Atlanteum has passed 1,500 Kickstarter backers, but the useful buying question is what the extra $23 gets you. Bad Comet’s underwater expedition board game combines submarine movement, diver placement and an oxygen budget. Its campaign offers the game at $59, or the game plus metal upgrades at $82.
On November 9, our check of the official Kickstarter showed 1,595 backers and $110,134 pledged against a $10,000 goal. That is a dated funding snapshot, not copies delivered or a quality verdict. The campaign closes November 19 at 3 p.m. EST (20:00 UTC).
Your submarine sets up the next decision
Bad Comet describes a rondel: your submarine moves around a circular action track to collect resources and benefits. Divers then go to action sectors connected to its current position. Movement and worker placement therefore share a decision. Choosing a useful stop also means choosing which actions your divers can reach.
Oxygen adds another constraint. The publisher says it powers strong actions, while recovered relics can stay in your private collection or go to a museum. Players also contribute to restoring an ancient temple. The reason to inspect the rules is that tension between collecting, positioning and spending, rather than the promise of a big underwater box. These are publisher-described systems; GameGuideDog has not playtested them.
$59 buys the game; $82 adds metal
Standard Expedition ($59) includes the Kickstarter Edition and the Special Exhibition mini-expansion. Grand Expedition ($82) includes those items plus the Metal Upgrade in a separate small box, according to Bad Comet’s launch breakdown. The publisher says the mini-expansion is included free for Kickstarter backers.
That makes the first decision fairly clean: inspect the game before paying for heavier components. Metal is a production preference, not evidence that the rules become better. The official trailer above introduces the project; it is promotional footage, not an independent review.
Leave room for the final bill and the wait
Both main rewards currently show estimated December 2027 delivery. Shipping and applicable taxes are charged after the campaign in the pledge manager, so neither headline pledge is a delivered price. The campaign warns that final materials, art and components may change. Delivery is an estimate, not a guaranteed retail release date.
Before backing, check your country’s shipping and customs treatment and the latest reward contents. Follow the campaign’s linked rulebook to judge whether the positioning puzzle suits your table. For another funding-versus-edition decision, see our Through the Mountains buyer guide, or browse board games. Funding gets Atlanteum noticed; the rules and landed cost should decide whether it gets your money.
