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
90
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
8.4
84% Positive
1706 Ratings
1706 Ratings
11% Mixed
223 Ratings
223 Ratings
5% Negative
98 Ratings
98 Ratings
Aug 28, 2026
10
So addictive. A perfect game in its genre. I did not play a lot of roguelike, but this was my introduction to this category and I think it's going to be very hard to beat. By far the game I played the most this year. The diversity of strategies, difficulties, ways to play, things to unlock.... Its amazing. I still have to reach naneif.
Jul 23, 2026
10
Balatro is a brilliant roguelike deckbuilder that turns poker into an endlessly addictive strategic experience. Its clever mechanics, countless combinations, and satisfying progression make every run feel fresh and exciting. Simple to learn but incredibly deep, it's an absolute masterpiece of replayability.
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.
Jun 16, 2026
10
Super addicting even though it's not really that complex. Genuinely could spend hours on this and not even realise how much time has past. Art is also cool. Only nitpick is the fact that when you update your poker hands with planets, they always appear in the bottom left in the order from best to worst at their basic stage so you constantly have to check yourself on let's say if a two pair with 7 upgrades is better than a straight with 4 upgrades although I guess with experience you could easily remember.
Aug 26, 2026
7
Really fun and addicting, for the first 10 hours, which for the price is a good deal, but in higher difficulties there are so many restrictions that it affects the main appeal of the game for the casual player.
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
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.
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
Publisher:





























