I was introduced to Balatro by a friend from another reviewing website. He is obsessed with this game, and he decided that I should become part of its cult-like following. Sadly, this absorbing title has got under my skin and its moreish mechanics and old-school visuals make it a tough game to put down. Furthermore, a simple gameplay loop can be easily mastered even if the action follows a repetitive and often cruel approach.
This deck-builder was developed by LocalThunk Inc. and published by Playstack Ltd. Moreover, it keeps you on your toes as it is a harsh and unfair rogue-like title. As such, you’ll rue your luck as your progress is wiped out during every failed run. However, it is this brutal approach that keeps you coming back for more.
Balatro focuses on its cruelty and little else.
A game with no story and repetitive mechanics is asking for trouble. Yet, Balatro somehow makes it work. You play as a nameless and faceless individual. Your opponent? A mystical being that ups the ante on every round of cards you play. Accordingly, the game becomes progressively tougher, but your opponent effectively remains the same. This strange blend of nothingness should be doomed to failure, but it is so addictive that you quickly forgive the lack of a plot or an antagonist.
The aim of the game is unbelievably simple. You must tackle 3 stages per round as you complete each playthrough. As the stages unfold, the “blind” or required score increases. Consequently, the chances of success are reduced and the pressure and stress levels increase. You increase your score by picking from an array of poker hands. As such, if you have any poker knowledge, you get a slight advantage. Thankfully, though, Balatro does a great job of explaining the scoring system.
A tactical mindset.
The base game is easy to understand. Yet, things become more complicated as you start to delve deeper. As the “blinds” increase, you must manipulate your cards and multiply your score to progress. Now, this is easier said than done as you need luck and some money to improve your cards. At the end of each stage, you earn coins. These coins can be spent on an array of cards that have differing effects on your deck of cards.
First, there are the Jokers. 150 unique Joker cards can be unlocked to change an array of playing conditions. Whether you improve your multiplier or the number of hands you can play, they change your tactical mindset. Additionally, there are consumable cards that improve your cards or increase the score for each poker hand you play. Either way, you must weigh up the cost of each item and the benefit when combined with your Joker set.
On top of this, you need to be mindful of the final stage of each round. The boss battle has a sneaky element that can ruin the strongest of cards. Consequently, they may debuff every heart card you own or prevent you from playing the same hand twice. Additionally, you may get no discards, or you may have to complete the stage with 1 hand. Whatever the task, you must navigate it if you wish to overcome each of the 8 rounds.
Balatro: Gloriously old-school!
Balatro captures the essence of old-school gaming. Its basic animation and gaudy colour palette belong to a bygone era. On top of this, it is brilliantly rough around the edges and is simple to look at. If you then consider the excellent UI, you will love its dated but clean appearance.
I loved the audio. However, like the gameplay loop, it is unfortunately repetitive. Yet, the aggressive music and simple sound effects work to create a dramatic atmosphere. As such, as you get into the latter stages, your heart will be racing and your blood pressure will go through the roof.
Excellent controls.
I played this on Xbox, PC, and Steam Deck. No matter the platform, I enjoyed the exceptional controls. Flitting between each menu was straightforward and the control layout and responsive inputs worked extremely well.
Despite its repetitive nature, this is an addictive and tough-to-put-down title. Furthermore, the minor tweaks in the gameplay and the ever-changing boss battles keep you on your toes. Additionally, the more you play, the more card decks you unlock. Consequently, there are plenty of different gameplay styles to test out.
Balatro is a fascinating and challenging indie title.
Balatro has taken the world by storm. As such, you probably have the game on install as you read this article. However, if you haven’t pulled the trigger and purchased your copy of this addictive title, then I suggest you do so here! Can you overcome every “blind” and complete a run? Pick your cards, choose your hand, and allow tactics and fate to do the talking.
