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Balatro
Released On: Feb 20, 2024
8.3
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Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 32 Critic Reviews
90
100% Positive
32 Reviews
32 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 32 Critic Reviews
90
100% Positive
32 Reviews
32 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
The result is a surprisingly layered and extremely addictive game, with pixelated retro graphics. Cleverly designed too, as all the bleeps and effects constantly provide little shots of dopamine, much like a jackpot, slot machine or coin toss from the luna park. The addition of jokers and bonus cards made available seemingly at random make each game different, and replayability almost endless.
Balatro is as good as Slay the Spire was. It's a roguelike deckbuilder, but beginning from a poker deck. The concept is both original and fun. Its modifier cards offer almost unlimited possibilities, making each run unique in its own way. Balatro gives you hours and hours of entertaining and we can just wait for new content in the future. One of the best games of the year so far.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 1,277 User Ratings
8.3
83% Positive
1063 Ratings
1063 Ratings
11% Mixed
135 Ratings
135 Ratings
6% Negative
79 Ratings
79 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 1,277 User Ratings
8.3
83% Positive
1063 Ratings
1063 Ratings
11% Mixed
135 Ratings
135 Ratings
6% Negative
79 Ratings
79 Ratings
A unique and damn addictive card-based roguelite that borrows basic rules from poker, only to effortlessly turn them on their head using jokers, tarot cards, and celestial bodies. Countless possibilities, synergies, and combinations ensure hours of fun that you won't want to tear yourself away from.
I never would have expected that a roguelike could work so well in a card game before I played Balatro. It’s simple and guides you in so well, but escalates quickly and is happy to crush your run at any moment with the smallest strokes of misfortune. That’s what makes the variety of jokers and bonus cards so fun to explore. Every new option provides an opportunity to buck the house advantage. It leads to an appealing gameplay loop that kept me wanting to try all sorts of new angles and strategies. Balatro is something far out of the ordinary, and heaven forbid it ever makes its way to mobile because my casual time will powerless against it (please?).
Balatro is a brilliant take on the rogue lite genre. Video poker fans will be grinning ear to ear playing this truly terrific card game that is hard to put down.
The wonderful and terrible thing about Balatro is that, unlike with other roguelikes, I never got frustrated getting bounced back to the start. I almost always felt like I’d had the slate wiped clean of the web of synergistic collectables governing my ill-fated moves and this time, I was sure to succeed. Especially as my efforts in the game unlocked new perks or decks I could use when jumping back in. The combination of simple drag-and-drop controls and a continuous flow of numbers-go-up dopamine hits is irresistible. You’ve been warned.
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.
Balatro là game bài poker roguelike siêu cuốn, phá luật sáng tạo bằng các lá Joker đặc biệt.
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PC
Similar feelings for me as Vampire Survivors. Gameplay loop is very simple and not very long if treating each round as a new game. One basic playthrough consists of 24+ rounds, each of them just trying to beat target score, and after every round there's a shop screen with a few upgrades to choose from.Strength of this game are poker rules and cards known by almost every player - it's easier to just sink in this game and forget that it's some kind of a roguelike, you just count probability, choose strategies and risk all the time. At the same time emotions are very weak compared to real poker. Some biggest disadvantages would be; 1. Price compared to other games with similar gameplay loop, 2. Lack of story, depth, anything that would be memorable above poker loop, 3. Length - for an addictive time eater it's not very long, designed as every roguelike it has an end so don't throw away your standard free time filler.Generally, I would say it's just an experiment project similar to very many other roguelikes releasing recent years/months. The problem with Balatro longevity is lack of it's innovation in gaming industry - the only thing it tweaked a little are some overall poker rules like inventing chess with squares that change abilities under circumstances.
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PC
No mind games, no bluffing, no tension like real poker. It just makes me doze off.
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PC
Absurdly overrated. You progress to unlock decks and other modifiers but the mechanics really just stay the same. After a few runs you realise you're just doing the same thing over and over with no real progression or variation... What's the point? There's only 1 music track which gets old really fast and the visuals are nice but they get old fast too. Play if you want to experience what the hype's all about—but don't expect anything life-changing.
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PC
Summary 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.
Platforms:
- PC
- PlayStation 5
- PlayStation 4
- Nintendo Switch
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox One
- iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Initial Release Date: Feb 20, 2024
Developer:
- LocalThunk
Publisher:
Playstack
Genres:
