Captain Sonar Board Game

Hunt or Be Hunted

Somewhere beneath the surface, another submarine is running silent. You don't know exactly where — but you're listening. Every course change, every system charge, every moment of hesitation is a clue. Captain Sonar puts two crews head-to-head in a battle of wits and coordination where the tension never lets up, and the winning shot comes down to how well your team works together under pressure.

A Naval Battle Unlike Any Other

Published by Matagot, Captain Sonar is a real-time team game set in 2048, where a new economic cold war has pushed the conflict beneath the ocean. Players divide into two opposing submarine crews — each crew managing a Captain, First Mate, Radio Operator, and Engineer — all working simultaneously across two teams. The Captain plots a course through the grid, calling out moves. The Radio Operator tracks those same announcements from the enemy to triangulate their position. The Engineer manages failing systems. The First Mate charges weapons. Everyone is talking at once, and that controlled chaos is the whole point.

A turn-based mode is also included for groups who prefer a slower, more deliberate pace — making Captain Sonar accessible without sacrificing any of the strategic depth that makes it so compelling.

Who Should Play

Captain Sonar supports two to eight players and truly shines with a full table of eight — four to a side — where every role demands focus and communication becomes the defining skill. It's a medium-weight game that takes around 45 to 75 minutes to play, recommended for ages 12 and up. This is a standout pick for game nights with groups who enjoy cooperative play with a competitive twist, team-based party games with real stakes, or anyone who's ever wanted to feel like they're commanding a submarine.

What's in the Box

The production is purpose-built for the experience — double-sided map boards, transparency screens that keep each crew's information hidden, dry-erase markers, and everything needed to run both real-time and turn-based modes. The ship transparency overlays make tracking damage and systems intuitive, and the multiple maps ensure no two sessions play the same way. The component design actively serves the tension of the game rather than getting in its way.