Balatro Review: The Addictive Roguelike Deck-Builder Redefining Poker on Nintendo Switch

Balatro, developed by LocalThunk and published by Playstack, has quickly gained momentum as one of 2024’s standout indie titles on the Nintendo Switch.

This inventive roguelike deck-builder draws inspiration from Poker, challenging players to think strategically and refine their hands as they climb through increasingly difficult rounds known as 'antes.' Since its release, Balatro has fascinated card game enthusiasts and newcomers alike, earning widespread acclaim for its addictive gameplay loop and accessible design. At its core, Balatro tasks players with facing a series of escalating blinds—each a target number of chips that must be achieved to advance.

Players create traditional Poker hands, with more complex combinations resulting in greater chip rewards and higher score multipliers.

For those unfamiliar with Poker's intricacies, the game offers a helpful in-game cheat sheet, making it easy for anyone to pick up and play, regardless of prior card game experience. As players progress, they are allotted a set number of hands and discards per round.

Failing to meet the chip goal means restarting the run and forfeiting any collected upgrades.

The continuous escalation in difficulty requires players to adapt their strategies and invest in upgrades, consumables, and new cards from an ever-changing in-game store.

Planet cards, for instance, enhance specific Poker hands for future use, while Tarot and Celestial cards offer powerful deck modifiers, such as suit changes, multipliers, and even card removal.

Tickets, while pricier, grant significant advantages like bigger hands, extra discards, or enhanced rewards in the shop. One of the most innovative aspects of Balatro lies in its Joker cards.

Up to five can be held at once, each introducing a permanent effect—such as awarding bonus points when playing certain suits or hands, or randomly boosting modifiers each round.

The diversity of Joker cards, with more than a hundred to discover, offers near-endless replayability as players experiment with different combinations and strategies. The game keeps experiences fresh with boss blinds introducing unique twists—some may neutralize entire suits or restrict players to a single hand, presenting challenging obstacles that test creativity and adaptability.

After conquering the eighth ante, the game offers players the option to continue pushing their luck further or start anew with alternative decks and difficulty modifiers, known as stakes.

Each deck brings distinctive perks, fundamentally affecting playstyle and encouraging repeated runs. Balatro's presentation reflects its subject matter: simple, clean, and effectively reminiscent of classic video Poker.

The interface is intuitively designed, with easily distinguishable cards and clear communication of all game mechanics.

Its approachable design ensures that both solo adventurers and groups—regardless of their familiarity with Poker or video games—can quickly become engaged. In a statement reflecting on the player experience, Playstack shared that Balatro 'offers a uniquely satisfying and endlessly replayable card game, blending classic Poker with modern roguelike elements to entice both veterans and newcomers.' This sentiment is echoed by both critics and players, who praise the game’s engaging loop and replay value. Balatro is available now on the Nintendo Switch via the eShop, in addition to other platforms.

Its exceptional blend of accessibility, strategic depth, and rewarding progression has set a new standard for deck-building games, ensuring its place among the top indie releases of the year.

For Nintendo Switch owners seeking a fresh twist on card games, Balatro delivers an unmissable experience.

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