue

In addition to puzzles involving cards and actions, there are more options, such as museums, so you'll need to use your brain to the fullest.

  • 💡 Solution: We recommend that you do not add all the modules the first time you play, but instead start by playing with just the "multi-layer board" and "new cards," gradually adding more elements .
  • In fact, this is a good thing: for gamers who feel that "easy games aren't enough" or "want to enjoy a challenging brain battle," this will give you an incredible sense of accomplishment.

A complete guide to the best people and scenes

The experience you can get from this game

  • Pursuit of comfort: Improved component quality provides a stress-free, luxurious playing experience.
  • Deepening strategy: A full-fledged gamer's game experience where you can control the element of luck and enjoy the tactics between players.

Recommended people and scenes

  • Anyone who likes the base game "Underwater Cities" (this expansion is almost essential!)
  • People who care about component quality (perfect for those who have been frustrated with flimsy boards)
  • Solo players (various boards and goal settings allow for long periods of enjoyment even when playing alone)
  • A board game club for people who enjoy carefully planning strategies (with members who prefer heavy games lasting over 100 minutes)
  • People who want "interaction" (to escape from the feeling of solo play and enjoy competition with others)

Underwater Cities: New Discoveries is for those who want both a comfortable playing environment and deeper strategy.
It's truly an ideal choice.

If you feel like "I like the basic game, but I'm concerned about the difficulty of using the board and the long play time,"
Why not try installing this expansion set and playing in quick start mode ?

A stress-free and exciting underwater city development awaits you, and you can be sure that this is the finished product .


Link to the official rulebook

Check the product on the online store page

Free shipping throughout Japan. Orders placed before 3pm will be shipped the same day.

Reference source/quote source

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