
Release Date: February 20, 2024
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.
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.
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.
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.
The graphic design of the Balatro game was made in the pixel art technique. The game is accompanied by a synthwave soundtrack.
Platforms:
PC Windows February 20, 2024
PlayStation 4 February 20, 2024
Xbox One February 20, 2024
Android September 26, 2024
Apple iOS September 26, 2024
Nintendo Switch February 20, 2024
PlayStation 5 February 20, 2024
Xbox Series X/S February 20, 2024
Developer: LocalThunk
Publisher: PlayStack
Similar Games:
December 23, 2024
2024 could end up being the last full year of the Nintendo Switch. There’s no telling what the future will hold, but let’s look back on the best games and highlights of this year for Nintendo.
December 11, 2024
The Game Awards is just around the corner. That’s why we have prepared our predictions: games that might get the most important awards.
The next update for Vampire Survivors was revealed to be a collaboration with Balatro, so now you can save time by playing both indie roguelikes at once.
video games
Matt Buckley
October 28, 2025
The creator of Balatro prefers that players buy the Arco game twice instead of his own title. For these words, LocalThunk received a lot of praise from fans.
video games
Martin Bukowski
March 18, 2025
Ludocene can be described as „Tinder for video games” and is meant to pair you with games according to your interests. The Kickstarter has reached its goal.
video games
Matt Buckley
March 13, 2025
Today's ID@Xbox showcase highlighted over twenty great indie games coming to Xbox Game Pass. Balatro, Lies of P, and Moonlighter 2 are among the featured games.
video games
Matt Buckley
February 24, 2025
Xbox has a great lineup of AAA games ready to launch in the coming months, but today's ID@Xbox showcase announcement is the exact supplement Game Pass needs.
originals
Matt Buckley
February 3, 2025
Balatro has already sold more than a million copies. The popular game is heading to new platforms.
video games
Maciej Gaffke
March 19, 2024
Check our guide on How to Play Black Deck in Balatro, featuring insights on selecting the right Jokers and essential strategies to follow.
How to
Olga Racinowska
February 26, 2024
Are you wondering if Endless Mode in Balatro is worth playing? In this guide you will find the answer.
How to
Agnes Adamus
February 23, 2024
Still trying to get Cavendish? Learn how to obtain this mighty banana Joker in Balatro.
How to
Olga Racinowska
February 23, 2024
Using Legendary Jokers in Balatro can have a positive effect and help you win a duel. From our guide you will learn how to unlock them and how they work.
How to
Dawid Lubczynski
February 23, 2024
System Requirements for Balatro Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i3, 1 GB RAM, graphic card Intel HD or better, 50 MB HDD, Windows 7/8/10/11 64-bit.
Game Ratings for Balatro Video Game.
Game is Recomended by 100% of Critics. There are 63 Critic Reviews.
Screen Rant: 5 / 5 by Leo Faierman
With its unlockable deck types, tricky economy, advanced joker concepts, challenge runs, and ascension-like “stake” system, Balatro offers countless hours to engage its treacherous machine of diversion. If this was preinstalled with Windows in lieu of Microsoft’s mandatory, productivity-wrecking Solitaire back in the 90s, modern civilization as we know it could have very well ground to a halt. For fans of deckbuilders, Balatro is an addictively delicious, menacing creation which devours hours without mercy. It should be handled with great care.
GamingTrend: 90 / 100 by Corvo Rohwer
While the idea of a poker roguelike might sound like a niche game, the flair and fun found within Balatro makes it an absolute must-play for fans of the genre. Breaking the rules of poker to score millions of chips in a single hand was a rush, and I was always chasing ways to push it even further beyond. While there are a few times you can feel snubbed by the luck of the draw, these are wildly overshadowed by the moments where you hit it big.
COGconnected: 90 / 100 by Lou Sytsma
Balatro is addictive. I’m not much of a poker or deck builder player, but I find the combination of the two irresistible. If you have an interest in either, then this game is sure to entice you. Especially since the game is out on every platform and is available now.
The main pros of the game
The main cons of the game
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
Summary
Summary generated on:
Average score from votes.