Big Wave

The "Big Wave" rulebook took me a minute to grasp, but once we started playing, the strategic depth of choosing which surfing spots to score points really shines. We’ve already played five rounds in a row.

The "must-not-follow" mechanic adds such a fun layer of strategy, and the different location cards really make you feel like you're surfing around the world. My group played three rounds in a row—it's that addictive.

The trick-taking twist where you're not supposed to follow suit took a couple rounds to click, but once it did the whole table was hooked. My only gripe is that with five players it dragged a bit near the end, though the wave location cards kept everyone invested.