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Sea of Clouds is a physical board game about drafting loot, recruiting pirates, and competing in periodic boarding actions. IELLO lists it for 2–4 players, ages 10 and up, with a 40-minute playing time; the central choice is whether to take a share of loot now or pass and let it grow for the next player.
What is Sea of Clouds?
Published by IELLO, Sea of Clouds is an air-pirate-themed drafting game created by Théo Rivière and illustrated by Miguel Coimbra. IELLO gives its release date as 29 April 2016. The game asks players to assemble loot and pirate crews while vying for rewards in boarding actions. IELLO’s product page
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Players take turns choosing from shares of Loot. A share can contain Rum, Relics, Objects, or Pirates. Taking a share secures its contents; passing leaves it for the next player, and the share can grow as cards are added. Card backs provide clues about what a share may hold, so the choice combines partial information with the risk of waiting.
The Loot categories have different scoring or gameplay roles. Pirates are more than a set to collect: recruited crew members contribute to periodic boarding actions, where players can win Doubloons or plunder Loot. The game ends after 12 or 15 rounds, depending on the game, and players score their Doubloons and Loot cards. For setup, turn order, and the complete rules, use the official English rulebook.
#1 Best Overall
- What's in the Expansion Box - 16 Coral Tiles, 4 Ecosystem Cards,15 Nesting Tiles, 42 Randomizer Cards, 1 Score Pad, 80 Sealife Tiles, 4 Tile Restriction Markers, 9 Turtle Eggs, 1 Turtle Island Board, 4 Turtle Markers, and 8 Turtles
- Build Your Own Coral Reef Ecosystem – Explore the beauty of the ocean as you place and connect coral and sea-life tiles to form a thriving underwater habitat. Every move counts—strategically plan and expand your reef to attract fish, complete ecosystem patterns, and earn points. Shallow Sea combines visual elegance with meaningful strategic depth.
- Premium Marine Artwork & Component Quality – Each element—from coral tiles to sea-life tokens—is crafted with detailed design and durable materials. The set includes 76 coral tiles, 88 sealife tiles, 96 fish pieces, 14 ecosystem cards, custom pouches, and seashell tokens, all designed to deliver an immersive, high-quality tabletop experience.
- Perfect for Families, Friends, or Solo Play – Designed for 1–4 players ages 10 and up, Shallow Sea fits any occasion—from family gatherings to quiet evenings or friendly game nights. It’s easy to learn, yet offers layered strategy and replayability that appeal to both casual players and experienced gamers.
- Engaging, Strategic, and Replayable Sessions – Each game lasts 30–45 minutes, providing just the right balance between quick play and thoughtful decision-making. Every round develops differently thanks to unique tile patterns and card combinations, ensuring no two games ever feel the same.
What decisions shape a game?
- Take or pass: Claim a share whose contents suit your plans, or leave it to grow for a later turn. Passing may improve the share, but also gives another player the opportunity to take it.
- Read the clues: The backs of cards offer information about a share without revealing its full contents. That makes the draft a calculated gamble rather than a completely blind choice.
- Build for boarding: Pirates recruited from Loot shares affect your prospects in boarding actions, which bring direct competition for Doubloons or loot.
- Balance scoring routes: Rum, Relics, Objects, Pirates, and Doubloons do not all do the same job. Players must decide which opportunities are worth pursuing as the game progresses.
Who can play, and how long does it take?
| Specification | IELLO listing |
|---|---|
| Players | 2–4 |
| Age | 10+ |
| Playing time | 40 minutes |
| Release date | 29 April 2016 |
These are publisher specifications, not independently measured playtime or suitability guarantees. The time a group takes may differ from the listed 40 minutes.
What is in the Sea of Clouds box?
The official English rulebook lists Loot cards, Doubloons, captain boards, a central board, tokens, a score book, and the rulebook. Published materials disagree on the exact Loot-card count: the English rulebook lists 94 Loot cards, while an IELLO USA solicitation sheet lists 95. Both list 65 Doubloons. Because the counts differ, check the rulebook or box for the specific edition if component totals matter. English rulebook · IELLO USA solicitation sheet
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Rank #2
- Build Your Own Coral Reef Ecosystem – Explore the beauty of the ocean as you place and connect coral and sea-life tiles to form a thriving underwater habitat. Every move counts—strategically plan and expand your reef to attract fish, complete ecosystem patterns, and earn points. Shallow Sea combines visual elegance with meaningful strategic depth.
- Premium Marine Artwork & Component Quality – Each element—from coral tiles to sea-life tokens—is crafted with detailed design and durable materials. The set includes 76 coral tiles, 88 sealife tiles, 96 fish pieces, 14 ecosystem cards, custom pouches, and seashell tokens, all designed to deliver an immersive, high-quality tabletop experience.
- Perfect for Families, Friends, or Solo Play – Designed for 1–4 players ages 10 and up, Shallow Sea fits any occasion—from family gatherings to quiet evenings or friendly game nights. It’s easy to learn, yet offers layered strategy and replayability that appeal to both casual players and experienced gamers.
- Engaging, Strategic, and Replayable Sessions – Each game lasts 30–45 minutes, providing just the right balance between quick play and thoughtful decision-making. Every round develops differently thanks to unique tile patterns and card combinations, ensuring no two games ever feel the same.
- Ideal Gift for Board-Game and Ocean Fans – Featuring refined artwork, thoughtful packaging, and an inspiring marine theme, Shallow Sea makes a great choice for families, hobby gamers, and collectors. The sturdy 10.2 × 10.2 × 2.8 inch box (about 4.7 lb) stores easily and adds a visually stunning centerpiece to any game shelf.
Is Sea of Clouds a good fit for your group?
It is most likely to suit a group that enjoys making tactical choices with incomplete information, collecting sets, and competing directly for rewards. The push-your-luck element comes from deciding whether to accept an available share or risk passing it on, while boarding adds a separate contest built around recruited Pirates. If your group prefers drafting without direct conflict, or dislikes having to weigh several scoring routes at once, those features are worth considering before choosing the game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to find rules or a copy
IELLO provides the rules through its game page and rulebook. The publisher’s FAQ says that if a game is no longer published, another publisher may have taken it over; otherwise, the second-hand market may be the best option. That general advice does not establish whether Sea of Clouds is currently in print, so confirm current availability with a seller or publisher rather than assuming a copy is in stock. IELLO FAQ
Quick Recap
Rank #3
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