- BGG rank
- BGG #4,987
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Match!
- 2–6 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,538
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Wave
2023
Rules assistance for Wave
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 25 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Wave
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Wave is a board game released in 2023 for 2–4 players, 25 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Thomas Weber (III) and its main mechanics are Cooperative Game.
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About the game
To win the co-operative card game Wave, everyone needs to be surfing in sync. On your turn, play a card on the common discard pile. This card must be higher than the top card, either with a higher numerical value (number) or with a higher suit (color). The tricky part is that you can see only some of the cards in your hand because some cards face towards your teammates. Therefore, you need the help of your team to choose an appropriate card. At the end of your turn, draw a new card. If you cannot play a higher card on your turn, the game ends immediately and everyone loses. To win, all players' cards must be played on the discard pile with no cards left in the draw pile. Wave includes rule variants for experienced players to make the game more challenging.
Questions and answers
Wave supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Wave is 25 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Wave for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Wave has a complexity rating of 1.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Wave belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Cooperative Game. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Wave are: Thomas Weber (III). These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Wave as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.