Balatro is a game that can seem to be overhyped for the seasoned among us. Have you heard anything negative about it? But the catch is that it is this simple, it's great. Easy to understand, with the poker/rouge-like deck building mechanics meshing incredibly well. I doubt there are those out there playing games that don't know the basics of a standard 52-card poker deck. Yet the Jokers are the magic that brings it all together. It is hard to get past the mid-game without a little luck in your joker draw... at first. But as you aclimate to the rules and quirks of creating high scores, it'll all become natural. Getting a win does become player focused. Your decisions will matter and your skill will improve. Which to me is the defining hallmark of the Rouge-like genre. (And yes, there are some incredible builds that will make you feel like a god when you get it all set right) Pair this with the ease of access to this game, you can play it anywhere. A soundtrack that will etch itself into your mind. And the challenge of breaking this game beyond its limits; you have a game that absolutely, unequivocally deserves the hype.
