Absolute: Where Everything Adds Up to Nothing

Create sets, rearrange sets, and swap out cards, all in a quest to reach zero.

Published by Nonymous Games, Absolute is a mathy set collection card game for 2-6 players with a 30-60 minute playtime.  

Gameplay

Five cards are dealt to each player, and the deck is placed in the center of the table. Cards have numbers that are either positive or negative. On a player’s turn, he draws the top card from the deck or the discard pile and adds it to his hand.

The goal of the game is to play sets of three or more cards that equal zero when combined. Cards with a value of zero can act as wild numbers. Those sets are also worth extra points if all the cards are the same number (but different positive and negative values to still equal zero) or a run of consecutive numbers.

On a player’s turn, he can play a brand-new set, or he can play cards that allow him to regroup the cards he already has played as sets into new sets. But he can also swap up to two cards from his hand with up to two cards in any set, even another player’s. When swapping, the set must still equal zero after the swapping is done. For example, a player can swap a +3 and a +4 from his hand, for a +7 in a set.

At the end of a turn, the player can choose to discard a card. It is required to do so if any cards were played this turn.

The game ends after a player has at least three sets and has discarded his last card. Everyone else gets one more turn, but the sets of the player who ended the round cannot be affected anymore.

Next, all sets are scored. Each set is worth the largest number card in that set. So if the largest number is -8, that set is worth eight points. Each set also scores one point for each additional card in that set over three. So if there are five cards in a set, it is worth two bonus points.

Any run of consecutive numbers in a set earns one point for each positive or negative run in the set of three or more cards. Finally, if there are four of the same number or all cards are the same suit, the total point value of the set is doubled. Players lose points equal to the largest number-valued card in hand, and one point for each additional card.

The rules do not state how many rounds should be played.

Review

Absolute is a creative twist on the standard, numbered set collection card game. The math element to the gameplay really opens up the possibilities of the sets you can create, meaning it’s not just about making a lucky draw but deciding when to play a set, and when to hold out to make it more valuable. With only three sets needed to trigger the end game, you’re constantly judging when to hold back and when to play a set.

The ability to regroup your sets after they’re already played causes you to constantly study your hand, as well as what’s already on the table, to think through the possibilities. A full game of six players would be a little long for the gameplay, but for 2-4, the game doesn’t suffer from downtime issues.

There are no runaway victors in the game either, as you can swap out cards from other players’ sets, affecting their point values. However, there are enough guards on that move option to prevent it from being too much of a take-that maneuver.

While this is an abstract card game, the artwork on the cards is striking and gives the game a fun, enjoyable aesthetic. The rulebook could use a little work, though. Some images to illustrate examples would have been nice, and the fact that it doesn’t actually say anywhere how many rounds to play feels like an oversight.

Absolute was a delightful surprise, taking a classic game idea and bringing something quite new to it. It is a lot of math, and it won’t be for everyone, but if you enjoy it, this is a fun one, with solid player interaction, and lots of player choice.

Pros: Lots of flexibility with your sets, light player interaction elements, good aesthetics

Cons: Rulebook is a little lackluster, number of rounds is not stated, will be too mathy for some players

Disclosure: we received a complimentary review copy of this game.