Balatro
News, coverage and analysis tracking Balatro across the outlets.
Latest coverage
8 Short Roguelikes You Can Finish Before Bed (2026) | TAG
This guide highlights eight roguelike games that can be completed in a single session, ideal for players with limited time. Titles like Balatro, Hades II, and Slay the Spire 2 are recommended for their short run times and flexible save systems, making them suitable for playing before bed. The article also discusses the technical distinction between roguelikes and roguelites.
30-Minute Gaming Session: 12 Games That Respect Time | TAG
This guide highlights 12 video games designed for short play sessions, catering to busy adults who can only dedicate around 30 minutes to gaming. It features titles like Balatro, Vampire Survivors, Hades II, and Rocket League, emphasizing games with natural stopping points, quick progression, and autosave features. The article also discusses what makes a game 'time-respecting' and provides recommendations for different time constraints and play styles.
Slay the Spire 2 almost had fewer new cards because of the co-creator's love for Dark Souls, but testers "were…
Slay the Spire 2 co-creator Casey Yano initially wanted the sequel to feature fewer new cards for returning characters, inspired by the Dark Souls series' approach to build replication. However, playtesters expressed a strong desire for more new content, leading Mega Crit Games to adjust the design. This decision has contributed to the early success of Slay the Spire 2.
King's Well Announced
Fire Brick Games has announced King's Well, a new roguelite deckbuilder inspired by Balatro. The game is set to release on PC in Q3 of this year.
Drop-In, Drop-Out: Best Games for Unpredictable Schedules | TAG
This guide highlights games suitable for players with unpredictable schedules, focusing on titles that allow for easy pausing and resuming without penalty. It emphasizes features like frequent autosaves, low memory burden, and self-contained sessions. Games like Vampire Survivors, Stardew Valley, and Forza Horizon 5 are recommended for their interruptible nature, while console features like Xbox Quick Resume and Nintendo Switch Sleep Mode are noted as crucial aids.
Slay the Spire 2 won't get an endless mode like Balatro because it limits "infinite strategies," but creator says "maybe a modder will think of a way to make it work"
Mega Crit co-creator Casey Yano stated that Slay the Spire 2 will likely not receive an "endless mode" similar to Balatro, as it limits "infinite strategies" and the deckbuilding becomes less exciting over longer runs. However, Yano suggested that a modder might create such a mode in the future.
Games Inbox: Are retro games better than modern gaming?
Readers debate whether retro games are superior to modern gaming, citing the current industry's perceived issues and long waits between major releases. While some appreciate the raw excitement of older titles, others acknowledge the advancements in technology and gameplay offered by contemporary games, including indie titles and remakes like Resident Evil 4.
If you loved Balatro, don't miss your chance to get this indie deck builder at under $3
Fanatical is offering discounts on indie games, including the deckbuilder 'This Ain't Even Poker, Ya Joker,' which shares similarities with 'Balatro.' Players can build custom bundles of Steam games, with prices decreasing as more titles are added, making 'This Ain't Even Poker, Ya Joker' available for under $3. The sale also features other titles like 'The Evil Within' and 'Metal Garden' and is a limited-time deal.
Review - Beyond Words (Switch) | WayTooManyGames
Beyond Words is a delightful puzzle game for the Nintendo Switch that blends mechanics similar to Balatro and Scrabble. While it can be addictive, the game's scoring thresholds can be overly demanding, sometimes relying more on luck than vocabulary. Despite this, it offers a refreshing gameplay experience.
Beyond Words Review - Jump Dash Roll
Jump Dash Roll reviews Beyond Words, a game that aims to be the Balatro of Scrabble. The review explores whether the game successfully captures the essence of Scrabble with its mechanics.
Saddle Up For Far Far West, The Co-op Cowboy Shooter With A Spooky Twist, Launching on Steam April 28
Far Far West, a co-op FPS cowboy shooter with supernatural elements developed by Evil Raptor and published by Fireshine Games, is set to launch on PC via Steam on April 28. The game features robot cowboys battling occult creatures and offers a variety of weapons, spells, and upgrades for players to customize their bounty hunter.
The Best Roguelikes for 30-Minute Sessions (We Actually Timed These) | TAG
This guide identifies roguelike games genuinely suitable for 30-minute play sessions, distinguishing between games that can be paused and those with naturally short, complete runs. It highlights titles like Vampire Survivors, Brotato, Balatro, Hades, and Dicey Dungeons as perfect fits, while also discussing games like Into the Breach and Slay the Spire that work well with save-and-quit features despite longer individual runs. The article aims to help busy gamers find satisfying experiences within limited time constraints.
Review: Beyond Words (Switch) - Addictive In The Best Ways, But Totally Copies Balatro's Homework
Beyond Words is an addictive roguelike word game for the Nintendo Switch that draws heavy inspiration from Balatro. Developed by MindFuel Games, it combines Scrabble-like word building with roguelike progression and purchasable upgrades. While it successfully utilizes addictive mechanics, the game is notably derivative of its inspiration.
Beyond Words is Scrabble meets Balatro, and it's left me feeling like I've gone ten rounds with a dictionary
Beyond Words is a word game that blends Scrabble's tile-laying with Balatro's score-exploding power cards. While the game offers deep strategic potential through its unique card synergies, the reviewer found it challenging to consistently reach high scores and experience these moments, requiring a significant time investment to discover its full appeal.
Beyond Words Review | TheXboxHub
Beyond Words is a genre-defining fusion of roguelike deck-building and word-puzzle mechanics, drawing inspiration from games like Balatro and the classic board game Scrabble. Developed by MindFuel Games, the title challenges players to create words using a tile system with various modifiers and power-ups, offering deep strategic gameplay. Despite occasional controller navigation issues on Xbox Series X, the game is praised for its replayability and clever design.
Beyond Words Combines Scrabble and Balatro, and That’s About It
Beyond 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.
The Busy Gamer's Survival Guide: How to Game When Life Won't Let You | TAG
This 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.
Super Meat Boy 3D, coin-pushing chaos and other new indie games worth checking out
This 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 Reviews
This 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 live
The 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.