We Love It's Guide to…
Build poker hands, reshape your deck with Jokers and other cards, and chase rising score targets in roguelike runs.
Released 20 Feb 2024
Stack Joker Synergies
Alter Your Playing Cards
Level Up Poker Hands
The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.
Developed by LocalThunk · Published by Playstack
You play a poker-inspired deckbuilder where the goal is to score enough chips to clear each round. Form familiar poker hands from your deck, but use the game’s modifiers and upgrades to push scoring beyond ordinary poker.
Each blind sets a score target, with limited hands and discards to reach it. Clear blinds to earn cash, then spend it between rounds on cards and other upgrades; boss blinds add extra rules that can disrupt your approach.
Jokers provide special effects that can combine into scoring strategies, while Tarot, Planet, Spectral, and Voucher cards offer other ways to alter your deck, hands, or run. Choose from decks with different modifiers, progress through rising antes, and unlock more cards and options across standard, challenge, and seeded runs.
Players in the supplied reviews often praise Balatro’s replayable runs and the way Joker effects and other upgrades combine into creative scoring strategies. Several also say it is approachable without prior poker knowledge, while its escalating scores and presentation make playing satisfying. Many describe the game as hard to put down; some also report frustrating losses from randomness or punishing higher difficulties.
Balatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big.
Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. You’re going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory.
The definitive poker roguelike experience.
Endless possibilities - every pick-up, discard and joker can dramatically alter the course of your run.
In-depth campaign mode complete with 8 difficulties, as well as challenge and seeded runs.
Deftly deploy an array of potent tools: different Decks, Jokers, Tarot cards, Planet cards, Spectral cards, and Vouchers. Use these versatile instruments to ignite a combo frenzy and turbocharge your poker hands, crafting electrifying, adrenaline-fueled synergies.
150 Jokers, each with their own unique abilities
15 Decks with distinct modifiers to choose from for each run
5 potential variants of each Joker which add further abilities
22 Tarot cards variants that can enhance your regular playing cards
11 Planet cards that help level up your possible poker hands
32 Voucher cards to help provide permanent buffs for your current run
Immerse yourself in Balatro’s distinctive psychedelic world. Let the synthwave soundtrack wash over you - wind down, escape the daily grind and prepare to enter the ultimate roguelike flow state.
Improve your collection and discover new cards and secrets with every single run.
Make use of the in-depth stats screen to study your best hands, most used Jokers, and more!
Immerse yourself in the CRT fuzz and enjoy detailed, hand-crafted pixel art.
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 31 |
| Age ratings |
|
| Controller support | PlayStation, Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| DLC / extras | 1 listed on Steam |
| Metacritic | 90/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |
