Balatro has surprised me. It might well be the game of 2024.

I didn't (and some would argue still don't) know a thing about poker prior, but I haven't been able to put this game down since I purchased it. I've also not been even remotely close to winning a run but, much like Slay the Spire and games of that ilk, I keep coming back for more.

I don't know if I can fault Balatro, other than to say the difficultly seems to ramp up out of nowhere, and the debuffs seem to be extreme - and always seem to directly contradict my build. In most runs thought winning would merely be a formality based on one-tapping most Blinds, but Balatro likes to make a fool out of you. Having said that, I'm sure when you can match a synergy with you deck, Joker(s), Booster Packs, etc., the game probably feels broken in favour of you. Overall though, I would venture to say that even if the game was as half as difficult as it is, it would still be very challenging.

I also feel as though the game actively punishes you for developing and upgrading your poker hands, to the point where you could be be six or seven Antes deep, and then realise the Big Blind is about to directly counter you, to which there is often noting you can do about it but watch yourself lose. I know it's a completely different game (whilst the same genre) but this is in stark contrast to Slay the Spire, where you will know what debuffs the boss has in act one, two, or three well in advance, so you have time to prepare. What this means is that Balatro WILL choose something to directly counter you depending on your hand, rather than it being pre-determined (and thus it being up to you to counter the boss).

Having said all of that, there's something special about a game when it can repeatedly beat you down, demoralise you, make you question your entire existence, and yet you continue to feed your addiction.

Balatro has surprised me. It might well be the game of 2024. I didn't (and some would argue still don't) know a thing about poker prior, but I haven't been able to put this game down since I purchased it. I've also not been even remotely close to winning a run but, much like Slay the Spire and games of that ilk, I keep coming back for more. I don't know if I can fault Balatro, other than to say the difficultly seems to ramp up out of nowhere, and the debuffs seem to be extreme - and always seem to directly contradict my build. In most runs thought winning would merely be a formality based on one-tapping most Blinds, but Balatro likes to make a fool out of you. Having said that, I'm sure when you can match a synergy with you deck, Joker(s), Booster Packs, etc., the game probably feels broken in favour of you. Overall though, I would venture to say that even if the game was as half as difficult as it is, it would still be very challenging. I also feel as though the game actively punishes you for developing and upgrading your poker hands, to the point where you could be be six or seven Antes deep, and then realise the Big Blind is about to directly counter you, to which there is often noting you can do about it but watch yourself lose. I know it's a completely different game (whilst the same genre) but this is in stark contrast to Slay the Spire, where you will know what debuffs the boss has in act one, two, or three well in advance, so you have time to prepare. What this means is that Balatro WILL choose something to directly counter you depending on your hand, rather than it being pre-determined (and thus it being up to you to counter the boss). Having said all of that, there's something special about a game when it can repeatedly beat you down, demoralise you, make you question your entire existence, and yet you continue to feed your addiction.