How to Play Shallow Regrets: Setup, Rules, and First Game

Quick answer

To play Shallow Regrets, build 6 shoals from all 18 cards, placing at least 3 small-shadow fish on top. On your turn, reel in 2 fish from any shoals, keep one in your boat if you meet its strength with hooks from previously caught fish, and return the rest. The player with the most valuable catch wins.

What you need before you start

Shallow Regrets is a wallet game, so the entire experience comes in a small footprint. You only need the 18 cards from the base game. No additional components, tokens, or scorepads are required. If you are playing the expansion Shallow Regrets: The Fisher & The Frod, you will also need the Frod deck, which is shuffled separately. Keep the rulebook handy for your first game, but the core loop is simple enough to learn in a few turns.

Setting up the shoals

Shuffle all 18 cards and deal them into 6 shoals of 3 cards each. When forming each shoal, make sure at least 3 shoals have a small shadow fish on top. The small shadow is the easiest fish to catch, so these shoals give new players an accessible starting point. Arrange the shoals in a row or grid within reach of all players. Leave space next to each shoal for caught fish and your boat area.

How a turn works

On your turn, you are the active player. Reel in 2 fish from the shoal or shoals of your choice. You may take both from the same shoal or split them between two different shoals. After reeling, you may choose one of those fish to keep in your boat. To keep a fish, you must have a number of hooks in your previously caught fish that meets or exceeds the fish's strength value. If you do not meet the strength, the fish cannot be kept and must be returned to its shoal along with any unkept fish. Then play passes to the next player.

Understanding strength and hooks

Every fish card has a strength value. Your ability to keep a fish depends on the total hooks showing on the fish already in your boat. Early in the game, your boat is empty, so you can only keep low-strength fish. As you catch more fish, your hook total grows, unlocking higher-strength catches. This creates a natural progression: start with easy fish, build your hook count, then target the valuable high-strength fish.

Using the Fisher & The Frod expansion

If you are playing with the Shallow Regrets: The Fisher & The Frod expansion, set up the game as normal but shuffle the Frod deck separately. Both the human player and Frod use a new layout: place exhausted fish in a column and available fish in a row next to it. This layout helps clarify Frod's abilities and fishing attempts. On Frod's turn, he will always use one ability from the previous turn's strategy card, if possible. Then reveal a new strategy card and continue.

Winning the game

The game ends when the shoals are depleted or when a player has caught a set number of fish, depending on the variant you choose. At the end, count the strength values of all fish in your boat. The player with the highest total strength wins. Because hooks determine what you can keep, balancing early low-strength catches with later high-strength targets is the key to victory.

Step-by-step first game walkthrough

1. Shuffle and form shoals: Shuffle all 18 cards and deal them into 6 shoals of 3 cards each. Ensure at least 3 shoals have a small shadow fish on top. Checkpoint: Count the shoals and confirm the small shadow fish are visible.
2. Choose your first catch: On your turn, reel in 2 fish from any shoals. Start with a shoal that has a small shadow on top to guarantee an easy keep. Common mistake: Taking two high-strength fish early when your boat has no hooks to keep them.
3. Check hooks before keeping: Compare the fish's strength value to the total hooks on fish already in your boat. If hooks meet or exceed strength, place the fish in your boat. Otherwise, return it to its shoal. Checkpoint: Your boat's hook total only counts fish you have already kept.
4. Build your hook count: Keep low-strength fish early to increase your hook total. This unlocks the ability to keep higher-strength fish later. Common mistake: Ignoring low-strength fish and stalling your hook progression.
5. Return unkept fish: Any fish you reel in but do not keep must be returned to their original shoals. Place them back on top or as directed by the rules. Checkpoint: Returned fish can be caught again by you or another player.
6. End game and score: Play until the shoals are empty or the agreed end condition is met. Count the strength values of all fish in your boat. Highest total wins. Next step: Try the Fisher & The Frod expansion for a solo challenge.

Product facts

• Shallow Regrets: Use all 18 cards to create 6 shoals. At least 3 of these must have a small shadow, the easiest fish to catch, on top. This setup ensures new players can always find an easy catch, preventing early frustration.
• Shallow Regrets: The Fisher & The Frod: Set the game up as normal, shuffling the Frod deck separately. Player turns proceed as normal. Both the human player and Frod use a new layout, placing their exhausted fish in a column and their available fish in a row next to it, to help clarify Frod's abilities and fishing attempts. The separate layout for Frod makes it easier to track his abilities and fishing attempts during solo play.