Deck Splash is a fast, turn-based card game for 2 to 26 players. A standard game runs for exactly five rounds, though a host may set any number of rounds or end the session early.

The fundamental goal across the entire game is to finish with the lowest cumulative point total. Every point is a burden — the less you carry, the better.

The game uses exactly one complete 54-card deck: fifty-two standard suited cards plus two Jokers. There is only ever one deck in play, so there are never more duplicates than intended.

• Number cards 2–10 are worth their face value.
• Jacks, Queens and Kings are each worth 10 points.
• Aces are worth 1 point.
• Jokers are worth −5 points — the best card to hold onto.

If a player begins their turn holding a Joker and chooses to give it away — either by swapping it onto the discard pile or by diving into the deck — they take a flat three-point penalty for that round.

If a single player manages to give away both Jokers in one round, they receive a total six-point penalty.

All 54 cards are thoroughly shuffled. The dealer deals exactly one face-down card to every participant. Players are strictly forbidden from looking at their own card or anyone else's card.

The remaining cards form the face-down Splash Pile in the center. Its top card is flipped face-up beside it to start the Discard Pile.

Turns move clockwise, starting left of the dealer. Your card is still completely unknown to you. Choose exactly one of three actions:

• Keep — hold your current face-down card. Your turn ends immediately.
• Swap — take the face-up card on top of the Discard Pile and place your own card face-up in its place. If the card you gave up is a Joker, take a three-point penalty.
• Dive — place your card face-up on the discard (Joker penalty applies), then draw a brand-new hidden card from the Splash Pile.

If many players Dive and the Splash Pile empties, the game immediately takes the top face-up card of the Discard Pile and sets it aside to remain the active discard option.

All remaining cards beneath it are gathered, shuffled, and turned face-down to create a fresh Splash Pile — so a Dive can always be completed. No one may ever browse the buried discard cards; only the single top card is visible.

Once every player has taken their single turn, all cards are flipped face-up simultaneously. Each player's round score is their card value plus three points for every Joker they gave away. Scores are added to a running tally, then all 54 cards are gathered, reshuffled and dealt again.

After the final round, everyone totals their scores. The lowest total wins.

If players tie for the lowest total, a tiebreaker draw decides it: the remaining cards are shuffled and each tied player draws one card. Lowest value wins (Ace = 1, face cards = 10, Joker = −5). Matching lowest values repeat the draw until one clear winner emerges.