Score Cards

About this board game

Score Cards is an abstract card game for 2–4 players that plays in around 30 minutes. Its simple goal is to score as highly as possible while using each card’s unique condition to shape your strategy.

On every turn, play one card from your hand, score it, and draw a new card to replace it. Cards score differently depending on the cards you have already played, as well as those played by your opponent. You must decide how to maximize your own points while limiting the scoring opportunities available to the other player.

The game’s distinctive play-one, draw-one structure keeps your hand moving while allowing you to plan ahead. Because hands are carried over between rounds, you can hold onto powerful scoring combinations and wait for the right moment to use them.

At the end of each round, two victory points are available: one goes to the player with the highest total score, and another goes to the player with the highest individual card score. After four rounds, the player with the most victory points wins.

• Players: 2–4
• Playing time: approximately 30 minutes
• Core mechanic: play one card, score it, then draw one replacement
• Game length: four rounds
• Variants: a three-player Captain game and a four-player Partnerships game

With changing scoring conditions and information shaped by both players’ cards, Score Cards rewards careful timing and flexible planning. The included Captain and Partnerships variants extend the experience for larger groups.