The Phenomenon of Indie Card Games Like Balatro
Since the release of such popular CCG titles as Hearthstone, we’ve had a bunch of high-quality card games, especially made by indie game developers. But Balatro? It flipped the table entirely in 2024. This indie hit throws poker rules out the window and transforms them into a catchy deck-building roguelike. Balatro offers something special, a familiar, but completely new experience even for the long-time fans of card games. The BandurArt team also loves this game and decided to review other card games like Balatro you may want to play (if all the challenges of Balatro are already beaten).
What Makes Balatro Game Unique?
Balatro isn’t the standard card game that you may find at your favorite online poker site. This roguelike deck-builder rips the core rules of classic poker apart. The thing that sets it apart is that it transforms poker into a game of chance, skill, and humor.
Here’s what sets this title apart from other games like Balatro:
- First, there’s the roguelike core mechanics that absolutely blows all the standards of this genre. Every game session in this unique card game is a different experience. You aren’t playing cards – you’re building a hand (just like in Marvel Snap or Hearthstone). The randomizer of the cards, upgrades, and challenges makes every round feel new. Losing doesn’t hurt as poker does. Rather, the loss in games like Balatro encourages you to restart the game and adjust your approach;
- The deck-building controls are another highlight. Balatro stimulates your imagination and lets you design your deck. Jokers aren’t just funny-looking cards — they are catalysts. They change the game with random details such as adding up scores or shuffling your cards so that every action is counted;
- Accessibility is key, too. Balatro, in contrast to competitive poker games, is a single-player experience. You can focus on playing the game instead of thinking about bluffs or money. It’s fast-paced, which appeals to casual players, but its strategic complexity will keep experienced players hooked;
- Also, do not forget about the charisma pouring out of every Balatro’s screen. As a team of artists and animators, we couldn’t miss the fact about the unique visual art style you can find in this game. Funny, quirky, and interesting to watch – this game brings it all;
- And last but not least is the game’s community that makes it work. Players post the strategies and tricks about Balatro in vast numbers. It is an interactive, ever-changing experience and players love to share their experience with this roguelike title;
Basically, Balatro simply reinvents poker and shows your favorite card game from a totally different angle.
Top 10 Games Like Balatro You Should Play
- Void Tyrant
Platforms: PC, iOS, Android
Developer: Quite Fresh Games
If Balatro is a new poker, then Void Tyrant is the new blackjack. The deck-building roguelike takes the 21-style game design and goes strategically. You’re attempting to find a good ratio of risk and reward while playing cards to top off an attack bar. Twelve or you miss your turn go a bit further and you can beat your opponent. It is one of the best mobile games like Balatro, being available on iOS and Android.
The roguelike element is what really elevates Void Tyrant. Every run is a new difficulty level with random items, upgrades, and monsters. You’re not holding a fist; you’re carrying out an intergalactic journey, one whose decisions count. A vibrant, high-speed sport rewards cautious rashness.
Besides Steam, you can buy this game on Android from the Google Play Store – check how many positive reviews it has. A great achievement for a mobile gaming app! Gamers appreciate the way Void Tyrant brings the tension of card games like Balatro infused with roguelike risks.
- Slice & Dice
Platforms: PC, iOS, Android
Developer: Tann
Slice & Dice exchanges cards for dice, but there’s the roguelike element still around. The dungeon crawler supplies you with random dice that you upgrade by changing out the faces or even entire dice. Every level has more enemies, problems, and the opportunity to try out your dice mechanic.
It is special in its simplicity and complexity. As with Balatro, it’s straightforward and complicated to get right. You’ll be playing with your configuration to find synergies and face harder challenges.
Because dice mechanics are also teamed with RPG elements, Slice & Dice is an obvious pick if you seek for the games like Balatro on mobile. It is one of the deck-builders looking for something fresh. The eccentricity and replay keep it new for hours of dungeon-crawling entertainment.
- Dark Mist
Platforms: PC, iOS, Android
Developer: Pixel Cattle Games
Dark Mist gives deckbuilding a survival element. The playthrough is quite simple. Your enemies don’t just kill you, they steal your cards. And how can you get them back? Defeat the enemy holding them.
That special gameplay element transforms every encounter into an enticing survival situation. The larger your waves of enemies become, the harder it will be for you to decide what cards to reveal and which ones to dump.
Anyone who loves games like Balatro for the deep strategic elements will enjoy playing Dark Mist. It’s punishing but rewarding, focused on deck build and hustle. Its slackness is similar to the chaotic chaos of poker cards and is a top favorite for card fans.
- Night of the Full Moon
Platforms: PC, iOS, Android
Developer: Giant Games
Narrative meets tactics in Night of the Full Moon. It is the Little Red Riding Hood-inspired deck builder. Every game is like a fairytale, with multiple leads and different characters. The story is its own gem in this game, but the gameplay is equally good. The game modes range in style from deckbuilding to auto-battler. Each mode makes it replayable and new.
And if you were a Balatro fan who was drawn to the eccentricities, you’d appreciate Night of the Full Moon’s imaginative narrative. It’s a more casual version, which combines card-scraping with storytelling.
- Inscryption: Kaycee’s Mod
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5
Developer: Daniel Mullins Games
Inscryption’s Kaycee’s Mod turns its original narrative horror game into a challenging roguelike deck-builder. Your encounters will get harder, you’ll get more cards and you’ll explore the most explosive combos.
The thing that’s special here is the eerie atmosphere. Kaycee’s Mod maintains the spooky, mysterious feeling of the base game with a solely strategic feel. It’s sinister, brutal, and replayable as hell (pun is intended!).
Kaycee’s Mod offers a similar addicting slick to Balatro, but with a darker side. Roguelike structure and well-trained mechanics make it a natural extension for people looking for more deck-building fun. To download this game’s mod, you should follow the instructions on the official Steam page or visit the fan-made page.
- Slay the Spire
Platforms: Android, iOS, PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One
Developer: Mega Crit
Slay the Spire — the holy grail of roguelike deck builders — doesn’t require any introduction. The player takes the way up a randomly generated tower, creating decks and battling with enemies. Among all the games like Balatro it probably has an even wider target audience than the indie gem from LocalThunk.
That is its mythical beauty — its infinite variety. Each character has their abilities and the number of card combinations is endless. It’s neat, challenging, and never-ending fun.
Slay the Spire is a must-play game for Balatro fans. It’s the blueprint for the Balatro’s format. But it offers everything from complicated deck construction to aggressive combat. If you’ve never played it, it’s about time. Gamers call this title one of the best games, such as Balatro. Check it out to get inspired and learn more about awesome indie projects.
- Dicey Dungeons
Platforms: Switch, PS4, PS5, PC, iOS, Android, Xbox
Developer: Distractionware
A quirky and charming dice game, Dicey Dungeons turns dice into wizards with special powers. Every run has you rolling dice, managing resources, and fighting clever opponents.
It was witty and distinctive in style. It doesn’t get all groovy like Balatro. It is more about a fun and cozy atmosphere. The trance-like experience is addictive and the difficulty increases as you advance from one level to another.
If you liked the wacky aspect of Balatro, Dicey Dungeons will be right for you. It’s easy to play this witty game and challenging to put down
- Griftlands
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Switch
Developer: Klei Entertainment
Griftlands combines deck building and RPG combat. Every choice is a consideration – from the cards you pick to face the battlefield to the alliances you build in their gorgeously detailed backgrounds.
What makes it different is its double-deck mechanics. You’ll create separate decks for vs and nexus to give strategy layers. The multi-layered narrative makes it so you never get bored of a playthrough.
For Balatro-heads, Griftlands is more narratively immersive than most games like Balatro on Switch, Xbox, Playstation, and PC. It’s great for gamers who appreciate card-based mechanics mixed with thoughtful options and compelling narratives.
- Monster Train
Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox One
Developer: Shiny Shoe
The playstyle of Monster Train is deck-building and tower defense, where you’re securing your train against incoming waves of enemies. Each run involves building a deck, upgrading units, and placing them throughout three floors of the train.
The abundance of cards and combinations alone makes it an enjoyable game. Just like Balatro, this game is all about trying different things out and combining them. The game also has a multiplayer mode to compete against friends to create the best deck. If you enjoy Balatro’s strategic complexity, Monster Train does so with an unexpected twist.
- Ring of Pain
Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox One
Developer: Simon Boxer and Twice Different
Ring of Pain is a dungeon crawler-style roguelike that takes a circular approach. Rivals, loot, and traps put you in a ring, and your choices determine how you move through it all.
The cards are simple but profound. Every piece or move can sway the run, making you have to consider every move very carefully. The dark and eerie graphics complement the game’s creepy nature.
Just like most Balatro games, Ring of Pain presents a new vision of roguelike combat. It’s random, hard, and endlessly replayable – the ultimate deck-building game.
Of course, there are so many more other card games like Balatro that you should play in addition to these 10 picks. It is like Balatro but with blackjack mechanics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Balatro work for new roguelike or card players?
Absolutely! Balatro was built with accessibility in mind. It has simple mechanics that beginners can learn, and it is a very challenging game for the more experienced. There’s no learning curve and a harsh penalty for losing it like traditional roguelikes. The mechanics are revealed over time in each run, so the players become proficient with their techniques.
Can you make your deck in Balatro?
Yes! Modification of the deck is one of Balatro’s key advantages. Each player has a basic set, which they can build by getting new cards, jokers, and upgrades during each run. Jokers come in a different style, providing extra games such as score multipliers or flipping hands. Such customization allows players to make their own plans and try new play styles. No matter if you prefer to create stable poker hands or make some unique joker effects, Balatro offers an infinity of deckbuilding possibilities.
Where can you play Balatro and similar games?
Balatro is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. It’s a desktop-focused game but with its simple gameplay and visually appealing aesthetics. Balatro has a great port for a future mobile platform or console release. Also, you can install many mods for Balatro and install one of the numerous games like Balatro for Android, iOS, consoles, and PC.
Conclusion
You should definitely try one of these great games like Balatro because all of them are unique in their own way. The BandurArt team loves to post content about games and for gamers. We also call out game developers and animators who want to work on the development of new gaming projects. Contact us and let’s create amazing games together! Also, bookmark us to follow the new content.
