Balatro
- Platform:
- Release: Feb 2024
- Developer: LocalThunk
- Publisher: Playstack
- Composer: Luis Clemente (LouisF)
- Genres: roguelike - deck-building
- Other platforms:
June 5, 2025
Were you bluffing too?
I love deck-building card games, but I’m not a fan of gambling or competitive poker. However, LocalThunk, the multifaceted developer and artist behind Balatro, has created a very interesting game that has captivated me.
Simple, fast, and delightful.
A small roguelike that could almost be considered an abstract, simplified version of “Slay the Spire”. Let me explain:
- Similar deck-building mechanics: leveling up cards or hands (planets), passive powers (joker), single-use powers (tarot, spectral).
- Simplified level progression: two regular enemies and a final boss with a special ability.
- Card shopping at the end of each blind (combat).
- You can choose different types of decks at the start of the game, each with its unique ability.
What I liked the most
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The simplicity of the game, which combines classic poker hands with basic roguelike mechanics, makes it a well-rounded experience.
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How quickly you can learn to play and enjoy it.
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Simple and intuitive UI.
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I like the developer’s conscious decision not to show the total points of your hand, adding more excitement and suspense, and partially avoiding analysis paralysis among players. In this GMTK video, there’s a very interesting reflection on the topic, analyzing its pros and cons.
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The fact that the music doesn’t end up becoming torturous despite looping for almost the entire run is a real achievement by the composer.
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Pleasant animations and sounds:
- When opening a surprise pack.
- When cards level up.
- Shuffling when winning a blind.
What didn’t win me over
- Not being able to quickly skip the money count after winning a blind and go straight to the card market.
My favorite songs
Memorable Seeds
Below is a list of seeds from my victorious runs in Balatro. For some of them, I’ve also included the score of the best hand I pulled off during the game.
If you want to relive these wins or try to beat them yourself… go for it!
- Seed: 5IMPDKM2 1,707,156 🔥
- Seed: 4S7TPKVV
- Seed: 6NZQ7J5D
- Seed: LKE1CLME 2,017,507 🔥
- Seed: Z7PFTJHJ
- Seed: BZDTD6AT 2,766,007 🔥
- Seed: TR7QM5E6
- Seed: 8RHTT6YH
- Seed: 5XHJBLJW
