100
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.
90
Balatro is excellent all around. The concept is simple, and while the various card types seem overly complicated, the game remains easy to understand no matter how many rules there are. It's utterly enjoyable to the point where you'll keep coming back no matter how many times you lose to a boss with a ridiculous modifier. For anyone who likes card games, Balatro is a must-have.
90
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.
9
Solid 9.5 but it doesn't let me rate it there, might even be a 9.7 if i'm honest, pretty much the perfect game for some downtime.
7
Basically a poker game with interesting joker to play with its enjoyable but for a week after that you'll be bored of it
10
Such a satisfying game. You will spend hours enjoying progressing through this game. With each attempt, you'll get better and better and even when you lose, you won't be mad, you'll just jump in again.
Balatro
Released On:
Feb 20, 2024
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
90
User score
Generally Favorable
8.4
My Score
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Metascore
Universal Acclaim
100% Positive
32 Reviews
32 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Dec 12, 2024
100
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.
Feb 28, 2024
97
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
84% Positive
1498 Ratings
1498 Ratings
11% Mixed
191 Ratings
191 Ratings
5% Negative
90 Ratings
90 Ratings
Nov 6, 2025
10
Such a satisfying game. You will spend hours enjoying progressing through this game. With each attempt, you'll get better and better and even when you lose, you won't be mad, you'll just jump in again.
Feb 18, 2026
10
**Balatro** is a game that made me fall in love with poker—though I still dislike traditional poker! It takes the familiar poker setup but introduces its own rules, making you addicted and constantly striving to reach the end of the game. It’s a roguelike poker game where every loss sends you back to the beginning, forcing you to learn from your mistakes and try again and **** gameplay is extremely addictive, making you want to keep discovering new cards and eventually face the final boss. But it’s not easy—the game gets progressively harder, and each boss has a specific rule that’s likely to make you lose. Anyone who’s into poker will love this, and even someone like me, who hated poker before, got hooked. There are even some cute little dialogues sprinkled in, which I absolutely adore :)
Apr 5, 2024
90
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.
Mar 5, 2024
90
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?).
Feb 26, 2024
90
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.
Feb 19, 2024
90
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.
Feb 21, 2024
80
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.
Feb 14, 2026
10
i love this game ... point ......
I can't write more about it... top top top must have
Mar 12, 2026
7
Basically a poker game with interesting joker to play with its enjoyable but for a week after that you'll be bored of it
Feb 23, 2026
7
Very good engine building texas hold ’em poker themed roguelike. Decent visuals and music. Game is just way too short and easy. At first it sure feels like a masterpiece.
Mar 10, 2026
4
Simplemente no es para mi. No me gustan los rogue like, pero como este es de poker y me volví ludópata hace poco lo quise probar. Me gusta el concepto y las mecánicas pero es mega repetitivo y me aburrí al toque.A la gente le gusto muchisimo pero estos juegos a mi me aburren.
Aug 30, 2025
4
The game is okay, but I don’t see a clear purpose or long-term goal. It’s fun to play a few times, but then what? Some kind of multiplayer mode would make it more engaging.
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)
- Nintendo Switch 2
Initial Release Date:Feb 20, 2024
Developer:
- LocalThunk
Publisher:
