Surf's Up

Categories: Bluffing, Card Game, Deduction, Sports

Mechanics: Auction/Bidding, Selection Order Bid, Set Collection

Players: 2–6

Ages: 8+

Playtime: 20–30 Min

In this surfing-themed game, you and your rivals compete to score the most points by catching the best waves, avoiding bluebottle stings, and meeting unique game goals. Here’s how it plays out:

At any time, three waves are visible to all players. Each turn, you and your opponents select and simultaneously reveal an energy card numbered 1 to 5, committing to catch one of these waves, which are worth 1 to 10 points. The highest energy card wins the wave and adds it to your collection, scoring points at the end of the game. If there’s a tie, the surfer with the highest energy card wins, but if there’s still a tie, the player with the most 'Respect' breaks the tie.

'Respect' is a resource you can gain or use to buy extra energy cards or surfboard cards from the beach. Surfboards matching the waves you catch provide bonus points, and temporary energy can give you an advantage in later rounds. If you win a wave, the energy card you used is discarded, weakening your energy pool. Second-place surfers discard their energy cards but may recover them later.

Bluebottle stingers can appear in the break zone. Players must avoid playing the lowest energy cards to prevent hidden stings (worth -0 to -3 points). Alternatively, you can take a sting to preserve a playable card for future waves.

If you’re low on energy, you can rest (pass) to gain 1 Respect and regain discarded energy cards.

Strategic play involves committing just enough energy to win waves efficiently, choosing the right moments to gain Respect, and making wise purchases from the beach.

The game ends when either all 5 bluebottles have been resolved or any player is left with only their zero-energy card. The player with the most points from waves caught, matching surfboards, avoiding bluebottle stings, and achieving end-game goals wins.