March 4th 2024.
Have you heard of Balatro? It may not seem like much at first glance, but trust me, it's a hidden gem that is worth your time. In fact, it's one of the best games to come out this year, combining the elements of roguelite and poker into one unique and entertaining indie game.
Now, I have to admit, I am not the best at poker. In fact, I am pretty terrible at it. I have no idea about the different scoring hands, their names, or which ones are more desirable. To me, poker was just something that other people did, and I was perfectly content with that. That is, until I discovered Balatro.
What sets Balatro apart is that it incorporates the language and mathematics of poker into its gameplay. And while this may sound boring on paper, I assure you, it is far from it. Even if you are not familiar with poker or math, this game will still amaze you.
Visually, Balatro may not seem like much. It has a simple 16-bit design, accompanied by subtle sound effects, relaxing music, and a faux CRT screen effect that gives it a retro 90s vibe. But don't let that fool you, because this game is anything but unassuming.
One of the things that I appreciate about Balatro is that it doesn't assume that you have prior knowledge of poker. It provides a full list of potential scoring hands with just the press of a button, making it easy to learn and understand.
The game is played in sets of three blinds, which are essentially scores that you have to beat in order to continue. The first round is a small blind, followed by a big blind, and then the boss blind, which comes with a random debuff that can range from diamonds not scoring points to your replacement cards being dealt face down.
Each round allows a certain number of discards, which gives you the opportunity to get rid of cards that you don't think will be useful and potentially get better ones from the dealer. The goal is to reach the minimum score for each blind by laying down cards and creating poker hands.
But here's where it gets really interesting. The face values of the cards act as gambling chips, which are then multiplied based on the hand you have played. This is where the meta game of Balatro comes into play. It introduces joker cards that add modifiers to each hand, giving you more chips, higher multipliers, or adding rewards for specific cards or suits.
But the modifiers can also be more complex, encouraging you to play in unconventional ways, such as stacking your deck with extra 10s or using all your discards at the start of the round to trigger a multiplier. This adds a level of unpredictability and keeps each run feeling fresh and unique.
And that's just the base layer of the game's complexity. There are also tarot cards that confer buffs on different cards in your deck, planet cards that provide permanent upgrades, and vouchers that offer bonuses like an extra hand each round or discounts in the shop.
Speaking of the shop, this is where you can purchase extra playing cards and various denominations of bonus cards. It becomes available at the end of each round, but you also earn interest on any unspent money, adding another level of strategy to the game.
With all these elements combined, Balatro gradually reveals its layers of tactical intrigue, cleverly obscuring them at first so that you can get used to the gameplay before adding more complexity. And it's fascinating how even the biggest potential bonuses come with risks, making every decision crucial to your success.
Now, I have to mention one drawback of Balatro - its rating. Due to its allusions to gambling, it has been given an 18+ rating, which is a shame considering the game itself does not encourage gambling in any way. The only downside I have experienced is accidentally hitting the discard button instead of play, or laying out my cards too quickly, which can end a promising run.
But overall, Balatro is a game that I highly recommend. It's addictive, challenging, and constantly surprising, with new decks to unlock and different strategies to try. Trust me, you won't regret giving this game a chance.
Have you heard of the game Balatro? It may not look like much at first glance, but let me tell you, it's one of the most addictively fun games I've played in a long time. It's a unique blend of a roguelite and a poker simulator, and it's been receiving a lot of praise as one of the best indie games of the year.
Now, I have to confess, I am not great at poker. In fact, I am pretty terrible at it. I have no idea what the different hands are called or which ones are the most valuable. But that's okay, because poker has never really been my thing. That is, until I discovered Balatro.
What sets Balatro apart is that it's not just a regular deck-building game. It actually utilizes the language and mathematics of poker to create a whole new level of gameplay. And even though it may sound like a boring concept on paper, trust me, it's anything but. In fact, it's so addictive that I often lose track of time while playing.
Visually, Balatro has a simple and unassuming 16-bit style, accompanied by soothing sound effects and music. It's easy to underestimate the game based on its appearance, but don't be fooled. It's surprisingly complex and offers a range of features that make it stand out from other card games.
One of the features that make Balatro so accessible is its user-friendly interface. You don't need any prior knowledge of poker to play, as the game provides a full list of potential scoring hands with just the press of a button. Plus, the game is divided into sets of three blinds, making it easier to keep track of your progress.
Each round of the game allows for a set number of discards, giving you the opportunity to get rid of cards that you don't think will be useful. And as you play, your goal is to reach the minimum score for each blind by using your cards to create different poker hands. The face values of the cards act as gambling chips, which are then multiplied by a number based on the hand you've played.
But what truly makes Balatro stand out is the meta game that revolves around these simple card patterns. For starters, there are jokers that add modifiers to each hand, ranging from increasing your chips to adding rewards for specific cards or suits. These modifiers can get quite creative, encouraging you to play in unexpected ways and adding a whole new level of strategy to the game.
The game also features tarot cards, planet cards, and vouchers, all of which offer unique bonuses and upgrades to your current run. And as you progress, you'll unlock new decks with various advantages and even more extreme jokers. There's always something new to discover and ways to improve your gameplay.
Sadly, Balatro has received an 18+ rating from PEGI, due to its references to gambling. This seems a bit unfair considering there are many other games with similar risk vs. reward elements that are not rated as such. But don't let that discourage you from trying out this amazing game. The only real downside to Balatro is that its straightforward controls can sometimes lead to accidental mistakes, but that's a small price to pay for such a fantastic gaming experience.
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