Blackjack as a deckbuilding, dueling RPG. I don't think the title or the framing really does this justice. On the surface we're occupying the same space as Balatro (classic card game mechanics mixed with roguelike deckbuilding) but the nature of Blackjack leads us down a very different path into a more pugilistic venture full of idiosyncratic characters and special cards that can potentially break the game in *either* direction.

Compared to Balatro, it's true, something about this game is undeniably scuffed. It's a more thematic, grungy, even at times a poorly balanced experience. Despite that, the things this game does to Blackjack are just as interesting as what Balatro does to Big Two. Smoke a good one and see where it takes you.