Balatro
Release Date: February 20, 2024
Puzzle, turn-based, roguelike, 2D, card games, indie games, Poker, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Steam
A roguelike card game loosely based on the poker rules. Balatro has us participate in solo card duels, gradually unlocking new card decks and joker cards with unique abilities and effects. The game offers a story campaign, as well as various single challenges.
OpenCritic Rating
Game is Recomended by 100% of Critics. There are 54 Critic Reviews.
Push Square: 9 / 10 by Stephen Tailby
Between the main game, seeded runs, and a Challenge mode to really test your skills, there's endless fun to be drawn from Balatro. With so many variables to experiment with, sleek presentation, and hypnotically addictive gameplay, this is easily among the best deckbuilders, and possibly among the best roguelikes, we've played yet.
Digital Spy: 4 / 5 by Jess Lee
It's easy to get a kick out of seeing how high the scores can get, but the game is as much about the gambles you take and the planning along the way. There's a deceptive simplicity to Balatro due to its roots in poker, and it uses that to its advantage to reel you in while regularly finding new ways to surprise you.
PC Gamer: 91 / 100 by Abbie Stone
A roguelike deckbuilder debut already worth of joining Slay the Spire and Monster Train at the King's table. Essential.
The main pros of the game
- Addictiveness: Many users highlight the game's addictive nature, with several mentioning they lost track of time while playing.
- Unique Gameplay: The combination of poker mechanics, roguelike elements, and deck-building provides a fresh and engaging experience.
- Replayability: Each run is unique due to the randomization of cards and events, keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting.
- Visual and Audio Design: The graphics and sound design are praised, with users appreciating the aesthetic and the non-intrusive music that enhances the gaming experience.
- Intuitive Mechanics: Players find the game easy to pick up, even if they are not familiar with poker, making it accessible to a wide audience.
- Strategic Depth: The balance between luck and strategy is well-received, with players enjoying the challenge of creating effective decks and combos.
The main cons of the game
- Translation Issues: Some users expressed dissatisfaction with the translations, indicating that it can lead to confusion about game mechanics.
- Repetitive Elements: A few players noted that after extended playtime, certain cards and enemies can become repetitive, suggesting a desire for more variety.
- Difficulty and RNG: There are mentions of frustrating random number generation (RNG) leading to challenging gameplay, with some players feeling that luck can overshadow strategy at times.
- Lack of Multiplayer: Some users mentioned that the game would be even better with a multiplayer mode, which is currently missing.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- More Content: Players expressed a desire for additional cards and enemies to enrich the gameplay experience and reduce repetitiveness.
- Multiplayer Mode: A common suggestion is the inclusion of a multiplayer option to enhance the social aspect of the game.
- Improved Translation: Users recommended better translations to help new players understand the mechanics and features more clearly.
Summary
- Overall, Balatro is well-received for its engaging and addictive gameplay, though users have pointed out areas for improvement, particularly regarding content variety and translation quality.
Summary generated on:
Balatro Description
Balatro is a card game with roguelike elements, loosely based on the poker rules. The game was developed by the independent studio LocalThunk, and its release was handled by Playstack.
Mechanics
The main attraction of Balatro are card games, during which we play cards and build an increasingly powerful deck, as well as collect tokens and use them to place bets before subsequent duels on the table.
Although the game was based on the rules of poker, the authors tried to introduce a number of their own changes, which significantly influence the course of the game. Allowed poker hands (card arrangements) can be combined with various jokers, each of which has unique properties and abilities. In addition to them, we have been given a variety of decks at our disposal, including standard cards, tarot cards (strengthening the former), planet cards (strengthening poker hands), astral cards, and coupon cards (which provide us with access to permanent upgrades).
By using them and relying on various moves, we create diverse, sometimes powerful card combinations that allow us to win subsequent duels. The game requires to build a deck in such a way that individual cards complement each other.
Throughout the course of the games, we unlock new elements of the deck, and also discover various secrets, which over time increase our chances of winning in each hand. An additional source of information about which hands and jokers we should use more often and which should be avoided are detailed statistics.
Game modes
Balatro only allows you to play solo. The game offers a story campaign with eight levels of difficulty, as well as single, daily challenges and set approaches.
Technical aspects
The graphic design of the Balatro game was made in the pixel art technique. The game is accompanied by a synthwave soundtrack.
Balatro Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Android OS September 26, 2024
Apple iOS September 26, 2024
Developer: LocalThunk
Publisher: PlayStack
Age restrictions: 12+
Balatro System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i3, 1 GB RAM, graphic card Intel HD or better, 50 MB HDD, Windows 7/8/10/11 64-bit
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