Balatro
News, coverage and analysis tracking Balatro across the outlets.
In the 33 months since Baldur's Gate 3 launched, it's hardly ever fallen out of the top 5 most-played games on…Baldur's Gate 3 has maintained remarkable popularity on the Steam Deck, consistently ranking among the top five most-played games for nearly three years since its launch. Despite not being optimized for the handheld, its enduring appeal has kept it in the top ten, showcasing the game's widespread popularity and Larian Studios' success.
Respawn: Finding Community After Social Media BurnoutThe author discusses their experience with social media burnout, particularly with Instagram, and the negative impact it had on their mental health and creativity. They found a positive alternative in Channel 3, a new social media app specifically designed for gamers, which fosters a sense of community and offers a less toxic online environment.
Gambonanza masterfully combines Balatro and chess and it's out nowGambonanza, a game blending chess with Balatro-inspired mechanics, is now available on PC and Steam Deck. It offers fast-paced, tactical runs on a small board where the objective is to capture all enemy pieces. The game features over 200 synergistic Gambits, a dynamic reserve system for deploying extra pieces, and strategic board upgrades, providing significant replayability with its roguelike elements and increasing difficulty levels.
Gambonanza Review - Checkmate!Gambonanza is a new roguelike that puts a fresh spin on chess with bite-sized matches and rule-twisting Gambits. Developed by Blukulélé, the game features a small starting board that expands as players acquire upgrades and face powerful boss characters inspired by real chess Grandmasters. Despite some repetition in opponent setups, its charming visuals, catchy soundtrack, and engaging mechanics make it a compelling experience for both chess novices and roguelike fans.
Here's the top Steam Deck games for April 2026The top games on Steam Deck for April 2026 include Slay the Spire 2 and Vampire Crawlers, alongside other popular titles like Stardew Valley and Baldur's Gate 3. Several newly released games also made the list, such as RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike and PRAGMATA. The article also notes that the Steam Deck continues to be frequently out of stock.
Avoid Nintendo's eShop until you've seen Newegg's current gift card comboNewegg is offering a deal on Nintendo eShop gift cards, selling two $50 cards for $80.50, providing nearly $20 in savings. This offer allows users to purchase digital games and content for the Nintendo Switch at a discounted price. Several first-party titles like Luigi's Mansion 3 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder are also currently on sale.- Apokerlypse ReleasedApokerlypse, a poker-playing roguelike developed by Breaker Games, is now available on PC via Steam. The game is noted as another example of the significant impact seen from the popular title Balatro, and it introduces other players into its gameplay.
- How Indie Games Are Quietly Reinventing the Luck Mechanic - Walkthrough, Tips, ReviewIndie game developers are increasingly treating randomness and luck as core design elements rather than afterthoughts. Games like Slay the Spire and Hades demonstrate how to implement controlled chaos, where luck feels earned and navigable, enhancing player agency and replayability. This intentional design approach, influenced by player psychology and digital platform expectations, aims to create engaging experiences that reward skill over pure fortune.
Xbox Cutting Game Pass and Pulling Call of Duty Is Finally HonestXbox has reduced the price of Game Pass Ultimate and will no longer offer day-one access to future Call of Duty titles, a move described as the most honest statement from the company in years. This shift acknowledges that the previous pricing and strategy were unsustainable, particularly after the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The company is also scaling back its hardware ambitions and focusing on becoming a multi-platform publisher.
Balatro's mind-bending code uses mouse jitter for random number generation, along with a bunch of clever maths…A deep dive into the source code of the roguelike deckbuilder Balatro reveals clever mathematical tricks and unconventional methods for random number generation, including the use of mouse sensor jitter. While some aspects of the code are described as 'horrible' or 'bad practices,' the overall implementation is praised for its ingenuity.
I love Slay the Spire 2, I hate Slay the Spire 2This article discusses the dualistic nature of Slay the Spire 2, highlighting how its reliance on random card draws can lead to both exhilarating victories and heartbreaking unfairness, especially at higher difficulties. The author contrasts this with other roguelites like Balatro and Vampire Survivors, noting Slay the Spire 2's tendency to encourage perfectionism due to its sparse shop and reward systems. Despite the frustrations, the author concludes that Slay the Spire 2 is a fantastic example of the genre and will continue playing it.
Best Android Card Games – Updated!This guide highlights the best card games available on Android devices, ranging from traditional TCGs to unique indie titles. Featured games include Balatro, Magic the Gathering: Arena, GWENT, Slay The Spire, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, Legends of Runeterra, and more, each offering distinct gameplay experiences for mobile players.
Ball x Pit has a new update because who needs free time anyway?Developer Kenny Sun and Friends has released a new update for the roguelike game Ball x Pit, titled the Shadow Update. This free update for PC players on Steam adds new characters, passive abilities, balls with unique powers, and a guildhall feature. The update significantly expands the game's already deep combination possibilities, encouraging players to dive back into its addictive gameplay loop.
As Enter the Gungeon celebrates its 10th anniversary, its creators have some choice words for the modern roguelike: 'We’re seeing it mutate to the version of itself that popularity obfuscates'As Enter the Gungeon celebrates its 10th anniversary, developers Dave Crooks and Adam Kidd Drucker express concerns about the modern roguelike genre, particularly its increasing reliance on gambling-like mechanics and progression systems. They feel this trend, exemplified by games like Vampire Survivors and Balatro, deviates from the core experience of traditional roguelikes and can feel "cash-grabby." The developers are currently working on Enter the Gungeon 2, aiming to stay true to the original's blend of roguelike and bullet-hell elements.
Balatro Player Finally Hits 100% After Marathon Completion RunA player has achieved 100% completion in the indie roguelike game Balatro, a feat described as more impressive than many AAA platinum trophies. The game combines poker mechanics with complex joker interactions and modifiers, requiring significant dedication and mastery of its systems, including multiple difficulty levels and specific challenge runs.
Big Tech openly wants to manipulate us with AI. That seems bad to meThis opinion piece argues that the tech industry's push for generative AI, particularly for hyperpersonalization in gaming, is manipulative and ethically questionable. It criticizes the use of AI to predict player churn and adjust gameplay or offers in real-time to increase spending, comparing it to creating 'psychological prisons.' The author contrasts this with developers who prioritize enriching players' lives through game creation, even if it means less profit.- Titanium Court mashes together genres and cultural references to tell a strange, funny taleTitanium Court is a unique roguelite that blends match-three mechanics with tower defense and adventure game elements. Developed by AP Thomson and published by Fellow Traveller, the game features smart, funny writing and unexpected narrative turns. It recently won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the Independent Games Festival Awards and is available on PC and Mac, with a demo also available.
Slay the Spire 2 dev says an early idea was to actually reduce the card pool, but players hated it: 'We need new…Casey Yano, co-creator of Slay the Spire and co-founder of Mega Crit Games, discussed the design of Slay the Spire 2 in a new interview. He revealed that an early idea was to reduce the card pool, but playtesters disliked it. Yano also drew inspiration from the Dark Souls series for character build progression and mentioned Balatro as an example of natural game mechanic scaling.- Why Autosave Games Are the Only Games Parents Play | TAGThis article argues that autosave functionality is the most crucial feature for parents playing video games, especially in 2026. It highlights games like Slay the Spire 2, Balatro, and Cyberpunk 2077 for their robust autosave systems, while cautioning against titles with infrequent or manual save points, which can lead to significant progress loss due to unpredictable interruptions.
- 8 Single-Player Games With Honest Save Points (2026) | TAGThis guide highlights eight single-player games with save systems that respect players' time, allowing for short gaming sessions. Titles like Slay the Spire 2, Celeste, and Balatro offer near-instantaneous saves, while games such as Disco Elysium and Cyberpunk 2077 provide save-anywhere functionality. Other games like Stardew Valley, Dave the Diver, and Hades II save at natural breaks in their gameplay loops.