How to Play

Captain Sonar

2-8 players 45-60 min 7.5 Board Game Geek Rating

In Captain Sonar, two submarine crews hunt each other underwater. Players assume specialized roles—Captain, Radio Operator, and Engineer—working together to track and destroy the opposing submarine. The Captain navigates and announces movements, the Radio Operator deciphers enemy positions, and the Engineer prepares weapons. Victory requires successful teamwork and communication to eliminate opponents.

Published 2016

Captain Sonar

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

1
Choose game mode
Decide whether playing Turn-by-Turn (Light Side of Player Sheets) or Real Time; if 2-5 players, play Turn by Turn only
2
Assign team roles
Distribute roles based on team size:
3
Position the screen
Place the screen down the centre of the table between the two teams
4
Arrange seating
One team sits left to right: Radio Operator, Captain, First Officer, Engineer; opposing team members sit across from their counterparts
5
Distribute player sheets
First Mate and Engineer take their sheets; Radio Operator takes a Transparent Overlay
6
Provide writing tools
Each player takes a pen
7
Select scenario
Choose a Scenario; Captain and Radio Operator take the matching Scenario Sheet
8
Mark starting position
Each captain chooses a starting dot, marks it with an X, then announces "DIVE!"

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
Announce direction
Captain calls out "Head North/South/East/West," moving one dot in that direction
2
Record the move
Captain marks that move on their map by joining one dot to the next
3
Complete upkeep
First Mate and Engineer must announce "OK" after completing their upkeep tasks
4
Observe path restrictions
A dot cannot be used twice (cannot cross your own path); route is erased when Sub surfaces
5
Avoid obstacles
Cannot enter an Island space or a space with your own Mine
6
Force surfacing
If there is no valid course, the Captain must Surface
7
Charge systems
Each time the Captain announces a course, mark 1 empty space on a gauge of your choice, then announce "OK"
8
Announce readiness
If a system's gauge is filled, announce "X Ready"
9
Activate green systems
First Mate may activate Drone and Sonar when ready
10
Record damage
Track damage from Engineering (1), Direct hits (2), or Indirect hits (1)
11
Mark breakdowns
Each time the Captain announces a course, cross out a Breakdown Symbol on the Control Panel matching that direction, then announce "OK"
12
Trigger repairs
If 4 symbols on one Circuit (yellow/orange/purple line) are crossed out, immediately erase them
13
Announce radiation damage
If all Radiation Symbols are crossed out, announce "DAMAGE!", record damage, erase all breakdowns
14
Announce panel damage
If all symbols in one Control Panel are crossed out, announce "DAMAGE!", record damage, erase all breakdowns
15
Check system status
If any symbols of a System's colour are crossed out, that system cannot be activated
16
Verify charge
System must be fully charged on First Mate's sheet
17
Confirm operational
Captain/First Mate confirms with Engineer there are no Breakdowns in that system
18
Announce activation
Announce "Stop," raise fist, then announce which system is activated
19
Resolve the system
Complete the system's effect
20
Clear the gauge
First Mate clears the system's gauge; no system can activate again until after the Sub has Moved
21
Fire within range
Can be fired up to 4 dots away (straight line or stepped, not diagonal)
22
Announce coordinates
Captain announces coordinates of Target Dot
23
Resolve damage
Opposing Captain announces "Clear" (miss), "Indirect Impact" (adjacent, 1 damage), or "Direct Hit" (same dot, 2 damage)
24
Check self-damage
If adjacent to your own Sub, First Mate marks 1 Damage
25
Place the mine
Captain draws an M on a space adjacent to the Sub, but not on its path
26
Announce placement
Captain announces "Mine Dropped"
27
Announce detonation
Captain announces "Stop, I'm blowing up a Mine!" and the coordinates
28
Apply damage
Damage resolves as per Torpedo rules
29
Observe restrictions
Cannot activate until after a Move from dropping; cannot activate while Surfaced or with Red Breakdown
30
Announce activation
First Mate announces "Sonar"
31
Receive intel
Opposing Captain gives two pieces of information (Row, Column, or Sector); one must be true, one must be false
32
Announce activation
First Mate announces "Drone"
33
Ask location
Captain asks "Are you in Sector X?"
34
Receive answer
Opposing Captain answers "Yes" or "No" truthfully
35
Announce activation
Captain announces "Activate Silence!"
36
Move secretly
Captain moves the ship 0-4 dots in a straight line silently
37
Complete upkeep
First Mate marks a gauge; Engineer crosses out breakdown (direction indicated silently; no breakdown if zero movement)
38
Announce location
Captain announces "Surfacing in Sector X"
39
Erase path
Captain erases their path but not any mines
40
Complete surfacing procedure (Turn by Turn)
Engineer erases all breakdowns; enemy team takes 3 turns in a row
41
Complete surfacing procedure (Real Time)
Engineer draws lines around schematic sections and initials them, passes to teammates to repeat, shows to enemy Engineer for verification, then erases all lines, initials, and breakdowns before announcing "Ready to Dive"
42
Track enemy movement
Listen to enemy Captain and draw their orders on the transparent sheet
43
Locate the enemy
Move the transparent overlay on the map to figure out enemy position
44
Report intelligence
Keep the Captain informed of the enemy's possible location

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
Choose victory condition
Before the game, select either Sudden Death or Hunt mode
2
Sudden Death victory
A team loses immediately if they take 1 Damage; surviving team wins
3
Hunt victory
A team loses when they accumulate 4 Damage; the team that inflicts the fourth damage wins
4
Deal damage via Torpedo
Direct hit deals 2 Damage; indirect hit (adjacent) deals 1 Damage
5
Deal damage via Mine
Same damage rules as Torpedo when detonated
6
Cause engineering damage
Enemy takes 1 Damage when their Engineer announces "DAMAGE!" from breakdowns

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

Uitleg & review door Nox' Spellenzolder.

Uitleg & review door Nox' Spellenzolder.

Instructional

Летсплей настільної гри Капітан Сонар (Captain Sonar)

Летсплей настільної гри Капітан Сонар (Captain Sonar)

Instructional

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FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

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