Info about NERTS! Online:

Official game description:
Nerts is a fast-paced competitive solitaire game for you and up to five of your friends!  
Unlike the rest of our solitaire games, we did not invent Nerts. We learned about it from our artist Kyle, who has played it for years, and started playing it after lunch in the Zachtronics office. Over time we added more to it, including house rules, longer tournaments, and even a theme song.  
When we started working from home in early 2020 we made a rough version of the game to play over the internet, which eventually (nine months later) was cleaned up and turned into this. The game includes a few Zachtronics additions, like players being allowed to move cards between their Nerts pile and their tableau after Nerts has been called. It's free, but you do technically unlock card backs by owning our other games, so let's pretend that's a legitimate monetization strategy.  
(UPDATE: We've also added an optional "Sponsorship Package" DLC you can purchase, which unlocks a NERTS! Online themed card back and a special holographic foil effect you can use with any of the other card backs.)  
Have fun!

Release date: Jan 5, 2021

Categories: Competitive Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer, Card Game, Solitaire, Fast-paced Gameplay, Party Game, Real-time Competition, Free-to-Play

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 25; verdict: Standard: Optional Cosmetic DLC; summary: The reviews indicate a free base game with an optional $10 sponsorship DLC that adds cosmetic effects and support content. Some users criticize the price or call it an empty donation-style DLC, but the evidence does not show pay-to-win mechanics, paid gacha, loot boxes, or mandatory in-game purchases. The monetization is therefore best classified as standard optional cosmetic DLC.
- Proton/Linux: score 8; verdict: Works Well; summary: The available Linux-specific feedback is consistently positive. Users report that the native Linux version works without issues and that a recent update specifically addressed a Linux-only problem. No Proton workarounds, launch failures, crashes, performance problems, or anti-cheat/DRM blockers were mentioned for Linux.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews are mixed on price-value: two users say the game is worth its price, but both condition that value on having friends to play with, while another user explicitly says it is not worth the money. No review gives a numeric base-game price, and the mentioned £7-ish purchase is for extra support content rather than the base game, so it should not anchor the estimate. The sentiment supports a modest indie multiplayer price rather than a premium one, which places a fair base-game range around $5-$15.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 2.5h
  - Endgame: 200.0h
  - Reasoning: No review reports a finite game completion time or a story completion time for this multiplayer solitaire game, so gameCompletion and storyCompletion are null. Session evidence ranges from about half an hour to an explicit session of about two and a half hours, so sessionLength is set to 2.5 hours as a representative reported session. For long-tail/endgame replay, one reviewer explicitly reports over 200 hours played, supporting an endgame value of 200 hours.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Most reports describe the game as immediately easy to pick up, addictive, and especially fun with friends or in group sessions; a minority report initial dislike, lag, or repetition during extended play.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: No tutorial; players must learn on the fly; Latency and click-registration issues in online play; Single-opponent matches can feel tedious due to downtime; Extended play becomes repetitive and boring; Click-heavy controls can frustrate muscle memory
  - Unlock drivers: Playing with friends instead of solo; Voice chat with friends; 3-6 player group sessions; Short-burst sessions; Prior familiarity with standard solitaire
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Voice chat with friends; 3-6 player group sessions; Short play sessions rather than marathons; Stable, low-latency connection; Prior familiarity with standard solitaire; Access to friends or community lobbies for matchmaking
- Player Archetypes:
  - Social Party-Group Organizer (buy)
    - Motivation: Shared chaotic fun and friendly rivalry in recurring group sessions.
    - Playstyle: Organizes 3-6 player voice-chat sessions and plays with friends or randoms in party-like rounds.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: friendslop
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Competitive Speed Duelist (buy)
    - Motivation: Fast-paced outplaying and the adrenaline of real-time competition.
    - Playstyle: Plays real-time speed solitaire, racing to slap cards and beat opponents' piles.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Klondike; FreeCell; Speed
  - Casual Solo Lobby Hopper (buy)
    - Motivation: Quick, free casual solitaire bursts without needing a friend group.
    - Playstyle: Joins public lobbies alone for short sessions, sometimes practicing solo.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: first-time nertzer
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Digital Solitaire Purist (no buy)
    - Motivation: Familiar, efficient digital solitaire play with solo value and no forced waiting.
    - Playstyle: Expects one-click solitaire automation, solo progress, and avoids dragged-out multiplayer waits.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Fun with friends (weight 0.69): The game is highly enjoyable when played with friends, offering a chaotic and laughter-filled experience that shines in social settings.
- Competitive solitaire twist (weight 0.46): The competitive solitaire concept is addictive and well-executed, with a fast pace and skill-based gameplay that sets it apart from traditional solitaire.
- Genuinely fun and creative (weight 0.27): The game is consistently described as fun, creative, and enjoyable, with high replay value.
- Addictive gameplay (weight 0.2): The game is highly addictive, keeping players coming back for more due to its engaging mechanics.
- Fast-paced and quick (weight 0.2): The game is fast-paced and quick to play, providing short and sweet sessions that are fun and energetic.
- Excellent soundtrack (weight 0.19): The soundtrack, especially the intro music, is highly praised for being exciting and energizing.
- Overall high praise (weight 0.19): Reviewers express strong appreciation for the game, calling it incredible and amazing.
- Solid card game adaptation (weight 0.14): The physical card game is well done and enjoyable, and its digital adaptation captures the same solid gameplay.
- Easy to learn (weight 0.13): New players can quickly pick up the game with minimal explanation, making it accessible to a wide audience.
- Trolling friends is fun (weight 0.13): Players enjoy the ability to sabotage or troll their friends, adding a layer of mischievous fun to the experience.
- Great online adaptation (weight 0.13): The online version is a polished and enjoyable way to play the card game with friends, making it an essential digital option.
- Fun for more players (weight 0.1): The game becomes more thrilling with more players, peaking around six players for maximum enjoyment.
- Simple yet well-made (weight 0.1): The game's simplicity is a strength, as it is well-executed and to the point, without unnecessary complexity.
- Speed meets solitaire (weight 0.1): The combination of Speed and Solitaire creates a unique, high-speed card game that is both familiar and fresh.
- Zachtronics quality (weight 0.09): The game features the signature polish and quality expected from Zachtronics, indicating a well-crafted experience.

Common complaints:
- Severe lag and latency (weight 0.44): Many players report frequent and severe lag that makes gameplay frustrating and sometimes impossible, with clicks not registering and cards difficult to move.
- Small player base (weight 0.44): The game suffers from a very small and declining player population, leading to long wait times, empty lobbies, and difficulty finding matches.
- Frequent crashes and glitches (weight 0.4): Players experience random crashes, game-breaking glitches, and launch failures that make the game unplayable for some, often persisting for months without fixes.
- Connection and netcode issues (weight 0.38): Networking problems such as high ping, client-client connections, and server instability cause stutters, input delay, and unfair advantages for players with better connections.
- Emotionally stressful and rage-inducing (weight 0.37): Many players find the game highly stressful, rage-inducing, and emotionally draining, sometimes straining friendships and causing insults.
- Poor card mechanics and controls (weight 0.24): Card placement feels weird, clicks often fail to register, and the click-to-pick-up and click-to-release system is inefficient and frustrating.
- Steep competition and skill gap (weight 0.21): Highly skilled players dominate online matches, making it incredibly hard for newcomers to compete and often resulting in last place.
- Intro music too long (weight 0.2): The round intro song is excessively long (around 25-32 seconds) and plays every round, becoming repetitive and annoying for many players.
- Matchmaking and lobby problems (weight 0.2): The lobby system is inadequate, with no way to join public games easily, and matchmaking often fails due to the limited player base.
- Barebones single-player mode (weight 0.18): Solo play is lacking in features such as undo, winnable hands, and interaction with other players' piles, making it a poor experience.
- No communication features (weight 0.15): The game lacks any chat or friend-adding system, making it impossible to coordinate or socialize with other players beyond moving the mouse cursor.
- Overwhelming for beginners (weight 0.15): New players find the game confusing, chaotic, and hard to pick up, especially when facing experienced players with faster reaction times.
- Luck and unfairness (weight 0.14): The game is heavily luck-based, with players feeling that card draws are unfair and sometimes bugged, leading to frustrating losses.
- Repetitive and boring (weight 0.13): Some players find the game repetitive, boring after long sessions, and not very interesting overall.
- Stuck and soft-lock situations (weight 0.12): Players can get stuck with no possible moves, waiting for auto-shuffle or other players, and sometimes soft-lock when the NERTS button is missing.
- Miscellaneous bugs and issues (weight 0.11): Other reported issues include scoreboard stretching, lack of visual indicators for card placement, antivirus false positives, and score calculation problems.
- Lacklustre visuals and UI (weight 0.09): The visual presentation is functional but uninspired, with static 2D text and images that lack charm or variety.
- Pay-to-win concerns and DLC (weight 0.08): Some players feel the game is pay-to-win, citing an empty DLC used for donations and a sponsorship pack claimed to improve performance.
- Lack of developer support (weight 0.07): There is no developer support on forums, and issues remain unresolved for long periods, leaving players frustrated.
- No achievements or long-term content (weight 0.06): The game lacks achievements and content designed for long-term play, making it unlikely to keep players engaged for long.

Gameplay feedback:
- Competitive solitaire-style card game (weight 0.7): Clusters 2, 3, and 7 describe the game as a digital adaptation of competitive solitaire where players race to finish their deck. It is a multiplayer solitaire-style card game.
- Multiplayer with friends (weight 0.58): Cluster 1 highlights that the game is best played with friends in groups, supporting voice chat and quick sessions. It also supports random players and public lobbies.
- Fast-paced card game with Speed elements (weight 0.34): Cluster 4 describes the game as a mix between solitaire and the card game Speed, emphasizing fast-paced and high-speed gameplay. Cluster 12 and 10 also note the speed and competitive nature.
- Online version of Nerts (weight 0.31): Cluster 6 identifies the game as an online version of the card game Nerts, a fast-paced multiplayer solitaire-like game. Clusters 19 and 14 mention the shared Nerts pile and center area.
- Up to 6 players supported (weight 0.25): Cluster 5 states that the game supports up to 6 players in online multiplayer, including a 6-player free-for-all mode. Cluster 13 adds that it works with any number, with more being better.
- Shared center area mechanic (weight 0.18): Cluster 14 explains that players share a center area and can add cards to the foundations. Cluster 16 adds that players can cover others' cards and compete to place cards in shared spaces.
- Play with random players online (weight 0.18): Cluster 18 notes that the game supports playing with random players online, either solo or with friends. Cluster 21 adds that online matches can be against other players and bots.
- Highly competitive gameplay (weight 0.13): Cluster 9 emphasizes that the gameplay is highly competitive and stressful. This is a core aspect of the experience.
- Digital adaptation of physical card game (weight 0.12): Cluster 7 describes the game as an online multiplayer version of a physical card game. It is a multiplayer solitaire-style card game.
- Competitive card game where speed matters (weight 0.12): Cluster 8 identifies the game as a competitive card game where speed and timing matter. This aligns with the fast-paced nature.
- Solitaire battle royale format (weight 0.1): Cluster 17 describes the game as essentially a solitaire battle royale. This captures the competitive, last-player-standing feel.
- 1v1 matches available (weight 0.1): Cluster 20 states that the game supports 1v1 matches and online public lobbies. This provides a direct competitive option.
- Klondike-style card play (weight 0.1): Cluster 12 mentions that the game is a competitive PvP Klondike card game with speed elements. It is a solitaire variant based on Klondike.
- Supports solo play (weight 0.1): Cluster 15 indicates that solo play is supported, though it is described as barebones. The game can be played alone or with others.

Performance notes:
- Frequent lag and latency issues (weight 0.3): Players frequently report lag and latency problems during gameplay, which can be occasional or severe. This affects overall smoothness and sometimes makes the game unplayable.
- Clicks and card placements fail (weight 0.16): Due to lag or glitches, clicks on cards often fail to register, making it impossible to place cards or causing cards to return to piles after being placed.
- Game crashes and launch failures (weight 0.1): Some users report that the game crashes randomly or fails to launch entirely. One player noted the game closed by itself on first run.
- Stuttering during online play (weight 0.08): Players experience stuttering during online matches, which may be related to connection or server issues. This disrupts the flow of the game.
- Display and interaction glitches (weight 0.07): There are reports of display glitches that limit the viewable area to a quarter of the screen, and mouse interactions not matching the visible area. These issues hinder usability.
- Random disconnections from games (weight 0.05): Players are sometimes kicked out of games randomly, likely due to connection or server issues. This interrupts play and causes frustration.
- Lag worsens with more players (weight 0.04): Lag tends to increase in rounds with more players, suggesting scalability issues with the networking or server infrastructure.
- Server downtime (weight 0.04): At least one player reported that the server was down, preventing access to the game. This indicates potential reliability issues with server uptime.
- Card selection glitches (weight 0.04): Some players encounter glitches when selecting cards, which can disrupt gameplay and cause confusion.

Recommendations:
- Positive general recommendations (weight 0.27): Many reviewers give a straightforward recommendation, often with perfect or near-perfect scores and encouragement to give it a go. These are enthusiastic but non-specific endorsements.
- Fun casual card game (weight 0.24): The game is widely described as a fun, simple card game suited to casual and competitive short matches. Fans of solitaire and card games are a commonly targeted audience.
- Empty public lobbies (weight 0.19): Several reviewers warn that the game lacks an active player base, so public lobbies are often empty or dead. They advise arranging friends in advance rather than relying on matchmaking.
- Voice chat recommended (weight 0.18): A recurring recommendation is to play with friends while on a voice call, such as Discord, for the best experience. This is commonly paired with advice to gather a group rather than rely on public lobbies.
- Free to try (weight 0.18): Reviewers repeatedly note that the game is free, so there is little reason not to try it. The zero cost is often used as a justification to recommend it despite other drawbacks.
- Great family game (weight 0.12): Multiple reviewers recommend the game for families and the whole family, highlighting it as an accessible shared activity. It is also noted as suitable for non-video-game people.
- Competitive friend group appeal (weight 0.1): The game is recommended for friends who enjoy competitive arguments and intense PvP solitaire. It is framed as a way to play with friends if you want an excuse to hate them.
- Novelty worth trying once (weight 0.09): Some reviewers suggest everyone should try the game at least once for the novelty, especially if they know solitaire rules. It is framed as a low-risk experience given its free price.
- Simple and beginner friendly (weight 0.08): The game is described as simple to learn, with even a dyslexic friend able to pick it up. It is recommended for those who want a straightforward card game without complicated setup.
- Good for pickup games (weight 0.08): Some reviewers describe it as great for a pickup game or light casual fun when a group can be gathered. It is also noted as suitable for spare-time casual play.
- Better solitaire alternatives exist (weight 0.07): A few reviewers recommend Microsoft Solitaire or normal solitaire instead of this game. This points to dissatisfaction compared with established alternatives.
- Networking issues reported (weight 0.06): Some feedback mentions networking problems as a reason they cannot recommend the game. Players are advised to stick with friend groups in the same region on decent internet.
- Nerts and Pounce players (weight 0.06): Reviewers who have played Nerts or Pounce physically are specifically recommended to try this digital version. Familiarity with the real-life card game is treated as a strong fit.
- Developer support praised (weight 0.06): One reviewer recommends the game because the developer's games are all worth trying, and notes future content will also be free. This reflects positive sentiment toward the developer.
- Small lobbies work (weight 0.05): A few reviewers note that you no longer need a big group to have fun and that trying it out even with a small lobby is worthwhile. This softens the common warning about needing many players.
- Sarcastic negative advice (weight 0.04): One reviewer mockingly advises against playing the game, functioning more as humor than substantive criticism. Another suggests bird-watching instead if you are good at the game.
- Not for strategic players (weight 0.04): Reviewers note the game may not suit players who prefer strategic, relaxed card games with progression or solo content. It is better suited to fast, casual competitive play.
- Miscellaneous achievement advice (weight 0.02): One reviewer recommends taking the Charlatan achievement on Molek-Syntez, an unrelated tip. This is niche feedback with little relevance to the core game experience.

Other player notes:
- Completely free with no monetization (weight 0.29): Reviewers frequently mention that the game is free to play with no ads, no monetization, and skins cannot be bought for competitive advantage. Some note optional DLC exists only to support the developers.
- Developed by Zachtronics (weight 0.25): The game is consistently identified as being developed and published by Zachtronics, known for titles like Infinifactory and Shenzhen I/O.
- Compared to Solitaire (weight 0.24): Reviewers often compare the game to Solitaire, sometimes unfavorably, noting it replaces patience with frustration or is not like regular solitaire.
- Public lobbies and friend invites (weight 0.18): Players can join via public lobbies or directly invite friends, though some note that public lobbies are often empty or limited at night.
- Positive comparisons to other games (weight 0.18): The game is favorably compared to other competitive solitaire games on Steam, Super Auto Pets, Among Us, and UNO.
- Optional DLC to support developers (weight 0.16): Optional DLC and supporter packs exist, such as card back colors or holographic effects, as a way to give money to the developers.
- Faithful adaptation of physical game (weight 0.15): Reviewers note that the online version faithfully reproduces the physical card game, especially for those who already know the rules.
- Polished but minimal (weight 0.12): The game is described as polished but minimal, without elaborate progression or extra features beyond what is needed to play.
- Announcer and soundtrack (weight 0.11): The game features an announcer resembling the Wii Sports announcer and a theme song that plays before each game, with the soundtrack rated highly.
- Friendship-ending competitive factor (weight 0.08): The game is compared to Mario Party and Monopoly for its ability to ruin friendships due to its competitive nature.
- Supports up to six players (weight 0.08): The game allows up to six players to play together in a single match.
- Small download size (weight 0.07): The game has a very small download size, around 200MB, which is seen as a positive.
- Lag and server issues (weight 0.07): Some reviewers report lag and suggest server capacity needs to be increased for smooth online play.
- Instructions and rule guide available (weight 0.06): The game includes instructions and even a Japanese rule guide to explain the game.
- Last update ruined game (weight 0.06): One reviewer states that the last update ruined the game, though it worked well a year ago.
- Replayability depends on friends (weight 0.04): Reviewers note that replayability comes more from the people you play with than from extra modes or progression.
- No achievements (weight 0.04): The game lacks achievements.
- Linux version works well (weight 0.04): The Linux version runs without any issues according to one reviewer.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.15): Players experience frustration primarily due to severe technical issues, including lag, stuttering, connectivity problems, and an inability to launch the game. Additionally, the competitive nature against friends, combined with game design elements like tedious card movement, long intros, and getting stuck without moves, creates significant irritation.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the game most when playing with friends, whether online or in person, due to its fast-paced, simple, and competitive gameplay. The social aspect, including laughing together and challenging each other, is a key source of fun.
- Amusement (weight 0.08): Amusement arises from the chaotic and social interactions in multiplayer, such as friends stealing cards, trolling with cursors, shouting in voice chat, and the absurd announcer or theme song. The friendship-ruining competitive nature and watching others rage quit also provide comedic value.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): Disappointment is mainly caused by the game's low player count, leading to dead servers and difficulty finding matches, especially outside peak hours. Expectations are also unmet by an unusable client due to netcode issues, limited content, and a barebones solo experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Excitement stems from the high-speed, chaotic, and intense competitive solitaire gameplay, particularly with multiple players. The energetic music, frantic matches, and the thrill of discovering an online version of a beloved card game contribute to this feeling.
- Fun (weight 0.05): Fun is derived from short, tense, and competitive matches with friends, where the simple multiplayer solitaire premise creates escalating chaos. Playing with friends of similar skill, crushing opponents, and the Mario Party-like factor all add to the enjoyment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.05): Enthusiasm is driven by the game's brilliant shared-center solitaire concept, fast-paced multiplayer, and the perception that it is the best competitive card game, worthy of esports. The free, online, and simple version of a beloved card game, along with its depth, generates strong praise.
- Addiction (weight 0.03): Addiction is caused by the compelling and incredibly addicting gameplay, where players lose track of time and keep coming back for more despite frustration or losses. The competitive solitaire concept and simple yet engaging mechanics make it hard to stop playing.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.03): Satisfaction comes from victories in the fast-paced competitive format, the game being a polished and faithful digital translation at a low price, and the ability to play with friends remotely. The simple rules and smooth online arbitration also contribute to a satisfying experience.
- Love (weight 0.03): Love for the game is expressed through deep affection for its tight, nail-biting competitive solitaire and cutthroat multiplayer. Many fell in love within minutes, citing the teamwork, card hoarding, yelling, and the challenges and fast pace as reasons for their strong attachment.
- Stress (weight 0.02): Stress is induced by the high-stakes, fast-paced gameplay that requires splitting attention between one's own board, the shared stack, and opponents' boards. The intense competitive nature and demanding pace raise blood pressure and create a good kind of stress.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise stems from the game being free, unexpectedly very fun, and the concept of competitive solitaire being addicting. Many are surprised that solitaire can be exciting, especially those who are not typically card game fans.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance is primarily caused by lag and bad ping that hinder play, along with the long intro music between rounds. The $10 empty DLC donation request also irritates players.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation is felt for the smooth online version, fluid multiplayer, and visible cursors that enable remote play with family and friends. The game's accessibility to non-gamers, clean UI, and helpful audio cues are also valued.
- Tension (weight 0.01): Tension arises from being kept on edge throughout each round, with rising blood pressure and heart rate due to the unpredictable turns and action-rich music. The competitive nature of mixed deck solitaire maintains a tense atmosphere.
- Mild frustration (weight 0.01): Mild frustration occurs when simple mistakes are costly in the accelerated pace, and when the scoreboard stretches off-screen or latency issues arise. The inefficient click-to-pick-up and click-to-release interaction also contributes.
- Thrill (weight 0.01): Thrill is experienced through out-Nerting friends by placing a card in the center before someone else, and the fast-paced competitive gameplay with friends. Technical Nerts gameplay adds to the excitement.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is evoked by reminders of school-day Speed and iPod solitaire, the 90s-style BGM, and playing similar games as a kid. These elements bring back fond memories.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger flares up when friends refuse to give up a needed card, such as a four of hearts, or when players cannot place a card. The competitive environment can lead to calling friends stupid idiot brains repeatedly.
- Pressure (weight 0.01): Pressure comes from the constant need to simultaneously monitor one's own deck, shared piles, and opponents' plays, especially when opponents place cards before you in 3-player games. The demand for split attention creates a sense of urgency.}