Balatro review: An ace in the hole

In all my years of gaming, I've seen unique forms of gameplay that really made me admire what gaming could be. The cutthroat action gameplay of Devil May Cry showcased that there is alot to be done with simple attack motions. The stealth gameplay of Metal Gear Solid showcases that not everything has to be done with flashing colors. And for a game like Balatro, it’s easy to learn, hard to master, and impossible to put down. Balatro takes the idea of poker and flips it on its head, making it a raving game that many critics have agreed is one of the most influential indies in years. 

 

Gameplay-wise, it has its fair share of fun quirks, as it is a rogue-like poker game. Your goal is to score enough chips with the cards you’re dealt with, but the chip count increases over time, which means you need to level up your hand types, and your cards, and even find bonus Jokers that grant additional abilities. There are also arcana cards, celestial cards, and vouchers to collect. You can even throw additional cards into the traditional 52-card deck to score impossible hands, like 5 aces at once, or 5 kings of heart. There are endless combos to do with different powers, suits, and tons more, so don’t be afraid to experiment with what you have and what you can collect by playing the game. With its soothing music, charming retro graphics, and easy-on-the-eyes colors, Balatro makes playing this game cozy and challenging at the same time. 

 

Also, props to Balatro for their bonus suits for other games, which are fun little cosmetics that are free for everyone. They don't affect the gameplay, but they look cool and represent your favorite games, like Shovel Knight, Among Us, and Stardew Valley. 

 

Overall, Balatro is a very experimental game, both for itself and for its players experimenting with its gameplay. From different cards, stacked multipliers, illegal moves, and tons more, Balatro is a game that can be enjoyed by virtually everyone, ranging from casuals who need a breather, to hardcore gamers who are looking to collect every type of card in the game. There’s no argument that Balatro draws a new hand of creative gameplay that has no end in sight. Infinite hands, infinite powerup combos, and infinite ways to collect those chips.

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10/10