I Kept Hearing About This Card Game – Now I’m Hooked Aswell

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For more than a year, I’ve been listening to others talk about this game. At last, I decided to give it a try, and now I must confess: I find myself utterly engrossed in it!

A New Beginning?

We recently published an article discussing Duels, a roguelike game mode available within Hearthstone. However, this game mode was removed more than a year ago, leaving me feeling a significant void I didn’t think could be filled. The thrill of searching for the perfect run, finding the right card combinations, and making fitting decisions often meant that I couldn’t stop playing. “I’ll just play one more round” – and before I knew it, evenings were spent either figuring things out on my own or brainstorming with friends on the couch to find the best move.

Since Duels was taken away, a specific game has been suggested to me multiple times. After finally giving it a try, I must say that I am completely amazed by it.

Way More Than Just Poker

We’re talking about Balatro, a roguelike deck-building game created by LocalThunk. In this game, you engage in poker matches to gather enough chips to overcome the next round’s “blind.” While jokers don’t appear in your deck, they can assist you by providing bonuses and multipliers (referred to as “mults” here) to enhance your hands or interact with other cards.

In Balatro, you’re not just dealing with the traditional suits of hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds; instead, you encounter tarot cards that help modify your cards, planet cards that boost the score of your hands, and potent spectral cards that I won’t disclose here to keep the excitement alive.

After each round, you get a chance to dramatically alter the course of poker as you know it.

Every Bit Of Praise Deserved

Although I showed up a bit late to the lively circus gathering, I find myself utterly captivated by this game. Not only do you quickly grasp its mechanics and immediately begin constructing potent decks, but there’s an abundance of content: from basic number-based starter decks to progressively challenging levels. This game offers hundreds of hours of immersion.

It seems others share my sentiment as Balatro has garnered multiple “Game of the Year” accolades and boasts a staggering 97% positive rating on Steam. Even the rare 3% negative reviews on Steam generally state: The game is genuinely good, but it might not suit everyone’s taste. It’s fortunate that not everyone enjoys the same things.

In my case, it’s undoubtedly what I had been searching for.

Indies For More Gaming Diversity

Let me take a moment to highlight that this game was singlehandedly developed, demonstrating an impressive level of thoughtfulness and creativity in its design. Indie games such as this one serve as proof that genuine innovation often stems from passion rather than adhering to established, “tried-and-true” gaming concepts.

Moreover, what’s remarkable is the game’s affordable price point. During the Steam Sale, it’s available for just $13.49, and even outside of that sale, it only costs $15. Considering the amount of work that went into creating it and the number of hours you can enjoy playing it, I’d say that’s a pretty good deal!

As a gamer, I must admit that Balatro has been warmly welcomed by gamers from all walks. Sure, frustration isn’t absent, and it even plays a role in the game, causing a chuckle at the end of each run. But honestly, the quirky little joker that wobbles about doesn’t annoy me; instead, I find its endearing charm quite endearing.

Have you already played Balatro and remained in good mental health?

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2025-06-30 17:09