Balatro

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Overwhelmingly Positive

Total: 65.2 ThousandPositive: 64.2 ThousandNegative: 1.08 Thousand
98%
2%
Steam review score: 9

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AI Review

Balatro scored 90.89 % rating
Balatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder that combines strategy, luck, and addictive gameplay. With an AI Community Rating of 90.26%, this indie gem has captivated players with its unique blend of poker mechanics and roguelike progression. Build powerful synergies by combining valid poker hands with over 150 unique Joker cards, each offering game-changing abilities. The game features 15 distinct decks, 22 Tarot cards, and 32 Vouchers, providing endless possibilities for crafting adrenaline-pumping combos. Players praise its addictive nature, calling it a 'dopamine rush' and a 'unique challenge.' However, some note the heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustration, especially at higher difficulties. The psychedelic pixel art and synthwave soundtrack immerse you in its distinctive world, making it a perfect escape for casual and strategic gamers alike. While the soundtrack could use more variety, and late-game balance could be improved, Balatro remains a must-play for fans of deck builders and poker enthusiasts. Dive in and discover why it’s hailed as the 'definitive poker roguelike experience.'
CasualIndieStrategy
Single-playerSteam AchievementsFull controller supportSteam Trading CardsSteam CloudFamily Sharing

What the community wishes

We analysed the 14 most impactful community reviews and collected 20 ideas and suggestions on how the game could be better.
Add more soundtrack variety
The game's soundtrack, while good, becomes repetitive over time. Adding more music loops or different tracks for each deck would enhance the experience and prevent monotony.
Improve RNG and deck control
The game's heavy reliance on RNG can frustrate players, especially at higher difficulties. Adding more control mechanisms like rerolls, banishes, locks, or seals would improve the balance and reduce frustration.
Clarify hand outcome calculations
The game should provide clearer information on how jokers and multipliers affect hand outcomes. This would help players make more informed decisions, especially in late-game scenarios.
Expand UI for deck management
The UI could be improved to better display the cards in the deck, making it easier for players to strategize and manage their builds effectively.
Reduce repetitive gameplay
The scoring system and repetitive hand mechanics can feel monotonous. Introducing more variety in gameplay mechanics or scoring options could alleviate this issue.
Ease achievement difficulty
Achievements are overly challenging, especially for 100% completion. Adjusting their difficulty or adding more achievable milestones would improve player satisfaction.
Add more strategic depth
Higher difficulties rely too much on luck rather than strategic deck-building. Introducing more ways to influence builds and reduce RNG dependency would enhance the game's depth.
Include number row keybindings
The lack of number row keybindings is a notable omission for a deck-building game. Adding this feature would improve accessibility and ease of play.
Expand unlock progression
Unlocking all content can feel like a grind due to RNG. Adding more consistent progression paths or reducing RNG in unlocks would make the experience more enjoyable.
Add more boss blind variety
While boss blinds are well-designed, more variety in their mechanics and challenges would keep the gameplay fresh and engaging over longer periods.
Improve late-game balance
Late-game runs can feel impossible due to RNG. Balancing the difficulty curve and providing more tools to recover from bad luck would improve the overall experience.
Add more starting deck options
While there are multiple starting decks, expanding this selection with more unique conditions or abilities would increase replayability and strategic variety.
Include more visual feedback
Adding more visual indicators for synergies, multipliers, and hand outcomes would make the gameplay more intuitive and satisfying.
Expand modding support
The game has a strong modding community. Expanding official modding tools and support would encourage more creative content and extend the game's lifespan.
Add more difficulty customization
Introducing more granular difficulty settings or customizable challenges would allow players to tailor the experience to their skill level and preferences.
Improve tutorial clarity
The game's mechanics can be complex for new players. Enhancing the tutorial or adding more in-game explanations would help players understand the depth of the game.
Add more endgame content
The game could benefit from additional endgame content or challenges to keep players engaged after completing the main progression.
Include more card synergies
Expanding the range of card synergies and interactions would add more depth to deck-building and increase the variety of viable strategies.
Add more visual customization
Allowing players to customize card art or themes would enhance personalization and make the game more visually appealing.
Improve mobile port performance
While the game runs well on mobile, further optimization and performance improvements would enhance the experience for players on less powerful devices.

Reviews

Toxicity trend

N-Grams

Most relevant voices from the community
awesome addictive indieexcellent game youmentally challenging whileaddictive game wherevery addictive gameperfect balance ofgame is healthyjust one more handaddicting and supergreat core gameplaygreat game highlyabsolute game ofhealthy for your dopaminewell-balanced offering manyfun time-waste pokerbest indie gamevery high replaybest card gamesuper fun evenvery easy to

Keywords

Top 15 keywords for sentiments
What the community loves
We collected 287 positive keywords.
fun
21
addictive
16
addicting
7
great
6
dopamine
6
good
6
recommend
6
unique
5
challenge
3
positive
3
enjoy
3
fresh
3
interesting
3
amazing
3
10/10
3
Where the community is undecided
We collected 349 neutral keywords.
poker
11
roguelike
10
gameplay
6
difficulty
6
jokers
5
build
5
runs
4
card
4
luck
3
gambling
3
game
3
challenges
3
challenge
3
addicted
3
Steam Deck
3
What the community dislikes
We collected 216 negative keywords.
RNG
8
gambling
4
frustration
4
unfair
4
boring
4
luck
4
addiction
3
frustrating
3
issues
3
rng
2
shallow
2
repetitive
2
addicting
2
broken
2
ruined
2

In-depth analysis of most impactful community reviews

Positive

"This looks like it could be a fun time-waste, a poker roguelike? I'll give it a try" 60 hours later: "OK IF I DOUBLE SKIP THE ANTE 1 BLINDS I GET $30 AND I CAN KEEP THE INTEREST RATE GOING UNTIL ANTE 5 THEN I CAN GO FULL HEART DECK AND BEAT 1M+ BLIND IN ANTE 10 WITH LEVEL 5 ROYAL FLUSH" This game is what it must have felt like for people in the 80s when Tetris came out. After playing this for a week straight my dreams are full of card suits and just me discarding deck after deck.. Only play this if you're prepared to not do anything else for a few days. "Just one more hand..." This is the CIV of card games. [b]100 hour update:[/b] I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Multipliers on fire after picking Purple Stake difficulty. I watched jokers glitter in the dark near the Ante 16 boss. All those moments will be lost in time, like cards in a deck. Time to fold... [b]170 hour update:[/b] I'm now in Balatro remission.. (NL love u)

  • Sentiments

    • I initially thought this game could be a fun way to pass the time, and I decided to give it a try.
    • After playing for 60 hours, I became deeply engrossed in the mechanics, strategizing to maximize my progress and achieve high scores.
    • This game feels like a groundbreaking experience, reminiscent of how Tetris must have felt to players in the 80s.
    • The game has consumed my thoughts, even invading my dreams with card suits and endless deck strategies.
    • I strongly recommend this game only if you are prepared to dedicate significant time, as it is highly addictive.
    • The phrase 'Just one more hand...' perfectly captures the addictive nature of this game, comparing it to the Civilization series in terms of engagement.
    • After 100 hours, I experienced intense and surreal moments in the game, such as multipliers on fire and jokers glittering in the dark, which felt unforgettable.
    • At 170 hours, I feel like I am in remission from the game, acknowledging its deep impact on me while expressing affection for it.

Positive

"Roguelikes arent usually my thing, BUT..." thats how I open every time I review a Roguelike I enjoy But because of this same reluctance I wasnt really interested in playing Balatro in the first place despite its glowing reputation. However my brother shared with me a month of Apple Arcade the day the game released on mobile phones and I went "eh, why not?" Fast forward a month later when the subscription runs out my brain immediately goes "NONONONONO THIS CANNOT BE BUY IT AGAIN I DONT CARE ON WHICH PLATFORM" and here we are!

  • Sentiments

    • I usually don't enjoy roguelikes, but this game is an exception.
    • I was initially reluctant to try Balatro despite its glowing reputation.
    • I decided to give Balatro a chance because of a free Apple Arcade trial.
    • After playing Balatro, I became so attached that I couldn't bear to lose access when the subscription ended.
    • I felt an urgent need to repurchase the game on any platform to continue playing.
    • Balatro exceeded my expectations and completely changed my opinion about roguelikes.

Positive

I love gambling so much (I can stop anytime I want). I especially love it in Balatro when you loose your Gros Michel, but you find your Cavendish in the next shop (I can stop anytime I want). This game is healthy for your dopamine (I can stop anytime I want), and I find it even more healthy when I find both photograph and hanging chad (I can stop anytime I want). As a professional - not addicted - gambler, I can confidently state that this game is purely exquisite (I CAN STOP ANYTIME I WANT).

  • Sentiments

    • I love gambling so much, and I feel like I can stop anytime I want, which makes me enjoy it even more.
    • I especially love the gambling aspect in Balatro, where losing one thing but finding something better in the next shop feels rewarding.
    • I believe this game is healthy for my dopamine levels, which makes me feel good about playing it.
    • Finding both photograph and hanging chad in the game feels incredibly satisfying and adds to my enjoyment.
    • As a professional gambler, I confidently state that this game is purely exquisite, which reflects my high level of satisfaction.
    • The repeated emphasis on being able to stop anytime I want suggests a playful acknowledgment of my enjoyment, but not a negative concern.

Positive

Wheel Of Fortune; *Loud Loss Buzzer* Aw Dangit Wheel Of Fortune; *Loud Loss Buzzer* Aw Dangit Wheel Of Fortune; *Loud Loss Buzzer* Aw Dangit Wheel Of Fortune; *Loud Loss Buzzer* Aw Dangit Wheel Of Fortune; *Loud Loss Buzzer* Aw Dangit Wheel Of Fortune; *Loud Loss Buzzer* Aw Dangit Wheel Of Fortune; *Loud Loss Buzzer* Aw Dangit

  • Sentiments

    • I feel a strong sense of frustration and disappointment due to the repeated loss buzzer sounds in the game, which creates a negative experience.
    • The repetition of the phrase 'Aw Dangit' conveys a feeling of annoyance and dissatisfaction with the game's mechanics or outcomes.
    • The loud loss buzzer sound is overwhelming and contributes to a negative emotional response, making the experience unpleasant.
    • The repeated use of the loss buzzer suggests a lack of success or progress in the game, which feels discouraging.
    • The review highlights a monotonous and frustrating gameplay loop, which detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
    • The phrase 'Wheel Of Fortune' is neutral and simply references the game being reviewed without any emotional charge.
    • The review lacks any positive remarks or highlights, indicating an overall negative sentiment toward the game.
    • The repetition of the same phrase and sound effect suggests a lack of variety or excitement in the game, which feels underwhelming.
    • The review does not provide any constructive feedback or suggestions, focusing solely on the negative aspects of the experience.
    • The tone of the review is consistently negative, with no indication of enjoyment or satisfaction with the game.

Positive

This game is so addicting I find myself recommending it to others so I don't feel like I'm the only addict consuming this. I've been off yayo 6 years and this hits just like a fat line cut off a new rock ingested with a crisp hundo 10/10

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game incredibly addicting and feel compelled to recommend it to others so I don't feel alone in my addiction.
    • The game provides a level of satisfaction comparable to a strong, euphoric experience, which I associate with a past personal struggle.
    • I rate the game a perfect 10/10, indicating an overwhelmingly positive experience.

Negative

After fully unlocking everything, hundreds of hours of work, the save file reset spontaneously. Based on some research, this is a bug with the game that has affected hundreds of people. There is no fix and no acknowledgement of it. Avoid the game until its fixed.

  • Sentiments

    • I spent hundreds of hours unlocking everything in the game, which shows my dedication and enjoyment of the gameplay.
    • The save file reset spontaneously, erasing all my progress, which caused immense frustration and disappointment.
    • Based on my research, this is a known bug that has affected hundreds of people, making me feel like my issue is widespread and unresolved.
    • There is no fix for the bug, which leaves me feeling helpless and unsupported by the developers.
    • The developers have not acknowledged the bug, which makes me feel ignored and undervalued as a player.
    • I advise others to avoid the game until the issue is fixed, as I no longer trust the game's reliability.

Negative

I love poker, and I do enjoy roguelike games. However, Balatro completely missed the mark for me. The famous dopamine rush of one more run never happened, it was quickly stopped with frustration. My main gripe with the game is heavy RNG and lack of control. Where other roguelike games offer rerolls, banishes, locks, and seals, Balatro offers nothing. There are rerolls, but they are so expensive that they cannot be reliably used for deck building. On higher difficulties, most runs end up restarted after a few blinds because of this. You need to play the cards you get, not the cards you want. In some roguelites, you are free to play whatever build you want, like Vampire Survivors. In others, you also need to play the cards you get, but you can heavily influence what you get, like Against The Storm. That game is probably responsible for my displeasure with Balatro. Against The Storm also has its RNG moments, but it gives you plenty of solutions. With its slow difficulty curve, you will naturally master the game and even the highest difficulties can be reliably beaten. In comparison, Balatro feels like the type of game, that you play while sitting at the toilet. That's not bad per se, I understand the popularity, but it is simply not for me.

  • Sentiments

    • I love poker and enjoy roguelike games, which sets a positive expectation for Balatro.
    • Balatro completely missed the mark for me, as it failed to deliver the dopamine rush of 'one more run' that I expected.
    • I found the game frustrating due to its heavy reliance on RNG and lack of control over deck building.
    • The rerolls in Balatro are too expensive to be reliably used, which adds to the frustration and limits strategic options.
    • On higher difficulties, most runs end up being restarted after a few blinds, which feels unsatisfying and discouraging.
    • I prefer games like Vampire Survivors, where you can freely play whatever build you want, unlike Balatro, which forces you to play the cards you get.
    • Against The Storm, another game I enjoy, provides solutions to RNG moments and has a slow difficulty curve, making it more enjoyable and rewarding.
    • Balatro feels like a game you play casually, such as while sitting on the toilet, which is not inherently bad but doesn't align with my preferences.
    • I understand why Balatro is popular, but its design and mechanics simply do not resonate with me.
    • Overall, Balatro did not meet my expectations and left me feeling disappointed and frustrated.

Negative

It's a card-based roguelike; while there are many unlockables there are few straight powerups. I like its relaxing vibe, and I think the probability figuring that goes into winning a particular blind is stronger than in any other card-based roguelike I've played. That said, getting a successful run on higher difficulties is more about lucking into a good stud or combination of jokers early on than it is about crafting a deck. The engineering of a good build is what I'm interested in, an that dimension was weaker in Balatro than in other similar games.

  • Sentiments

    • I like the relaxing vibe of the game, which makes it enjoyable to play.
    • I appreciate the strong probability-based mechanics involved in winning a particular blind, which feels more engaging than in other card-based roguelikes.
    • I find the lack of straight powerups in the game to be a neutral aspect, as it focuses more on unlockables.
    • I feel that achieving a successful run on higher difficulties relies too much on luck, such as getting a good stud or combination of jokers early on, rather than strategic deck-building.
    • I am interested in the engineering of a good build, but I find this dimension weaker in Balatro compared to other similar games.

Negative

The game is rather unsatisfying, even aggravating and not like they say "hypnotically satisfying" for you can lose a game because of unclear descriptions on the cards. This is because some descriptions on cards are ambiguous which is a no go in a game like this! For example, on some jokers the boni descriptions says that you will get whatever bonus for played cards "... when scored". Meaning that you will only get the bonus for a card that adds to the score. Logic dictates that if you get another joker that has a similar description but without the "... when scored" that you would think that you get the bonus for every card that fits the description even if it is a card that does not score but this is not the case like with the Flower Pot joker. In the end this means that you have to check up in the Internet for every card you do not know by heart how it works to make sure it works like one would think.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game rather unsatisfying and even aggravating, which contradicts the claim that it is 'hypnotically satisfying'.
    • I am frustrated by the unclear descriptions on the cards, which can lead to losing a game due to ambiguity.
    • I think ambiguous card descriptions are unacceptable in a game like this, as they create confusion and frustration.
    • I am annoyed by the inconsistency in card descriptions, such as the difference between '... when scored' and similar descriptions without that phrase.
    • I feel that the Flower Pot joker's behavior is unintuitive and does not align with logical expectations based on other card descriptions.
    • I find it frustrating that I have to look up card mechanics online to understand how they work, as the in-game descriptions are not clear enough.
    • I believe the game's reliance on external resources for clarity undermines the overall experience and makes it less enjoyable.

Negative

I really, really like this game. I don't want to give it a negative review, but after 10 or so hours you start to see some issues. Jokers make or break this game, and they're either very useful or very useless. You start to sense when runs are over, and it often comes from not building enough multipliers. You're more at the mercy of joker drops than your hands. I understand poker is about luck, but the balance here needs work.

  • Sentiments

    • I really, really like this game, which shows a strong positive sentiment towards the game overall.
    • I don't want to give it a negative review, but after 10 or so hours, I start to see some issues, indicating a neutral sentiment about the game's flaws emerging over time.
    • Jokers make or break this game, and they're either very useful or very useless, which reflects a negative sentiment about the inconsistency of jokers.
    • I start to sense when runs are over, and it often comes from not building enough multipliers, showing a negative sentiment about the game's balance and progression.
    • I feel more at the mercy of joker drops than my hands, which expresses a negative sentiment about the reliance on luck rather than skill.
    • I understand poker is about luck, but the balance here needs work, which conveys a negative sentiment about the game's balance issues.

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