Year: 2024 | Players: 1-5 | Min: 20 | Ages: 10+
This Ultimatch review was made after playing the game about 15 times. The publisher sent us a copy of this game in exchange for an honest review.
What is Ultimatch?
Ultimatch is a cooperative limited communication matching card game in which you work together to clear a pyramid of cards.
Ultimatch was designed by Justin De Witt (Castle Panic, Hotshots) and Anne-Marie De Witt, and is published by Fireside Games.
Rules Overview
In Ultimatch, players work together to clear a pyramid of cards by matching the color or number of the pyramid cards with those in their hand or in the shared “alta-hand.”
At the beginning of the game, each player donates one card to the alta-hand, which remains faceup and available to all players throughout the game. One additional card is added to the alta-hand in two-player and three-player games.
Turn Structure:
- Trade a Card (optional) – Players can silently offer a card to help the active player, who may choose to trade one of their cards. The traded cards are added to their respective hands without being revealed.
- Make a Match – The active player uses cards from their hand and/or the alta-hand to match a faceup pyramid card. Matches can be made by using one card with the same number or color, or two cards whose numbers add up to or subtract to equal the pyramid card’s number.
- Remove Matched Cards – If a match is made, the matching pyramid card and the played cards are discarded.
- Reveal Pyramid Cards – Any pyramid card that is no longer covered by other cards is flipped faceup.
- Get Ultimatch Rewards – Matching the color and number of a pyramid card results in an “Ultimatch,” allowing the player to draw two cards and add one to the alta-hand. Playing two primary-colored cards to match a secondary-colored card, like a Yellow 5 and a Red 2 to match an Orange 7, is an example of an Ultimatch.
If the active player can’t make a match, they pass and draw a card. You can’t pass if you have a legal match in hand, but you can choose to pass if your only option is to use an alta-hand card.
You’ll win if all pyramid cards are cleared. You’ll lose if all players consecutively pass.
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Pros and Cons
Pros
- It’s really cool to have trading in a small co-op card game like this. Trading adds a bit of cooperative strategy to the game, which is something I don’t think I’ve seen in a card game like this before. You don’t trade every turn and not all of your trades are going to be super helpful, but you can definitely turn the game in your favor with a well-timed trade. Without the trading, Ultimatch would feel way more like co-op solitaire, so I’m glad it’s in the game.
- Some of my favorite moments have come when a card in the alta-hand is a match for a pyramid card, but I don’t have a matching card in hand. Sometimes it’s best to pass in those situations to draw a new card, but there are times when it’s better to clear some of the pyramid for your teammates. I like that part of the game because it forces you to try to read your teammates and remember what’s been traded.
- I like the look of the cards. They’re nice and bright with big numbers and I appreciate that they put the primary color combos on the secondary-colored cards.
- It’s also great that they included easy ways to raise or lower the difficulty. I’m not ready to increase the difficulty yet, but I like having that option if I ever get good at this game.
- Ultimatch is extremely easy to teach. That’s always a big-time pro for me because I like having quick and easy games available when non-gamers are over. Also, they say this is for ages 10+, but I think younger kids could grasp these rules and have fun playing it.
- This game has very quick setup and teardown times. Setup takes about 20 seconds and teardown takes about five.
Cons
- As expected, the luck factor is pretty high with this one. There is skill in trading at the right times and playing the right cards, but if the cards in the pyramid don’t sync up with the cards in your hands, there isn’t much you can do. It’s not a huge deal, though, since games are so quick and you can jump right into a new one.
- Ultimatch isn’t as fun when you don’t draw the cards to get Ultimatches. Sure, that makes getting Ultimatches feel that much more rewarding when they do happen, but we had a run of three games where we just couldn’t get them. That was frustrating.
- Like most limited communication games, Ultimatch is a fairly “quiet” and relaxed experience. That’s not a bad thing, but it means I have to choose the right moments to bring it to the table, when the group is in the mood for a more low-key game.
Final Thoughts
Everyone I’ve played Ultimatch with so far has enjoyed it, despite having some frustrating games. Getting Ultimatches is very satisfying, and I think it’s awesome that I now have a small co-op card game that lets us do a bit of trading. I also always appreciate quick card games that give a full gaming experience.
There are limited communication co-ops that I like more, like The Mind and Cahoots, but Ultimatch is different enough and portable enough that I think it’s going to hit the table pretty often. Like those other two I mentioned, Ultimatch will probably end up being one of my go-to pub games and airport/plane games.
I think I’ll be playing Ultimatch mostly as a two-player game, but I have liked it best as a three-player game so far. You get the extra potential trade partner at that player count and the game still has a nice, quick flow to it.
I don’t recommend Ultimatch if you usually like more skill-based games or if you prefer cooperative games that require a lot of teamwork to beat.
For everyone else, Ultimatch is definitely worth a try. I think it’s one of the better budget card games out there right now.
Ultimatch Links
BGG | Amazon | Miniature Market
Thanks for taking the time to read our Ultimatch review!
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