Absolute Card Game Review
- Jim Gamer
- 27 minutes ago
- 4 min read
WBG Score: 7.5
Player Count: 2-6
You’ll like this if you like:
Published by: Nonymous Games
Designed by: Tony Diaz
This is a review copy. See our review policy here
I love a little card game with a clever scoring mechanism, and Absolute pulled me in with exactly this. It looks mathy, clever, intriguing, and fun, and one I could enjoy with my friends and family both for entertainment but also education, for my kids that is, not my friends. Although, some could benefit! But now I have my hands on a copy and have enjoyed it for a lot of plays (and I've only had it a short while). Is it any fun? Let's get it to the table and find out!
How To Set Up Absolute
Shuffle the deck and deal five cards to each player, and then place the remaining deck face down in the centre of the table. Take one card from the top and place it face up as a discard pile. You are now ready to play!
How To Play Absolute
Players take it in turns, using their cards to try and create three sets of cards. On their turn, they will draw one card from the deck and then use their cards to try and create sets of at least three cards (but can be more) of cards that add up to zero combined. The deck is made up of cards numbered one to ten in both positive and negative. So, you could combine a positive five and positive two with a negative seven for a set of three cards that total zero. Make sense?
The idea is you are looking to create three sets and go out using all your cards. You can use zeros as wild cards, so they can help with most sums. But you can also take cards from other players' played sets (so long as they are not out of the game yet) and replace a zero another player used with a card you hold that matches what they were using the zero for. For example, if another player was using a zero as a seven you could take this and replace it with a seven of your own, to use however you wish.
The game ends when the first player has discarded their final card and played at least three sets. Everyone else gets one more turn to make it equal turns, and then final scoring happens. You will score points for the highest card played in each set, plus an extra point for every card over three in a set, so two bonus points for a set of five cards. You also gain a bonus for any card in a run of three or more, so a set that has a two, three, and four in it would score three points extra for this run of three consecutive cards. And then you will double any set made up of four of the same number or four of the same suit! Such as the below example. Where you would score seven point for seven being the highest card in the set. Then an extra point for having one more card than the minimum of three, so eight in total now. And then double that as every card was the same, so 16 points for this set.
One final thing to note is how open the game is when it comes to building sets. Sets can be made freely using any combination of suits, and on your turn you may lay down as many sets as you are able to create. Suits do not restrict play during the game and only really come into focus at scoring, where they can increase the value of a set. This keeps the gameplay flexible and tactical, letting players focus on clever card use and timing rather than rigid constraints.
Is It Fun? Absolute Card Game Review
Absolute will really appeal to players who enjoy small card games with clever scoring and lots of little moments of satisfaction. If you like spotting patterns, nudging numbers into place, and squeezing extra value out of a set, there is plenty here to enjoy. It is also a great fit for families, as the math is simple enough to grasp but rewarding enough to stay interesting and potentially even informative for the right ages. 8-13 I would suggest being the sweet spot for academic purposes, way beyond that for simple fun. It feels like the kind of game that can be fun on a casual evening but also quietly educational, especially for kids who like numbers and problem-solving.
That said, Absolute will not be for everyone. Players who prefer high interaction, constant drama, or big swingy moments may find it a little too calm and thoughtful. While there is some interaction through upgrading other players’ sets, most of the game is spent focusing on your own hand and planning ahead. If mental arithmetic or careful optimisation puts you off, this may not be the card game that wins you over.
What makes Absolute stand out is how open and flexible it feels. Sets can be built freely, turns can be explosive when everything lines up, and the scoring system constantly tempts you to push a little further. Do you lock in a safe set, or do you add one more card to chase bonus points? The way runs, extra cards, and matching numbers or suits all layer together gives the game a satisfying puzzle-like feel that rewards smart play without becoming overwhelming.
Pros
Clever, layered scoring system
Flexible set building with meaningful choices
Easy to teach but rewarding to master
Works well for families and mixed-age groups
Cons
Limited player interaction during most turns
Can feel quite maths-focused for some players
Less exciting for those who prefer high-chaos card games
In the end, Absolute is a small card game with a big brain and a gentle charm. It looks mathy, clever, intriguing, and fun, and it delivers on all four. It is the sort of game that invites repeat plays, encourages improvement, and quietly rewards smart thinking. If you enjoy compact card games with elegant rules and satisfying decisions, Absolute is well worth getting to the table.
