Balatro Deserves the Hype

You saw it when the Game Awards announced its top nominees for 2024. There, hidden amongst AAA games from big name publishers. You saw the comments. “Balatro? Haven’t heard of it. Why the hell are they including a card game?”

And frankly, it’s lucky for all involved that the Elden Ring DLC became a lighting rod for the really negative conversation this year. People got to take out their frustration on something not directly related to the games for the most part.

But here’s the thing: Balatro is one of the best games in years. It deserves to be alongside Final Fantasy and Astrobot. If you haven’t played it and you’re at all into games as a whole, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

What does it do that’s so special? First of all, ignore that it’s a card game. I had to do the same. On the surface of it, it looks like it’s a game about poker hands. That’s a distraction. This is a game about having one more go.

That’s what Balatro does so well – a thing that we rarely see with popular releases in 2024. It’s a title that embodies the spirit of playing just a little bit longer. It encourages you to play over and over and over until you’ve cracked it. Then it’ll give you reason to do it again.

It’s deceptively simple. Visually, that may be to its detriment. I’ve spoken to multiple people who don’t get it. Screenshots and video don’t sell it. You have to play. Within two rounds, I got why people were obsessing about it. But within those two rounds I’d seen practically nothing of the game. Balatro had so much more to offer.

Balatro: Playing the Jokers

The idea isn’t to play a dazzling set of poker hands. The goal is to score high despite the hands. It’s to equip yourself with multipliers and tricks that let you win your own way. That could mean getting sky-high scores without playing a proper hand at all.

It means learning the systems, working out how to maximise your run with the resources that are available to you. Then, when you think you’ve got it all figured out, it surprises you again. Usually just as you think you’re going to beat the run.

There’s something refreshing about playing a game like this, especially after the incredible but long Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. To go from something that had all the bells and whistles of modern gaming to something that is so simple shows the gamut of experiences on offer. And it’s wonderful that both get the celebration they deserve.

It’s a little over a week until the Game Awards. The Elden Ring DLC is probably going to win the big prize. Get used to it now – you’ll be less frustrated if it happens. While you’re waiting, give Balatro a go. It’s not very expensive and it’s available absolutely everywhere. Give it a chance, and enjoy that rare game that offers something fresh, familiar and fun.