Indie sensation Balatro, released earlier in February this year, is an intriguing blend of poker and roguelike deck-building mechanics. It offers a rich variety of strategies and depth of gameplay to explore, with the potential for endless replayability.
The triumph of Balatro quickly translated into remarkable sales figures, with the game reaching a staggering 500,000 copies sold within 10 days of its release. Its financial success was equally impressive, grossing US$1 million in just eight hours. Building on its momentum, solo developer LocalThunk is working on bringing Balatro to mobile platforms, with both iOS and Android versions currently in development.
If you find yourself captivated by the adrenaline-fueled synergies and high-stakes gameplay of Balatro, fear not! From deck-building adventures to gambling-inspired (but not gambling itself) challenges, here are some other games (in order of release date, from oldest to newest) to scratch that Balatro itch.
1. Solitairica
Platform(s): PC, iOS, Android
Price: S$10
Release date: 24 August 2016
Solitarica is a captivating blend of card gameplay and strategic roguelike elements, offering a unique and addictive experience for players. But instead of poker a la Balatro, it’s solitaire. As players progress through the game, they’ll encounter a variety of enemies, each represented by a different card suit. Players are tasked with strategically matching cards on the playing field to unleash powerful spells and abilities, as each card corresponds to a different spell or ability, ranging from offensive attacks to defensive buffs and healing spells.
Like Balatro, Solitairica offers a variety of different deck types, shop items, and upgrades to customise your playstyle and advance through the game.
2. Slay The Spire
Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Price: S$23.99
Release date: 23 January 2019
When it comes to roguelike deck-building games, Slay the Spire reigns supreme, standing as the pinnacle that has influenced a wave of digital deckbuilders.
Combat revolves around playing cards from the player’s deck to attack enemies, defend against their attacks, or apply various buffs and debuffs. Throughout the game, players collect new cards and relics, which can be used to customise the deck and tailor strategies to suit their playstyle. The roguelike charm of Balatro is fully apparent in Slay the Spire, offering a fresh and unpredictable experience every time as players carefully manage their resources, make strategic decisions, and adapt to the ever-changing challenges of the game.
A sequel to Slay the Spire was recently announced, set to enter early access in 2025.
3. Void Tyrant
Platform(s): PC, iOS, Android
Price: S$10
Release date: 28 June 2019
Void Tyrant is a captivating fusion of deck-building and roguelike mechanics, sprinkled with subtle Blackjack influences. As players delve into its depths, they draw cards to fill an attack bar that scales up to 12. But here’s the twist: players face a strategic dilemma akin to the tension of Blackjack, where they must decide if they want to halt their card draws before surpassing 12, or risk going over and conceding their turn to the enemy, who then gets a free attack.
But if players manage to stop short of hitting 13, they unleash a punishing blow, dealing damage equivalent to the difference between their attack and the enemy’s. Much like how Balatro puts a spin on classic Poker, Void Tyrant takes inspiration from Blackjack to craft its unique gameplay loop.
4. Dicey Dungeons
Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Price: S$14.50
Release date: 13 August 2019
Dicey Dungeons is a deckbuilding game, similar to Balatro, but instead of cards, it’s dice. The core gameplay mechanic revolves around dice rolling, where players use dice as their primary resource to perform actions such as attacking, defending, and activating special abilities. Akin to the array of decks that Balatro offers, players in Dicey Dungeons take on the roles of various anthropomorphic characters, each with distinct abilities, equipment, and playstyles.
In addition to its engaging gameplay mechanics, Dicey Dungeons features a charming art style and quirky sense of humour. The game’s colourful characters, whimsical animations, and catchy soundtrack contribute to its delightful atmosphere, making it a joy to play from start to finish.
5. Monster Train
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS
Price: S$22
Release date: 21 May 2020
Monster Train is a captivating and strategic roguelike deck-building game, not unlike Slay the Spire and Balatro. The gameplay combines elements of deck-building, tower defence, and strategic planning. Players construct their deck by drafting cards from various factions, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and synergies. As players progress through the game, they’ll encounter a diverse array of enemies and challenges on each floor of the train, requiring them to carefully strategise and adapt their tactics to overcome the ever-increasing difficulty.
One of the standout features of Monster Train is its deep progression system. Between battles, players can upgrade their cards, unlock powerful artefacts, and customise their deck to suit their preferred playstyle. Additionally, the game features multiple factions, each with unique mechanics and strategies, providing ample room for experimentation and replayability.
6. Slice & Dice
Platform(s): PC, iOS, Android
Price: S$9
Release date: 16 June 2021
Rather than adapting dice rolls into a deckbuilder like Dicey Dungeons, Slice & Dice fully embraces its dice-based mechanics. Players are required to make split-second decisions based on the results of their dice rolls. Each action in the game consumes dice, so players must carefully manage their resources and plan their moves accordingly. As players progress through the procedurally generated dungeons, they’ll encounter increasingly challenging enemies and obstacles, testing their skills and ingenuity.
One of the key features of Slice & Dice is its deep customisation options. Players can choose from a variety of character classes, each with its own unique abilities and playstyles. Just like Balatro, each turn is like a mini-puzzle, entrusting players to carefully choose which dice to reroll and discover the best approach to pull off ridiculous combos.
7. Luck Be A Landlord
Platform(s): PC, iOS, Android
Price: S$10
Release date: 6 January 2023
Developer LocalThunk credits Luck be a Landlord as one of the biggest influences on the creation of Balatro. The gameplay behind this roguelike deck-building game revolves around spinning the slot machine grid at the end of each round to determine which tenants will move into the available rooms. Functioning similarly to the Jokers in Balatro, players can strategically place symbols on the grid to increase the likelihood of certain types of tenants appearing, such as animals, robots, or mythical creatures. Additionally, players can purchase upgrades and special items to further customise their strategy, and maximise their earnings.
As players progress through the game, they’ll encounter a variety of challenges and opportunities, including special events, mini-games, and boss battles. Each run is procedurally generated, offering a fresh and unpredictable experience every time.
8. Bingle Bingle
Platform(s): PC
Price: S$11
Release date: 19 March 2024
Broadening what appears to be a burgeoning genre of roguelike casino/gambling games, Bingle Bingle is a ‘Roulette Builder’ game where you can create your own roulette. Players are tasked with strategically combining various betting options and unique balls to create synergies, earn extreme scores, and beat the casino.
Want to turn all the pockets red to increase your odds? Or all black? It’s an entirely viable strategy that will be all too familiar to Balatro players running Flush decks.
Bingle Bingle is currently in Early Access on Steam, promising progressive updates that include bug fixes, new features, and other refinements to the game.
9. ULTIMAHJONG
Platform(s): PC
Price: Free Demo
Release date: Q4 2024
While players have the ability to manipulate and modify cards in Balatro in order to play high-scoring hands, such as transforming 2s into Aces or turning Diamonds into Spades, ULTIMAHJONG takes that concept and applies it to mahjong tiles.
ULTIMAHJONG infuses Riichi Mahjong (aka Japanese mahjong) with roguelike mechanics, challenging players to race against an ever-accelerating score counter. By purchasing items and upgrades to force hands and manipulate tiles, players can increase their chances of success in a run.
ULTIMAHJONG currently has a free demo on Steam, with a full release slated for Q4 2024.
10. Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers
Platform(s): PC
Price: Free Demo
Release date: 2024
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers swaps out Balatro’s poker in favour of Blackjack. In this game, players face off against an AI opponent instead of striving for a specific point threshold, adding a fresh layer of strategy to each encounter. While it lacks the Jokers found in Balatro, it compensates with a vast array of cards brimming with unique effects, abilities, and powers. These cards could include potent Tarot Cards, a Business Card, or even a Yu-Gi-Oh! Trap Card.
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers currently has a free demo on Steam, with a full release due sometime in 2024.
Edwin is a seasoned raconteur with a lifelong passion for video games, comic books, movies, and more. He thrives on captivating stories and immersive world-building, with a soft spot for adorable monsters.
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