Lure is a fantastic lightweight fishing game for 1 to 5 players. You throw dice, push your luck and try to outsmart your opponents with a bit of probability skill. Just when you thought you’d become a master angler, Allplay has reeled in a new expansion, Lure Deep Waters. True to its name, this expansion adds a lot more depth to the base game.
Tenacious Waters
Lure is a fantastic lightweight fishing game for 1 to 5 players. You throw dice, push your luck and try to outsmart your opponents with a bit of probability skill. Just when you thought you’d become a master angler, Allplay has reeled in a new expansion, Lure Deep Waters. True to its name, this expansion adds a lot more depth to the base game.
Tenacious Waters
Deep Waters introduces 15 new fish with a variety of catch requirements. Some need you to roll all odds or all evens, while others rely on special dice. The biggest shake-up is the arrival of tenacious fish.
These fish have to be caught twice. The first time you land one it sits in front of your player screen, visible to everyone. You don’t get to add it to your haul until you catch it again on your next turn. During that time, other players can steal it if they meet the conditions. Even then, they still need to catch it again to keep it. This tug of war creates tension and drama as fish are stolen, fought over and finally secured, which feels satisfying when you succeed.
It also means you have to really think about your turn order. If you’ve managed to keep a tenacious fish through a whole round, you’ll want to go early in the next round to try and catch it again. This may mean choosing fewer dice on your next turn. But even then it’s never a given you’ll get the right roll to secure it, which means you may have to throw in some lures for good measure. It adds a whole new strategic layer to the game.
Best in Show
These fish also come with a new trophy system. Some deep-water fish have trophies on them, and at the end of the game, the player with the most trophies gains 7 points, while the one with the fewest loses 7. Leftover lures now count as trophies too, so it’s not all on the fish you catch.
At first, the penalty can feel harsh and a bit swingy, and not everyone will enjoy it. But it adds a clever balancing act. Players with lots of lures and trophy fish often end up with lower catch scores, while those with fewer trophies can still pull off a strong overall total. In practice, it’s rarely as punishing as it looks, unless the game is really tight, so it adds tension and gives you another layer of strategy to think about each turn.
This system levels the playing field and forces everyone to pay closer attention each turn. Do you play a lure every round, or start saving them if you notice you’re low on trophy fish? In my first game I had the highest score but the fewest trophies. I didn’t lose the game; in fact, the player with the +7 still came in last by a few points. I thought I had done well for trophies, but my competitors had kept a lot of lures hidden behind their screens, which I hadn’t noticed. After repeated plays, I found the minus 7 didn’t always swing a game, so it feels more like a challenge than a punishment. It’s another element to track, keeping each turn engaging.
Lucky Catch
By far my favourite addition is the D4. Perfect for landing fish that need low rolls, it makes securing those pesky 1 and 2 requirements much easier. Like the D12 and D20, it has a cooldown once used, so deciding when to roll it is a tactical choice. More dice to chuck means more fun, and the D4 really earns its place in the expansion.
Plus, its shape is reminiscent of a die from one of my other favourite fishing games, Deep Regrets, which is a fun little touch.
Final Thoughts
What I love about Deep Waters is that it adds variety without complicating the simple, pick-up-and-play style of Lure. It’s still quick to set up and teach, and now it feels richer. The tenacious fish add more player interaction, the trophies keep you on your toes, and the new die gives more ways to play.
If you already enjoy Lure, this expansion feels essential. I wouldn’t play without it now. If you don’t like push-your-luck dice games, this won’t change your mind. It’s the same game at heart, just with more variance.
The only small drawback is storage. With all the new bits, the original box has a slight lift. The expansion comes in a bag, so it needs to be squeezed into the main box. Not a deal breaker, but worth noting if you like a neat shelf.
Deep Waters gives Lure a refreshing boost, keeps it coming back to the table, and makes those dice rolls even more exciting. It’s a must-have for fans of the base game.
About the author:
Sophie is a gamer, blogger, podcaster, and book lover with a passion for solo narrative video games. When she’s not immersed in games or writing, she’s probably out hiking. Her favourite board games feature worker placement, nature themes, and smart tableau-building mechanics.
Zatu Review Summary
Zatu Score
85%
