Nautilus
2 players • 25 min • ages 10+
- Players
- 2 players
- Playing time
- 25 min
- Age
- 10+
How it plays
Nautilus plays 2 players, takes about 25 minutes to play, and is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Nautilus is a strategic board game designed by Bill Eberle, Jack Kittredge, and Peter Olotka, the same creative team behind the legendary Cosmic Encounter. It was released in 1982 by Eon Products during a period of experimentation in the board gaming industry, when designers were moving away from pure war simulations toward more thematic, player-driven experiences. The game was crafted to evoke the atmospheric tension of Jules Verne’s classic literature, tasking players with navigating the depths of the ocean while managing resource scarcity and survival.
The game is characterized by its distinctively austere aesthetic and mechanical complexity, which reflects the period’s focus on deep, intellectual challenges. While it never achieved the widespread cultural ubiquity of the designers' earlier work, it is respected within gaming circles for its innovative use of secret movement and hidden objectives. It remains a hallmark of the early 1980s hobbyist scene, reflecting an era where board games prioritized immersive, tactile world-building over the streamlined designs seen in modern tabletop titles.
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Who's collecting this
Real games collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Nautilus
Nautilus is a game in the Board Games catalog on collecto.rs. 2 players • 25 min • ages 10+. Catalog data is sourced from Wikidata. No public games collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How do you play Nautilus?
Nautilus is a board game for 2 players, running about 25 minutes. collecto.rs catalogues the game, not its rules — for the full rulebook, use the copy in the box or the publisher's own site.
How many players is Nautilus for?
Nautilus is built for 2 players. That count comes from this catalog entry alone — nothing from an expansion or a spin-off is folded into it.
How long does Nautilus take to play?
A game of Nautilus is listed at about 25 minutes. Real sessions run shorter or longer depending on player count and how well the table already knows the game.
What age is Nautilus for?
Nautilus lists a minimum age of 10. That's a recommended starting age rather than a hard rule.
How many collectors track Nautilus on collecto.rs?
Nautilus doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Nautilus?
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Where does the Nautilus catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Nautilus is sourced from Wikidata. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
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