Balatro - 60.9/100
Balatro - 60.9/100
Review date: August 21, 2026, Author: Swiper4ik
Review date: August 21, 2026, Author: Swiper4ik
A mathematical casino with a vast array of modifiers.
In reality, aside from its pleasing visual aesthetic, Balatro has almost nothing to offer. It is literally an endless runner in the casino world: there is no storyline or logical endpoint — just an infinite set of cards and jokers. All that is required of the player is to assemble hand combinations to stack chips and beat the target score. However, a major catch is hidden behind this apparent simplicity. To achieve consistent wins, you have to memorize dozens of synergies and thoroughly understand the internal math of the game. In the end, you spend more time studying tables and doing calculations than enjoying actual gameplay. Spending just a couple of hours in Balatro is enough to fully understand its core loop and hit a wall of monotony.
A mathematical casino with a vast array of modifiers.
In reality, aside from its pleasing visual aesthetic, Balatro has almost nothing to offer. It is literally an endless runner in the casino world: there is no storyline or logical endpoint — just an infinite set of cards and jokers. All that is required of the player is to assemble hand combinations to stack chips and beat the target score. However, a major catch is hidden behind this apparent simplicity. To achieve consistent wins, you have to memorize dozens of synergies and thoroughly understand the internal math of the game. In the end, you spend more time studying tables and doing calculations than enjoying actual gameplay. Spending just a couple of hours in Balatro is enough to fully understand its core loop and hit a wall of monotony.
At the very start, you are greeted by the Joker, and this is the main face that you will remember for a long time, loving and hating it simultaneously. Every time, you can start a new game (or continue an old unfinished one) with a choice of deck ability that heavily impacts session length. We have a deck of cards, and using this deck, we must form combinations to beat the required score. After each round, we are given the opportunity to buy new jokers, consumables, vouchers, and booster packs. And that is pretty much it. Noticeable changes are rare because there is nothing outside of the cards. However, if you are playing for the first time or running it in the background, it might feel fine. The graphics and overall presentation are very stylish: the pixelation on all textures looks completely fitting and leaves no complaints. It is also nice to see a constantly shifting background. The controls are responsive on both keyboard and gamepad — you can easily select, move, and drag cards in 3D space. The main theme music is non-intrusive and even entices you to keep playing. Yet, looking at all of this as a whole, the desire to continue just is not there.
At the very start, you are greeted by the Joker, and this is the main face that you will remember for a long time, loving and hating it simultaneously. Every time, you can start a new game (or continue an old unfinished one) with a choice of deck ability that heavily impacts session length. We have a deck of cards, and using this deck, we must form combinations to beat the required score. After each round, we are given the opportunity to buy new jokers, consumables, vouchers, and booster packs. And that is pretty much it. Noticeable changes are rare because there is nothing outside of the cards. However, if you are playing for the first time or running it in the background, it might feel fine. The graphics and overall presentation are very stylish: the pixelation on all textures looks completely fitting and leaves no complaints. It is also nice to see a constantly shifting background. The controls are responsive on both keyboard and gamepad — you can easily select, move, and drag cards in 3D space. The main theme music is non-intrusive and even entices you to keep playing. Yet, looking at all of this as a whole, the desire to continue just is not there.
Verdict:
A game stacked with hundreds of cards where there is literally nothing to do. However, the visual style is genuinely slick, and the card collection is huge — making you almost want to gather it all anyway.
Verdict:
A game stacked with hundreds of cards where there is literally nothing to do. However, the visual style is genuinely slick, and the card collection is huge — making you almost want to gather it all anyway.
Have I completed the game (main campaign/story)?
Have I completed the game (main campaign/story)?
Do I recommend the game?
Do I recommend the game?
⏳
❌
❌
~7 Hours