Balatro

Balatro is a strategic card game with a roguelike structure influenced by the Cantonese card game Big Two and Luck be a Landlord. A game is played as a run that is different every time because of various parameters and random elements. It is up to the player to organize and enhance a standard deck of 52 cards to complete the run, which ends the game. During runs various elements are unlocked permanently, but as is typical for a roguelike, most of the items and progress are lost as soon as the run is over, whether it was completed successfully or not. A run is divided into multiple steps called Blinds with a limited number of hands. If a Blind cannot be completed because the requirements are not met, the game is over right away.

Scoring in the game is based around the standard hands of the Poker such as a high card, a pair, a flush or a full house. There are however a lot of game elements that add to the strategy. There is a cash system where money between Blinds can be spent on new cards and card modifications. For instance, both individual cards and hands can be upgraded, making a pair earn more than a straight. The standard deck can contain enhanced cards of various types, but players can also destroy cards, removing them permanently, or introduce new cards. That way, it is for instance possible to get rid of some Jacks and replace them with additional aces instead. Unlike as is common in most deck building games, it is possible to run out of cards in a single Blind when all of them have been dealt.

Other game elements are Joker cards that provide bonuses and multipliers and single-use tarot cards that can be used at specific moments for a strategic advantage. In the third and final Blind of a round the player is often challenged to work around certain restrictions, such as hidden cards, debuffed cards or only allowing a specific hand to be played.

The roguelike structure is further deepened by unlocking specific starting decks and multiple difficulties. Many game elements are also only unlocked over time, as more Joker cards are added to the starting pool.