GRcade

Nintendo Life wrote:Balatro is a roguelike for gamers who don't like roguelikes... and then everybody else on top of that. It utterly nails what it sets out to do, providing an instantly accessible, satisfying, and addictive gameplay loop that anybody can grasp. It's an immensely enjoyable experience from the start, but as you get deeper in, there's really nothing else quite like it. We suspect we'll be hearing a lot about Balatro when conversations steer towards Game of the Year, because this is a clear and obvious frontrunner. Utterly sublime.

jawa_ wrote:

Nintendo Life wrote:We suspect we'll be hearing a lot about Balatro when conversations steer towards Game of the Year, because this is a clear and obvious frontrunner. Utterly sublime.

Source: Nintendo Life

Playstack adds it's "especially disappointed" given that it has already "specifically address this topic" with the ratings board, which agreed to classify the game as 3+ following an appeal over its initial 18+ rating. When the appeal was successful, the ratings board is said to have told the publisher, "We have reviewed your product and determined that the disclosure of gambling themes was unwarranted".

In Short: An expertly constructed and intricate roguelite deck builder that draws on the language and concept of poker, before twisting it with an infinity of modifiers, unlocks, and delicately balanced risk and reward.

Pros: A huge and evolving challenge. Its complication at no point feels overwhelming and its appeal relies on no prior knowledge of poker. Great value for money.

Cons: There’s no undo button, so mistakes can be catastrophically easy to make. Laser narrow focus does eventually start to get tiring.

Score: 9/10