~✦~ Summary ~✦~

= Poker roguelike; aim for target scores to defeat each blind
+ Easy to learn, but with good gameplay variety - both in individual runs and overall game
- Minor issue with difficulty levels, some feeling more artificial than others
= On the luck-based side
+ Art style is distinct and colorful
+ Music does what it needs to, thanks to dynamic tracks filling out the game smoothly
+ Well-optimized game, taking less than 100MB

Conclusion: Balatro is simple and easy to learn, but also builds substantially on the core concept. It has plenty of content that's worth taking a look at!

~✦~ Detail ~✦~

Balatro is essentially poker in a roguelike format. The player plays a number of hands and aims for target scores to defeat "blinds", with the goal to get through each set of blinds (plus "boss blinds" with unique abilities) and reach a final boss blind at the end.

The game is easy to learn, with a simple core concept. However, it also has a very good level of variety. Equippable Jokers provide various powers to the player (more score, more multiplier, utilities, etc.). Other power-up cards can help by modifying playing cards or leveling up hand types, and vouchers can provide passive effects as a run continues.

Naturally, there's a macro-game aspect as well. New decks with different abilities can be unlocked while playing. Higher difficulty levels can be unlocked per deck, and for the most part add interesting new run modifiers to push builds. There are even challenge decks that are separate from the main runs, each of which pose unique scenarios.

A minor issue that I have seen with difficulty levels is that some feel more like artificial difficulty than others. For example, Blue Stake's addition of -1 Discard throughout a run can cause failed runs to feel more forced than things such as detrimental Joker properties or higher shop prices. This is generally negligible, given the relatively luck-based, easy-to-play nature of the game otherwise.

Balatro's presentation is distinct and colorful. It uses detailed pixel art in a retro style, perhaps like a retro TV (with configurable visual filters!). It fits the atmosphere perfectly.

The music also does what it needs to. It has one track, but it fits the atmosphere well and it's varied in enough ways to fill out the entire game relatively smoothly - even with hours of playing.

On top of that, the game is very well optimized. In fact, it takes less than 100MB on a hard drive. (That's compared to other games at a similar release time whose demos alone took upwards of 2-3GB!) Given how easy it is to get invested, it's certainly nice to have it play smoothly.

In summary, Balatro's simple, easy-to-learn gameplay is very unique in what it does, how it builds on the core concept, and how it's presented. For anybody who enjoys card games or the roguelike formula, I can confidently recommend taking a look at this one!

~✦~ Summary ~✦~ = Poker roguelike; aim for target scores to defeat each blind + Easy to learn, but with good gameplay variety - both in individual runs and overall game - Minor issue with difficulty levels, some feeling more artificial than others = On the luck-based side + Art style is distinct and colorful + Music does what it needs to, thanks to dynamic tracks filling out the game smoothly + Well-optimized game, taking less than 100MB Conclusion: Balatro is simple and easy to learn, but also builds substantially on the core concept. It has plenty of content that's worth taking a look at! ~✦~ Detail ~✦~ Balatro is essentially poker in a roguelike format. The player plays a number of hands and aims for target scores to defeat "blinds", with the goal to get through each set of blinds (plus "boss blinds" with unique abilities) and reach a final boss blind at the end. The game is easy to learn, with a simple core concept. However, it also has a very good level of variety. Equippable Jokers provide various powers to the player (more score, more multiplier, utilities, etc.). Other power-up cards can help by modifying playing cards or leveling up hand types, and vouchers can provide passive effects as a run continues. Naturally, there's a macro-game aspect as well. New decks with different abilities can be unlocked while playing. Higher difficulty levels can be unlocked per deck, and for the most part add interesting new run modifiers to push builds. There are even challenge decks that are separate from the main runs, each of which pose unique scenarios. A minor issue that I have seen with difficulty levels is that some feel more like artificial difficulty than others. For example, Blue Stake's addition of -1 Discard throughout a run can cause failed runs to feel more forced than things such as detrimental Joker properties or higher shop prices. This is generally negligible, given the relatively luck-based, easy-to-play nature of the game otherwise. Balatro's presentation is distinct and colorful. It uses detailed pixel art in a retro style, perhaps like a retro TV (with configurable visual filters!). It fits the atmosphere perfectly. The music also does what it needs to. It has one track, but it fits the atmosphere well and it's varied in enough ways to fill out the entire game relatively smoothly - even with hours of playing. On top of that, the game is very well optimized. In fact, it takes less than 100MB on a hard drive. (That's compared to other games at a similar release time whose demos alone took upwards of 2-3GB!) Given how easy it is to get invested, it's certainly nice to have it play smoothly. In summary, Balatro's simple, easy-to-learn gameplay is very unique in what it does, how it builds on the core concept, and how it's presented. For anybody who enjoys card games or the roguelike formula, I can confidently recommend taking a look at this one!