Megaquarium at a Glance

Megaquarium is a cheerful, deeply systemic management game about building and running a public aquarium. You lay out tanks, curate species, hire staff, and keep guests smiling while the finances tick in the background.

Created by indie studio Twice Circled, it blends cozy vibes with crunchy decisions: every fish has needs, every pump hums for a reason, and every corridor affects footfall. Play a guided career or dive into sandbox to tinker at your own pace.

Systems That Make It Tick

Ecology and Husbandry

• Species needs: temperature, water quality, diet type, shoal size, and biomes like tropical or cold.
• Behaviors: some are wimps that fear bullies; others nip fins or eat crustaceans. Compatibility matters.
• Life support: filters, skimmers, chillers, and heaters stack to hit target values; maintenance decays over time.

Guest Flow and Exhibits

• Guests seek prestige, good sightlines, seating, and amenities such as toilets and vending.
• Walls, doors, and tank height tweak sight ranges; signage nudges where people wander.

Staff, Tools, and Logistics

• Assign feeding, fixing, and cleaning by zones; stash toolkits close to work to reduce walking.
• Specialize staff to accelerate tasks and minimize lines at feeders.

Research and Progression

• Prestige unlocks science and ecology research; new kit and species open design space.
• Exhibit variety boosts gains; repeating the same fish yields diminishing returns.

Early Moves That Pay Off

Start small, keep overhead lean, and build reliability into every corner. It’s tempting to chase flashy species; resist until your backbone is solid.

1. Open with a few hardy species and one behind-the-scenes service nook per wing.
2. Anchor pathways with benches and bins to lower litter and fatigue.
3. Buy slightly oversized filters/heaters so you have headroom for growth.
4. Zone your first two staffers: one feeder, one fixer. Add versatility later.
5. Use tool cupboards near tanks to slash travel time; time is literal money.

• Rule of thumb: if water quality is tight at 0% slack, you’re one breakdown away from a cascade.
• Easy wins: a snack stand near a restroom, a touch pool for early prestige spikes, and modest decor to round out exhibit variety.

Designing Tanks Like a Pro

Think of each tank as a tiny ecosystem wrapped in a visitor experience. The best builds serve both the animals and the audience without fuss.

Balancing Heat and Filtration

• Pair heaters/chillers with enough filtration to avoid yo-yo maintenance; overbuild by 10–20%.
• Centralize life support for multiple tanks to cut costs, but isolate high-risk predators.

Mixed-Species Harmony

• Match size classes; avoid bullies with wimps; check diet clashes so no one becomes lunch.
• Use shelters and vegetation to reduce stress and unlock behavior bonuses.

Backstage Paths

• Create staff-only corridors behind exhibits; short, straight runs beat fancy loops.
• Place feeders at corners guests don’t crowd to reduce collisions and delays.

Monetization Without Friction

• Stagger gift shops and vending so needs are met just before they spike.
• Rotate exhibit themes for research variety and a steady prestige climb.

Quick Answers to Common Questions

How big should my first tanks be?

Medium; leave room for growth and decor. Oversizing slightly lets you add a species for variety without re-plumbing.

Why does water quality keep dipping?

Your filtration margin is too thin or maintenance is delayed. Add capacity, tighten staff zones, and position toolkits closer.

Is mixing predators worth it?

Only with careful diets and size checks. When in doubt, segregate-losing a rare fish costs prestige and research pace.

Career or sandbox first?

Career teaches the systems briskly; sandbox is great once you’ve learned the rhythms. Do career until the UI feels second nature.

• Remember: fish first, guests second, style third-and the money follows.
• Small efficiencies compound; walking time is your stealthiest expense.