Balatro
News, coverage and analysis tracking Balatro across the outlets.
The Busy Gamer's Survival Guide: How to Game When Life Won't Let You | TAGThis guide offers strategies for adults with limited time to enjoy gaming, focusing on managing expectations and choosing appropriate games. It suggests matching games to energy levels, utilizing handheld devices, and adopting a flexible approach to backlogs and subscription services.
Beyond Words Combines Scrabble and Balatro, and That’s About ItBeyond Words is a game that combines the mechanics of Scrabble and Balatro, featuring tile modifications and a shop system similar to Balatro. While the core concept is compelling and the game is polished with no reported bugs, the review criticizes its uninspired aesthetic, generic themes, and inconsistent dictionary. The game is set to release on April 9, 2026, for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.- Super Meat Boy 3D, coin-pushing chaos and other new indie games worth checking outThis roundup highlights several new and upcoming indie games, including the precision platformer Super Meat Boy 3D, the roguelike deckbuilder Raccoin, and the eldritch horror Soulslike Tombwater. Other featured titles span genres like village building, home renovation, survival extraction, and narrative adventure, with many available on PC and consoles like PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
- Game ReviewsThis article provides reviews for several games, including Legacy of Kain Ascendance, Marvel Maximum Collection, and Raccoin. It also briefly mentions Balatro, noting its positive reception.
- Felicity – Steam page now liveThe deckbuilding and resource management game Felicity, featuring roguelike elements, has launched its Steam page with a planned release in Q3 2026. Unlike other deckbuilders, Felicity is described as a wholesome game where players set their own goals. The game involves building decks, upgrading cards, and rolling dice to manage resources, with random events and personality cards ensuring unique playthroughs.
What are we all playing this weekend?Several individuals from the publication discuss their gaming plans for a UK bank holiday weekend. Topics include returning to Cyberpunk 2077 after its updates, trying out indie titles like Raccoin and Discopup, and revisiting games like Overwatch and Atomfall. Some mention upcoming DLC and new cars for racing simulators.
Indie Pass offers more than 200 games in new low budget Game Pass alternativeIndie.io has announced Indie Pass, a new subscription service launching April 13th for PC, with plans for console release later. Priced at $6.99 per month, it offers access to over 200 curated indie games, aiming to help smaller titles gain visibility. The service will feature revenue sharing with developers based on playtime and does not have exclusivity deals.
Last Chance To Grab These Switch 1 & 2 Games In Nintendo's 'Find Save Play' Sale (Europe)Nintendo is holding a 'Find Save Play' sale on the European eShop for Nintendo Switch games, with discounts ending on April 12th and April 16th. The sale features a wide variety of critically acclaimed titles, many of which have received high review scores.- 100+ Switch 1 & 2 Games To Check Out In Nintendo's 'Find Save Play' Sale (Europe)Nintendo is holding a 'Find Save Play' sale in Europe, featuring over 100 Nintendo Switch games that have received high review scores. The sale includes discounts on titles such as 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Alien: Isolation, and Dave The Diver, with some deals lasting until April 12th and others until April 16th.
JokerJack Review | TheXboxHubJokerJack is a Blackjack-based roguelike that heavily borrows from Balatro but fails to capture its essence. The game suffers from a lack of tutorials, confusing mechanics, and an over-reliance on luck, making it a frustrating experience. Despite its potential, JokerJack is ultimately a derivative and poorly executed copycat.
Raccoin Review - Lets go gambl... wait, I've been here before....Raccoin is a roguelike deckbuilder that uses a coin pusher mechanic, developed by Doraccoon and published by Playstack. While it offers satisfying combo-building and unlockable characters, the game suffers from balancing issues and an overwhelming sound design during large combos. It is seen as another entry in the 'gambling but not really' genre popularized by Balatro, but struggles to differentiate itself.- Another gambling roguelike has hit Steam—and, unsurprisingly, it’s addictive as hellThe new gambling roguelike RACCOIN: Coin Pusher has been released on PC, combining addictive coin-pusher mechanics with roguelike elements. Similar to games like Balatro, RACCOIN uses strong visual and audio feedback to enhance the player's engagement and anticipation of winning. The game is noted for its well-designed systems that leverage the inherent appeal of gambling and coin-pusher machines.
- RACCOIN: Coin Pusher RoguelikeRACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike, a roguelike deckbuilder inspired by coin-pushing machines, has launched on PC via Steam. The game is currently available at an 18% discount for a limited time.
Choosing Your Main Digital Card Game for 2026: Hearthstone, Slay the Spire 2, or Balatro?This article compares Hearthstone, Slay the Spire 2, and Balatro as potential main digital card games to invest time in for 2026. It highlights Hearthstone's longevity and varied modes, Slay the Spire 2's success as a roguelike deckbuilder, and Balatro's accessible yet deep poker-inspired gameplay.
"Coin pusher roguelike" Raccoin sells over 100K units on Steam in 24 hoursThe coin pusher roguelike Raccoin has achieved over 100,000 unit sales on Steam within its first 24 hours of release. Developed by Doraccoon and published by Playstack, the game combines arcade coin pusher mechanics with roguelike and deckbuilding elements. Separately, Embark Studios released the Flashpoint update for Arc Raiders, which aims to improve the looting experience by prioritizing players with custom loadouts for fresh servers.
As expected - Slay the Spire 2 leads the way for the most played Steam Deck games for March 2026Slay the Spire 2 topped the list of most played games on Steam Deck in March 2026. The article provides a top 50 list of popular titles, with other notable games including Stardew Valley, Baldur's Gate 3, and Elden Ring. The author also mentions continued playtime in Overwatch and Death Stranding 2.
"That is an $11,000 gold texture": Steam researcher says "supporter packs" make a lot of free money because PC gamers love to spend on their favorite gamesSteam researcher Chris Zukowski argues that PC game developers should offer supporter packs and digital soundtracks as day-one DLC, even for free-to-play titles. He highlights examples where these offerings generated significant revenue with minimal development effort, suggesting PC gamers are willing to spend extra on games they enjoy through these non-gameplay affecting DLCs.
ProbablyMonsters is betting on an Xbox 360-esque bonanza of single-player AA kookinessProbablyMonsters is focusing on the AA gaming space, aiming to create unique single-player experiences reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era. Despite initial low sales for titles like Storm Lancers and Ire: A Prologue, the company, led by new executives David Reid and Harold Ryan, is committed to this strategy, believing it allows for greater creative freedom and potential profitability compared to AAA or indie development.
JokerJack Hits Xbox – Blackjack Gets Twisted Into Something Much BiggerJokerJack, a game that twists the classic Blackjack into a fast-thinking, combo-driven deckbuilder, is now available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S for £8.39. Developed and published by Stardom Game Studios, the game features over 60 Joker cards that bend the rules and a roguelike structure with evolving challenges. It draws comparisons to the popular roguelike deckbuilder Balatro.
"0.63 is the perfect default delay": Bungie, Respawn and Firaxis game developers talk NPC barks, grenade timing and other questions of craftGame developers from studios like Firaxis, Bungie, and Respawn shared practical advice on various aspects of game development, including NPC dialogue, UI animation timing, and combat design principles. The discussion, initiated on Bluesky, highlighted the importance of small details in creating satisfying player experiences.