Balatro
Balatro: A single-player card strategy game built around poker hands, Jokers, and repeatable runs. Ranked #33 of 98 in PC Games by our editors (6.2/10); pricing: Paid; best for players who enjoy portable poker-inspired roguelike strategy.
At a glance
- Editor score6.2 / 10
- PricingPaid
- Best forPlayers who enjoy portable poker-inspired roguelike strategy
- Free planNo
- Supported OSMultiple
- Facts checked5 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Jokers and other card types create varied scoring combinations.
- Deck modifiers, eight campaign difficulties, and challenge runs vary play.
- Available on desktop and mobile, with an in-game stats screen.
Where it doesn't
- Single-player only; there is no online multiplayer.
- The listed plan is the base game, with no free plan.
- Its poker-hand scoring and run-based structure may not suit every strategy player.
Our verdict on Balatro
Balatro turns poker hands into the basis of a single-player roguelike strategy game. Players build hands to score chips and beat blinds, while Joker cards add abilities that can change how a run develops. It is a fit for players who like card combinations, run-by-run decisions, and experimenting with different scoring approaches. The game is available on desktop and mobile, and its play is focused on solo runs rather than online competition.
Variety comes from more than the poker hands: players can choose decks with distinct modifiers and use Tarot, Planet, Spectral, and Voucher cards alongside Jokers. The campaign has eight difficulties, and challenge and seeded runs offer additional ways to play. An in-game stats screen tracks hands and Joker usage, giving players a record of selected aspects of their play. These systems make Balatro more than a straightforward poker simulation, while keeping its central loop anchored to hand-building and scoring.
The published plan is Balatro, a paid base game listed at $14.99 on Steam; regional storefront prices may differ. It is listed for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, with desktop and mobile deployment. Balatro is best suited to solo players who want a portable, card-based strategy game with varied runs and do not need online multiplayer. Players seeking multiplayer or a game outside the poker-inspired deck-building format should look elsewhere.
Balatro pricing
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Balatro fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Genre | Strategy |
| Single-player | Yes |
| Online multiplayer | No |
| Controller support | Not verified |
| Mod support | Not verified |
| Supported OS | Multiple |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Pricing | Paid (source) |
| Website | playbalatro.com |
| Facts checked | 5 Oct 2026 |
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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