After hearing all the buzz around Vampire Survivors, I gave it a couple of tries. Surprisingly, it hooked me so much that I ended up spending an entire weekend playing it. So, when Balatro, a roguelike deck-building game with poker elements, started getting similar attention and glowing reviews, I figured it deserved a chance.
What is Balatro?
Developed by LocalThunk and released in 2024, Balatro blends classic poker mechanics with roguelike progression. Players form poker hands to score points, defeat enemies, and progress through increasingly tough rounds called “blinds.” Unique cards, like Joker and Tarot cards, change the game’s rules, making each run unpredictable. As you earn cash for defeating blinds, you can upgrade your deck or buy items to improve your chances in the next rounds. Once you complete eight rounds, you unlock an endless mode to aim for high scores.
The game’s combination of strategy, poker themes, and deck-building has won over casual and hardcore players alike. It was even nominated for the Game of the Year Award.
My Experience with Balatro:
Despite the hype, my experience with Balatro was... underwhelming. My first attempt lasted about an hour before I quit. I’d heard you don’t need to be a poker fan to enjoy it, but I couldn’t see the appeal. Weeks later, after its Game of the Year nomination, I decided to give it another try—this time during a flight. I gave it two hours, hoping it would “click,” but it still felt like playing poker with modifiers.
I didn’t feel motivated to continue or try again after a run. The supposed addictive loop that draws others in just didn’t land for me. Maybe I missed something, or maybe it’s just not my kind of game. Either way, I’m ready to move on. At least I gave it a fair chance.
Many people have compared Balatro to Slay the Spire. Perhaps I’ll give that a try next.
What about you?
Have you played Balatro? If so, what did you enjoy about it?
Balatro
Platform: All of them
Developer: LocalThunk
Publisher: Playstack
Genre: Card game / Roguelike
Release Year: 2024
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