Balatro is a highly addictive roguelike deck-building game that combines elements of poker and solitaire, allowing players to bend the rules in innovative ways. Your goal is to defeat Boss Blinds by crafting strong poker hands, utilizing over 150 unique Joker cards that introduce game-changing abilities. Each run is unique, with every pickup, discard, and Joker dramatically altering gameplay. Discover hidden bonus hands, decks, and upgrade cards to boost your scores and conquer challenging bosses. With remastered touchscreen controls, campaign and challenge modes, and beautiful pixel art, Balatro offers endless replayability and strategic depth for both casual players and roguelike enthusiasts.
Begin by selecting a deck and playing poker hands to earn chips. Focus on building synergies with Joker cards, which provide unique bonuses like multipliers or extra card plays. Experiment with different strategies to counter Boss Blinds, which introduce special constraints. Prioritize upgrading cards and acquiring vouchers to boost your score. As you progress, unlock new Jokers and decks to diversify your runs.
To excel in Balatro, focus on combining Joker cards with specific poker hands. For example, pair a Joker that boosts flush hands with cards of the same suit. Use Tarot, Planet, and Spectral cards strategically to enhance your deck. Adapt your strategy based on the Boss Blind's rules, such as avoiding certain suits or hands, to maximize your chip count and progress through the campaign.
No, Balatro requires no prior poker knowledge. The game teaches you poker hands as you play, and the focus is on strategic deck-building and synergies with Joker cards, making it accessible to all players.
Playstack founder and CEO Harvey Elliott discusses how the success of Balatro, Abiotic Factor, and the Golden Idol games have impacted the publisher.
GamesIndustry.biz Sat Jun 28 2025
Playstack communications director Wout van Halderen spoke on behalf of Balatro's developer, who goes by the alias LocalThunk, each time the game won an award.
The Verge Mon Apr 28 2025
“Balatro” won Game of the Year at the 2025 Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) on Wednesday, just after “Consume Me” received the top prize.
Variety Mon Apr 28 2025
Balatro developer LocalThunk has responded to a debate on AI art, stating "I think it does real harm to artists of all kinds".
Eurogamer Mon Apr 28 2025
Balatro's anonymous developer, LocalThunk, pronounces it: ”BAH-luh-trow.” But other variations are accepted!
Game File | Stephen Totilo Wed May 28 2025
Balatro is a phenomenal rogue-like deck-builder. Furthermore, the random nature of each round keeps you on your toes.
Movies Games and Tech Sun Apr 28 2024
Balatro, one of the best games released this year, is finally making the leap to mobile devices. The popular poker roguelike will be...
Yahoo! Tech Mon Oct 28 2024
LocalThunk & Playstack's 'poker-inspired roguelike deckbuilder' Balatro just announced it hit 1 million units sold across PC and console (in <1 month!)
The GameDiscoverCo newsletter Sun Apr 28 2024
Beware: The most addictive game of 2024 is coming to a device that's always within reach. Balatro, a clever combination of poker,...
Engadget Mon Oct 28 2024
Card game Balatro was a huge hit last year – but a year-long struggle with the European age ratings board has exposed how well-meaning rules...
The Guardian Mon Apr 28 2025
Today, Playstack and LocalThunk have announced that Balatro+ has been awarded Apple Arcade Game of the Year. This prestigious recognition...
XboxEra Thu Jan 02 2025
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