Last Updated on April 15, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Top Waffle is a light strategy game where players compete to become the best waffle vendor by collecting toppings, using helpful items, and completing customer orders over three rounds. Here’s a breakdown of the rules:

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How to Play Top Waffle

Introduction

The sweet smell of maple syrup fills the air—it’s the day you’ve been eagerly awaiting. You grab your bag and hop on your bike. Arriving at the park, you’re met with a crowd of customers and the sight of your many competitors. Quickly putting on your apron, you unlock your waffle stand and prepare to face the challenge. Taking a deep breath, you think, “It’s time to earn the title of Top Waffle!”

6 Reference Cards
60 Topping Cards
24 Item Cards
48 Order Cards
3 Closing Cards

Objective

In Top Waffle, players compete over three “days” (rounds) to accumulate the most points by preparing toppings and utilizing items to fulfill customer orders. The player with the highest total at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Setup

Shuffle the Order cards and set aside a specific number based on player count.
Divide the set-aside Order cards into three equal piles. Place a Closing card at the bottom of each pile and stack the piles.
Reveal a number of Order cards as determined by player count (e.g., 4 players = 4 cards).
Shuffle the Topping and Item decks separately and place them near the Order deck.
Reveal the number of Topping cards specified in the chart; always reveal three Item cards.
Give each player a Reference card.
The player who most recently made waffles goes first.

Order Deck Setup Example

A visual example shows how to divide the Order deck into piles for a 4-player game.

Card Counts by Player Count

A reference table details how many Order and Topping cards are used per player count.

Gameplay

Each player’s turn consists of two phases:

Prepare (Required)

Take two Topping cards (face-up or from the deck). You may flip one face-down card before choosing your second.
Alternatively, take one Item card (face-up or from the deck).
This step must be completed before proceeding.

Execute (Optional)

Play any number of cards from your hand.
Use Item cards to perform actions.
Use Topping cards to fulfill Order cards.
Completed Orders and bonus-point Toppings go in your POINTS area.
Discard other used cards. Flip over a new Order card to replace any completed one.

Topping & Order Cards

Double Topping cards can count as one or two toppings.
You may fulfill multiple Orders per turn if you have the resources.
Used Topping and Item cards are discarded, and new Orders are revealed.

Closing Cards

When a Closing card is revealed and an Order is completed, place the Closing card in the face-up Order area.
After that turn, all players get one final turn.
No new Orders are revealed after a Closing card is flipped.
After the round, discard all unused Toppings and flip new cards. Item cards are reshuffled and dealt anew.

Item Cards

Item cards can be played solo or paired with a compatible card for a stronger effect. Compatibility is shown via symbols. When paired, only the upgraded effect is used.

Item Card Actions

Wild Topping: Counts as any 1 Topping; upgraded = any 3 Toppings.
Groceries: Look at top 3 Topping cards, take 0–2; upgraded = top 5, take any.
Recycling Bin: Discard 1 Topping from hand or trash; upgraded = discard up to 3.
Wrench: Take 1 face-up or deck Item; upgraded = take 2 Items and 1 Topping.
Blender: Change 1 Topping into another when fulfilling Orders; upgraded = change up to 3.
Megaphone: Reserve a face-up Order and fulfill it with -1 Topping; upgraded = fulfill any face-up Order for free. You may draw from the deck instead.
Note: Reserved Orders do not count as negative points if unfulfilled.

End of Game

The game ends after the final Closing card and all players’ final turns.
Score by adding points from completed Orders and bonus-point Toppings.
Subtract 1 point per Topping in your TRASH. Bonus-point and Double Toppings = -2 points each.
The highest score wins. Ties go to the player with the most completed Orders, then the fewest negative points.

Designer’s Note

Some rules are left open for player interpretation. For example, tracking the Closing card’s position in the Order deck is up to your group. For clarification, players can contact the designer directly.