Balatro review – “Lose yourself in this unique twist on Poker, Solitaire and…something else”

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  • Balatro is a mix of deckbuilder, card-battler and roguelike
  • Take on rising bids as you work to build the highest-scoring hand
  • Collect eclectic Jokers with varying effects to hit the high scores

As a seasoned mobile gamer with a penchant for intellectual pursuits, I found myself utterly captivated by Balatro. This enigmatic blend of Solitaire-like gameplay and roguelike elements offers an enticing challenge that keeps me coming back for more. Each run is unique, forcing me to adapt my strategies on the fly, which keeps things fresh and exciting.

Hey there! If you haven’t run across the name before, it’s high time you popped out from under that rock. While many flavor-of-the-month indie games tend to blend together, a select few find their unique spots, sometimes against all odds. Today, we’re diving into one such game – a creative twist on classics like Solitaire, Poker, and probably dozens of other card games, all centered around the intriguing character of the Joker.

Developed by LocalThunk and published by PlayStack, Balatro is the newest independent game making waves globally. It appears to be one of those rare titles that has found a strong foothold and refuses to let go, whether through its recent mobile version or collaborations with various series like Cyberpunk 2077 and Slay the Spire.

It’s probably not a surprise, but I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of Balatro on mobile devices. Ever since I started working at Pocket Gamer, I’ve been making an effort to embrace my passion for mobile gaming and play more of these games regularly. Balatro appears to be an ideal choice for passing time, but just like Vampire Survivors, there’s a possibility that it could become a frequent pick on my PC as well!

Skipping the small talk now. Whether you’re curious if Balatro suits your gaming style, or merely interested in my review score, the moment has come to delve deep into this intriguing blend of deckbuilding, roguelike mechanics, and surreal elements. So, let’s dive right in!

Disclaimer: I am not very good at Balatro, hence all my screenshots being of low scores and the Red deck.

Gameplay

Balatro is straightforward at first, but becomes more complex as the game progresses. You aim to create combinations of playing cards and score these combinations. The total score should meet a predetermined target, which you increase as the game goes on. Initially, your goal is just to get a good hand, but as the stakes rise, you need to outscore previous rounds, even if it exceeds the mathematical possibilities with your initial deck and cards. If you fail, the game resets, putting you back at the starting point.

Absolutely, there are various types of cards offering distinct benefits. A fortunate card (symbolized as a worn, homemade paper) could earn you $20 for the shop, whereas a glass card enhances your multiplier, though it could break. However, these might not be sufficient. Luckily, Balatro is aware of this.

Balatro’s unique feature is the Joker mechanic, which deviates from the norm in most card games. Instead of being wildcards, Jokers in Balatro serve as collectibles. They can grant you a randomized multiplier or multiply your existing multiplier based on other adjustable factors. As you reach more milestones through successful and unsuccessful runs, you’ll unlock additional Jokers. This mechanic allows for the potential of surpassing the required score when building a competitive hand, introducing an exciting twist to traditional card games. The Jokers have various versions that activate under specific conditions, adding layers of complexity and intrigue to gameplay.

As you advance in the game, your stake grows, giving you an opportunity to pop into the shop. The “winnings” can be utilized solely for purchasing new Jokers, booster packs, or special cards that become invalid after each play session. You’ll then proceed through various levels, starting with small ones and moving up to larger ones, followed by a “Boss Level” featuring unique mechanics. These may require you to play a specific type of hand, weaken certain cards, or reward an extraordinarily high score.

In addition to what’s already been discussed, this game has many other mechanics that could make the review quite extensive. For instance, Tarot cards can alter suits, Planet cards boost the value of a hand, and Spectral cards possess strong yet destructive powers. If you’re not fond of conventional card games, it would be quite unwise (playing on words, as intended) to overlook Balatro.

The tarot cards I brought up earlier, along with their infrequent, ghostly relatives, have the ability to manipulate your collection. They can alter suits, ranks, and boost specific cards with bonuses, or they might simply ruin your deck entirely.

Graphics

In Balatro, graphics might not typically stand out in a card game, but instead of employing common techniques such as fancy particle effects and explosions, this game offers appealing pixel art. The captivating background patterns and vibrant color choices are visually satisfying, and despite the compact screen size, it’s still simple to distinguish cards from one another, with the exception of the Club and Spades deck, where the dark green used in the former could potentially be mistaken for black at first glance.

The Jokers are where the fun is of course, with designs for each that often have their own little in-jokes or puns. Regular playing cards can also have special versions such as polychrome, foil, glass or gold that all stand out great from the normal deck. The regular use of more subtle effects like cards ‘burning’ away when you use them is also quite pleasing. So while Balatro isn’t exactly an RTX-ready, Unreal Engine display showcase, it looks very good, with plenty of its own effects that stand out from the crowd.

Audio

Sonically, Balatro may not offer a lot, but what it does provide is top-notch. The satisfying sound of shuffling cards, the ‘ding’ when multiplying points, and the soothing, slow background music all contribute effectively to creating an immersive experience that keeps your focus on the cards.

The music, in an unexpected way, is both repetitive yet strangely calming. To put it into words, it’s a unique blend of soft elevator music and lounge tunes that might not initially seem appealing, but surprisingly offers a pleasant listening experience.

Performance

Regarding its performance, Balatro functioned flawlessly for me since it’s not a complex card game that requires advanced technology. However, I did encounter some heating issues with my phone while playing, but nothing severe enough to cause concern. Keep in mind, my S20 is getting older, so it might be contributing to the heat problem.

Balatro provides the flexibility of both offline and online gameplay, and it generally alerts you when it’s unable to retrieve your cloud save; however, I rarely encountered any progress loss. You can customize settings such as disabling effects like screen tremors or retro TV lines, adjusting volume levels, and even reducing some graphic quality if you need to squeeze out additional performance.


What I liked

I discovered Balatro to be an engaging use of my leisure hours. The roguelike aspect ensures that each playthrough is unique, forcing you to adjust your approach based on the cards you’re dealt. This keeps the game fresh and exciting, but nothing quite matches the exhilaration of a streak where you draw multiple Jokers, sending your multipliers soaring skyward.

This game falls into the less common category of ones that I’m comfortable with others casually observing me play. While it might seem trivial to mock someone engrossed in Genshin Impact or Clash of Clans, if you’re aiming to give off an air of intellectual sophistication to fellow commuters on a subway, this Solitaire-like game is bound to impress them as they catch a glimpse of this seemingly mature player.


What I didn’t like

Mastering Balatro can be challenging, especially if you’re not accustomed to traditional card games. Unlike conventional winning methods, Balatro focuses on gradually increasing your score and unlocking more Jokers by progressively raising stakes. By the end of any deck, it’s likely that Balatro has already piqued your interest.

It would be great if there were additional tutorials for advanced gameplay, specifically focusing on strategies for using Jokers, Tarot cards, Planet cards, and Spectral cards. Having a better grasp of these would make me feel more confident in my game progression. However, I recognize the inherent randomness in the game, which is why I can see why providing detailed tutorials could be a futile endeavor, hence the intended pun.

Who would want this? (New!)

From now on, let’s shift gears a bit in my reviews. Instead of diving deep into the intricacies, I’ll be addressing the essential question: “Is this game suitable for you?” By highlighting why someone might enjoy this game and who it caters to, think of it as a quick summary or a condensed version of my thoughts for those who prefer a brief take.

If you enjoy spending $9.99 for a captivating, visually stunning, and profound card game offering numerous hours of playtime, then this might be just the game for you. Balatro boasts both intricate depth and easy-to-grasp rules, ensuring that even after 48 hours of play, you’ll still feel like you’ve barely touched its surface.

This game caters equally well to beginners who are just starting out with card games, as well as experienced players. Additionally, it serves as an excellent tool for learning the fundamentals of poker hand rankings.


Conclusion

If you’ve been uncertain about purchasing Balatro, there’s no need for doubt. This unique blend of deckbuilder, roguelike, and card-battler, accompanied by a vivid array of unusual sounds and graphics, is definitely worth the small cost to carry it with you wherever you go. Unlike other mobile card games that require strict adherence to the meta and battling with the most competitive players, in Balatro, it’s just you and Jimbo (a character).

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2024-10-31 21:18