Welcome to my review of Aquarius! If you’ve ever wondered what happens when rainbows, luck, and sneaky strategies meet in a card game, you’re in the right place. I roped my friends into playing this wild and colorful ride, and now I have thoughts—some glowing, some slightly salty. Whether you’re thinking about picking up a new family game or just want to read about my mixed feelings with luck-based chaos, let’s get started!
How It Plays
Setting up
First, shuffle the deck. Hand out one secret goal card to each player. Give each player three cards. Put the rest in a draw pile. Place the starting card in the middle. No yelling yet—wait until the game starts.
Gameplay
On your turn, play one card next to the cards already in play. Match the colored elements (like fire, water, Earth—you know, hippie stuff). Draw a card to end your turn. Play special action cards for wild twists, like trading hands or moving goal cards. Prepare for sudden chaos and sibling arguments.
Winning the game
Keep connecting those wild cards. The first player to make a line of seven squares with their secret element wins. They also get bragging rights until the next rematch (or until someone flips the table).
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for Aquarius.
Gameplay Mechanics & Player Interaction in Aquarius
Here’s the thing about Aquarius: it tricks you into thinking it’s a calm, chill game. Like, I thought I’d spend my time just placing cards and quietly building lovely elemental streams. But five minutes in, I’m yelling at my friend for swapping my secret goal, and someone else is shoving the Action cards at me with the same enthusiasm as someone passing a hot potato.
The core gameplay in Aquarius is simple—match colored elements (Water, Fire, Earth, Air, or Space) on your cards to those already on the table. Your secret goal card tells you what element to connect the most, while everyone else also tries to build their own element. You get one card per turn, and you can place or use special Action cards for chaos. There’s always this tension: do I expand my own color? Do I sabotage my buddy? Do I make a wild guess about someone’s hidden goal? Let’s just say, subtlety doesn’t last long at our table.
Player interaction is a big deal in Aquarius. I mean, you’re not just reacting to others; you’re actively messing with them. The best part? No one’s out of the game until it’s done. You can swap secret goals, rearrange cards, or completely ruin the leader’s master plan with one sneaky move. I love that it keeps everyone engaged—no wallflowers here! But if you hate being targeted, you might want to get armor before game night.
Next up, I’ll tackle the most divisive thing at our table: is Aquarius ruled by luck, or can we outsmart each other? Get your lucky rabbit’s foot ready…
Luck vs Strategy: The Ever-Shifting Waters of Aquarius
Let me say this right out the gate: If you don’t like luck in your board games, Aquarius might make you sweat. When I played with my friends, I felt like a fish flopping between strategy and pure chance. You want to make a clever plan, but the deck has other ideas—like your annoying cousin at family game night who just has to mess with your turn.
Strategy in Aquarius is all about matching your secret element before anyone else. That sounds easy, but your hand has other plans. Sometimes you draw the exact tile you need and feel like a mastermind. Other times, it’s just a parade of useless cards and your only move is to block your friend Ruth, who’s obviously winning (and now probably holding a grudge).
Luck dominates when you draw new cards and when you swap goals. I once went from nearly winning to dead last just because someone swapped my secret goal card. If you like games where you can always think your way to victory, Aquarius probably isn’t for you. (I gave it 3 out of 5 stars for this reason—too much chaos for my poor brain cells.)
On the bright side, this luck keeps the mood light and the trash talk lively. No one can claim they’re a genius all the time, and even your little brother has a real shot, which is great family fun. If you’re after a balanced game of skill, keep looking. But if you enjoy the wild ride, Aquarius will keep you guessing and giggling.
Now, if you think the fun ends with shuffling cards, wait until you see the psychedelic art and feel the slippery-smooth card stock.
The Wild, Wobbly Art and Card Feel of Aquarius
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a unicorn and a lava lamp teamed up to design a card game, Aquarius is the answer. The art just pops with rainbow squiggles, smiling suns, and more glitter than my grandma’s craft drawer. My friends and I kept stopping the game to just admire the cards, and honestly, who can blame us? You could hang these cards on your wall and call it modern art, and only the snobbiest art critic would notice.
The card quality in Aquarius surprised me. The cards feel a little bendy, but not so much you have to treat them like museum pieces. I have a friend—let’s call him Dave the Destroyer—who shuffles like he’s mad at the world. Even after a few rounds with Dave, the cards held up okay. The finish is smooth (no sticky fingers, please), and the print is crisp. After half a dozen games, the colors still shone brighter than my hopes on a Monday.
Here’s one neat thing: The cards are a bit slippery, so if you’re playing on a sloped table or after a strong cup of coffee, you’ll want to keep a steady hand. But overall, Aquarius brings a quirky, fun feel to the table, and the card quality is good enough you won’t stress about setting down your drink.
But can you play it again and again, and does it work with families? Find out next, as I unleash my inner child and my actual children!
Replay Value & Family Friendliness: Aquarius is for All Ages
When it comes to replay value, Aquarius delivers more than I do when someone says “last slice of pizza.” The goal cards, which are secret and shuffled each game, keep things fresh. Every round, the planet-aligning objectives and wild actions mix things up, so no two games ever play out the same way. That’s pretty good for a little card game from the nineties. I’ve played this with my group more times than I can count (math isn’t my thing, okay?) and we never ended up bored—even if we did end up slightly annoyed at each other’s sneaky moves!
Now, if you’re searching for a family game, Aquarius feels like it was made for you. I mean, unless your family is one of those ultra-competitive clans who flip the table at the first sign of betrayal. (In that case, maybe try cooperative games instead.) The rules are easy for kids, but the hidden goals and chance for clever plays will keep grown-ups awake and engaged. Plus, rounds move quick, so there’s no time for the little ones to complain about being bored. The game says it’s for ages 6 and up, and even Aunt Mildred, who thinks TikTok is a kind of clock, was able to join a game and enjoy herself.
If you want a quick, light family game with lots of replay value, Aquarius is a solid pick. I recommend it, unless you hate fun or rainbows—or both, in which case, I have questions.
Conclusion
If you want fast, colorful chaos at your table, Aquarius delivers. It’s got wild art, lively player interaction, and it’s simple enough that even my dad could stay awake the whole game. Yes, luck can steal the show a bit too often and strategy fans might grumble, but for pure, silly fun with friends or family, it’s hard to beat. Just don’t expect to win with genius tactics—sometimes you’ll do everything right and still watch grandma steal victory with her wild card. That’s Aquarius! Thanks for reading. Game on, friends.
