NERTS! Online

About

NERTS! Online is a multiplayer action game. It was developed by Zachtronics and was released on January 5, 2021. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

NERTS! Online is a fast-paced competitive solitaire game for you and up to five of your friends, played the same way we play it at the Zachtronics office! Nerts is a competitive solitaire variant that is known by multiple other names, outlined as far back as the 1930s. with slight differences in official rules. The game is a mix of solitaire and speed where any aces found can be used by all playe…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,420 reviews

music24 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

NERTS! Online is a fast-paced, competitive twist on solitaire that is incredibly fun to play with friends, often leading to chaotic and hilarious moments.
The game is free to play and offers a clean interface, making it easy to jump in and start playing with friends or in public lobbies.
Players enjoy the intense gameplay and the thrill of racing against friends to clear their cards, often resulting in memorable and entertaining experiences.

The game suffers from significant lag issues, especially in larger lobbies, which can disrupt the fast-paced nature of the gameplay.
There is a lack of meaningful single-player content, making it difficult to enjoy the game without friends, and public matchmaking can be sparse.
The unskippable intro music before each round can become annoying, and the click-to-move mechanics can feel cumbersome compared to traditional drag-and-drop card games.

music
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The music in the game is a polarizing aspect, with many praising the energetic intro theme that sets an exciting tone for each round, while others find it overly long and repetitive. Players appreciate the hype it brings, often describing it as the best soundtrack they've encountered, but some express a desire for options to skip or shorten the intro music. Overall, the soundtrack significantly enhances the game's atmosphere, contributing to both the fun and competitive spirit, despite some frustrations regarding its length.
- “I was no solitaire player before this, and yet this immediately hooked me with its awesome concept, music, and UI (especially the music and voice overs which are epic).”
- “Each round is fast paced and fun, and the intro music to each round never fails to excite.”
- “The game also has the single best musical piece in any game, which surprisingly enough serves as a much needed break between the highly stressful rounds, and probably the single coolest announcer.”
- “The intro song between rounds is too damn long, to be honest.”
- “If your opponents don't drive you crazy, the song might.”
- “Great game, but please give us the option to skip the intro music.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
60%
15%
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, chaotic nature, often leading to high-stress experiences, especially in multiplayer settings. While the user interface is simplistic, resembling a web page, the mechanics blend elements of solitaire and Uno, providing a unique and engaging experience. However, some players noted that lengthy round intros can disrupt the flow of the action, and the absence of background music during gameplay was a missed opportunity for enhancement.
- “Great fun with your friends, quick easy gameplay with the best soundtrack going.”
- “A really fun game, with quick and dynamic gameplay, awesome to kill time and play with friends.”
- “The core mechanics are pretty much solitaire, but the experience is greatly enhanced thanks to the introduction of multiplayer.”
- “For gameplay purposes, because the user interface for this game is mostly just 2D static text/images, it might as well be a web page.”
- “It's like a whole 20-second intro per round and it slows the pace for this action-packed, high-octane gameplay.”
- “Intro music is a banger, but gameplay against your friends is frustrating.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's graphics have received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the outdated 2D visuals and lack of 3D elements, while others appreciate the aesthetic and unique design, despite noting occasional glitches. Overall, the visuals are seen as a point of contention, with some praising the artistic style and others feeling it falls short of modern standards.
- “The game offers some nice graphics and a nice aesthetic; although there are some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
- “10/10 graphics.”
- “Love the aesthetic and that cool music before each round.”
- “The game features really lackluster 2D visuals (does the developer not know 3D graphics became mainstream in the mid-1990s?).”
- “Gamers don't spend thousands of dollars on gaming rigs and the latest 3D graphics cards to play 2D games.”
- “Even mobile phones and game consoles can do 3D graphics now.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its lighthearted and chaotic nature, with players enjoying moments of laughter and friendly competition, particularly when engaging in the card game mechanics. The combination of skill and luck, along with the absurdity of the gameplay, contributes to a fun and entertaining experience that encourages social interaction and playful banter among friends.
- “A game of skill ruled over by the laughing goddess of luck.”
- “It can get insanely stupid, and it's all the more funny and enjoyable for it.”
- “So much laughing and yelling tonight.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's story is praised for its uniqueness and complexity, drawing comparisons to iconic narratives like Metal Gear Solid and Life is Strange. However, some players feel that the reliance on multiplayer interactions detracts from traditional storytelling elements. Overall, the narrative is described as immersive and engaging, with a personal touch that resonates with players.
- “This game is epic! The story is unique and complex, much like Metal Gear Solid.”
- “A gameplay unlike any other and a story more immersive than Life is Strange.”
- “The developer gambled that other players would be an acceptable substitute for adding storytelling, level design, etc. to the game.”
- “This is the story of how I lost all my friends.”
- “(They should make a movie about my story.)”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game features a clean monetization model with no ads or intrusive elements, allowing players to unlock card backs solely by purchasing other Zachtronics titles, resulting in a largely unobtrusive experience.
- “Has no ads or other useless bloat.”
- “Zero obnoxious monetization.”
- “You can unlock different card backs by purchasing other Zachtronics games, but otherwise there's no monetization whatsoever.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when managing card movements and dealing with downtime during matches. The experience can become frustrating, especially in one-on-one scenarios where the lack of a well-shuffled deck hampers gameplay.
- “Playing against only a single person can get tedious at times, especially due to downtime during moments where both players lack the properly shuffled deck to get the correct or most optimized card deck possible.”
- “I tested it with the Steam Link app and it was tedious to move the cards around.”
- “And this is coming from a person who hates solitaire; I always found it tedious and frustrating.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features appealing graphics and aesthetics, but players have reported occasional bugs and glitches that can detract from the experience. While these issues are noted, they do not significantly overshadow the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The game offers some nice graphics and a nice aesthetic; however, there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
- “Sometimes it's buggy, but overall it's still enjoyable.”
- “The only downsides are that you need friends to play with, and sometimes the game can get buggy.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The optimization of the game has been criticized for significant lag during multiplayer sessions, which negatively affects playability. Additionally, players have noted that the game can become tedious when both participants struggle with suboptimal card decks, leading to downtime.
- “Playing against only a single person can get tedious at times, especially due to downtime during moments where both players lack the properly shuffled deck to get the correct or most optimized card deck possible.”
- “Played this with friends for the first time the other day and the performance had so much lag that it had a significant impact on playability.”
- “Playing against only a single person can get tedious at times, especially due to downtime during moments where both players lack the proper shuffled deck to get the correct or most optimized card deck possible.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game lacks replayability, leading some players to feel satisfied with completing it once and not returning for additional playthroughs.
- “With no replay value, I can finally put it away and not touch it again.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's really no reason to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels like a chore rather than an adventure.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience, oscillating between positive and negative feelings, often leading to tears. The game is described as a blend of wholesome fun and poignant moments that resonate strongly with players.
- “Sometimes I was positive with nerves, sometimes I was negative, and I cried a lot.”
- “Good, wholesome fun.”