Deep Regrets – A Charming Fishing Game with a Dark Twist


Deep Regrets – A Charming Fishing Game with a Dark Twist

    Every so often, a game comes along that wraps its hook around you and doesn’t let go. Deep Regrets is one of those games. Designed and illustrated by the wildly talented Judson Cowan, this one is dripping with personality—equal parts delightful and deeply unsettling. Imagine if The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack wandered a little too far out to sea and found something... wrong beneath the waves.

    This isn’t just a quirky fishing game. Deep Regrets is a beautifully illustrated descent into the briny deep, where each decision feels both rewarding and a little dangerous. And that tension? It’s what makes the game sing.

🎣 Hook, Line, and Sinker

    At its core, Deep Regrets is a push-your-luck game—but it does a great job of layering in resource management and just enough dread to keep things interesting. Each turn, players roll a custom buoy-shaped die to determine their fishing power. You’ll then choose whether to stay near the surface and play it safe or dive deeper for bigger, rarer (and often creepier) catches.

    The shallow waters are calm, familiar. But the deeper you go, the more lucrative—and risky—things become. You’ll uncover bizarre sea creatures, lost artifacts, and cryptic whispers from the abyss. The game constantly asks: how much are you willing to risk for a better haul?

🧠 Mechanical Depth Meets Accessible Play

    Despite its eerie flavor and thematic richness, Deep Regrets keeps things light-to-medium in terms of complexity. It supports 1–5 players and clocks in at about 30 minutes per player. Turns move quickly once everyone knows the flow, and the tension ramps up as players weigh their options with every roll.

    One standout feature is the "Regret" system. Catching or selling certain questionable sea creatures increases your Regret, which brings both perks and penalties. Higher Regret gives you more dice to roll—great for fishing and taking actions—but it also lowers your selling price and nudges your character further into madness. It’s a clever mechanic that mirrors the psychological toll of diving too deep, both narratively and strategically.

There’s a smart give-and-take here that encourages you to walk the edge. Too cautious, and you'll be outpaced. Too bold, and you may not live to cash in your catch.

🎨 A Feast for the Eyes (and the Imagination)

    The art deserves its own spotlight. Cowan’s illustration work is phenomenal—every detail has character. From the fish to the player boards to the card backs, it all feels handcrafted and intentional. The muted color palette and grainy textures give it an old-world, almost nautical storybook feel. You’re not just playing a game—you’re stepping into a forgotten maritime folktale.

    This aesthetic elevates the entire experience. It’s charming, yes—but never safe. Every corner of the design hints at something lurking just out of view. It’s beautiful in the way a lighthouse in a storm is beautiful: haunting and magnetic.

🐙 Why It Keeps Hitting the Table

    Deep Regrets nails the balance between accessibility and engagement. It’s easy to teach, quick to play, but offers meaningful decisions every round. The risk-reward tension never lets up, and the thematic immersion is top-tier. It's one of those games where everyone at the table gets quiet for a second when someone says, “I’m going deeper.”

    Replayability is also solid. With a variety of fish, gear upgrades, and shifting strategies based on your current level of Regret, every dive feels a little different. I’ve played it multiple times now, and each game tells its own strange little story.

⚓ Final Thoughts

    Whether you're in it for the art, the story, or the thrill of pressing your luck, Deep Regrets delivers. It’s a quirky, clever, and beautifully eerie experience that earns its place on the shelf—and at the table. If you’ve got a group that enjoys thematic games with just the right touch of creep, do yourself a favor and take the plunge.

Just… don’t stare too long into the deep. Something might stare back.

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