Both roguelikes and deck-builders are incredibly popular indie PC game genres. Yet, many find them challenging to engage with, often due to their complexity or reliance on randomization. Balatro, a recent indie darling, overcomes these hurdles with its approachable poker-based mechanics and the unique ability to manipulate those very mechanics.
Balatro (Latin for “fool” or “joker”) may appear complex at first glance, with its pixelated interface filled with numbers and multipliers. However, the gameplay is surprisingly simple. You begin with eight cards, aiming to create the best possible poker hand. You have four hands to achieve the target score for each round and three opportunities to discard up to five cards and draw replacements from a static deck. Essentially, it’s eight-card draw poker with four rounds, but you’re the sole player.
alt text: Balatro Steam screenshot 2, showcasing jokers and special cards that modify hands and point values of card combinations.
The initial rounds are straightforward if you’ve played casual poker. Three of a kind, full house, straight, flush—the familiar hands are all there. With only point goals and no opponents, it resembles a game of solitaire, focusing on odds and choices. However, Balatro’s ingenuity lies in its strategic depth. After each round, you can use your winnings to purchase cards that enhance your hand, modify your deck, or increase the value of specific hands.
Joker cards act as permanent stat boosters without occupying a hand slot. Imagine needing one card to complete a straight or flush. With the right joker, these hands require only four cards instead of five, significantly expanding your options. Add another joker that boosts the score multiplier for a straight, and you’ll be seeking that four-card combination in every hand.
Other shop cards offer different modifications. Planet cards upgrade the scoring potential of specific hands. Accumulate enough Mercury cards, and a humble pair of twos can outscore a full house. Tarot cards modify your deck in dramatic ways, acting as a strategic reserve. Need a high-scoring hand but have no discard chances left? The right tarot card can instantly and permanently change card suits, transforming a losing hand into a winning flush.
alt text: A Balatro screenshot showing achievement completion unlocking more joker modifiers for future games.
Balatro quickly ramps up in difficulty. Every third round presents a “boss” with a game-altering modifier, ranging from minor inconveniences to crippling handicaps. One strategy might focus on a joker that scores all cards as face cards, boosting every hand. However, a boss that nullifies face cards can instantly decimate this strategy, forcing adaptation and strategic shifts.
Successful runs often revolve around specific hand combinations. Imagine modifiers that allow gapped straights, increase straight multipliers, provide extra cards, grant additional discard chances, and further boost your most-played hand (inevitably straights). Finding a straight becomes almost guaranteed with these modifiers. The focus then shifts to acquiring Saturn cards, which boost straight scoring. With the right power-ups, straights can outscore four of a kind tenfold, leading to satisfying victories.
True to roguelike fashion, playing unlocks more options. Achieving specific goals, like a royal flush, unlocks new jokers and power-ups for future runs. Even short, unsuccessful games contribute to overall progress, unlocking more varied gameplay. Whether a game lasts ten minutes or an hour, the desire for another round persists.
While Balatro exhibits some indie game tropes, like pixelated graphics and faux CRT effects, these are minor drawbacks in an otherwise excellent game. Its affordable price and modest system requirements make it accessible, while its simple yet deep gameplay loop is highly addictive. Balatro is a testament to innovative game design, offering a fresh and engaging take on the classic game of poker.
