Alright. Balatro. Is truly something special in my opinion. A quick word of caution: don't start playing this if you have things to do, people to see, bills to pay...you won't make it to your obligations. Balatro will see to it that all you do is Balatro, Balatro, and more Balatro lol.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3243295235

Poker? In the form of a roguelike? Yes please. Does it follow traditional poker rules? Mostly no. It is most similar to Draw, but the roguelike aspects have you using a variety of cheats to increase your score, and certain additional hands like a full house flush that can't exist in normal poker by virtue of real life poker's card restrictions. Each round features a score you have to surpass, although you do have the option to skip a round.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3243295208

Skipping a round (rounds are called blinds in this game) offers rewards. However, you miss out on the round, and you'll have to weigh which is most valuable to your run. Why? Because after completing each round, you earn cash, and you then get to visit the poker store to buy cheats, buffs, and so on. The skip rewards are much the same, but the price is the skip rather than cash, and you only get one choice if you skip. But, it might be the best choice. The size of your hand in each round also varies. It can be a measly seven or eight cards, or quite a bit more depending on circumstances.

Every third round is unskippable however, and is the boss round. Boss rounds feature a boss ability designed to counter your cheats. Additionally, the score requirement is generally substantial. This is the round where the dealer gets to cheat, basically.

Should you ever fail to complete a round, it's game over. If you complete a run, you have the option to keep playing in Endless mode, or you can just start a new run. By completing a run, and by fulfilling random objectives along the way, you also unlock new types of runs, new cheats, and so on. Continuing a run after completing it also gives you the opportunity to acquire certain achievements which you'll never have built up enough to do in the basic runs. Btw, there are three rounds per "ante" (level), and eight antes per run.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3243199930

There are also challenge modes, which set certain additional parameters to runs. They do offer both greater challenges and greater rewards.

And that is more or less the gameplay loop. There is a couple of catchy tunes. There's also a mechanic whereby, as a single hand starts racking up points, a fire begins to crackle, blaze, and rage on screen lol. The graphics are cool and a variation on online poker tables.

I played a bit of this on the Steam Deck. It's compatible, but you will need to use the touchscreen for everything.

Personally, I think this is one of the most pure fun games I've enjoyed on Steam. It's insanely fun and insanely addictive. The easiest of recommendations really. Definitely play it.

Alright. [i]Balatro.[/i] Is truly something special in my opinion. A quick word of caution: don't start playing this if you have things to do, people to see, bills to pay...you won't make it to your obligations. Balatro will see to it that all you do is Balatro, Balatro, and more Balatro lol. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3243295235 Poker? In the form of a roguelike? Yes please. Does it follow traditional poker rules? Mostly no. It is most similar to Draw, but the roguelike aspects have you using a variety of cheats to increase your score, and certain additional hands like a full house flush that can't exist in normal poker by virtue of real life poker's card restrictions. Each round features a score you have to surpass, although you do have the option to skip a round. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3243295208 Skipping a round (rounds are called blinds in this game) offers rewards. However, you miss out on the round, and you'll have to weigh which is most valuable to your run. Why? Because after completing each round, you earn cash, and you then get to visit the poker store to buy cheats, buffs, and so on. The skip rewards are much the same, but the price is the skip rather than cash, and you only get one choice if you skip. But, it might be the best choice. The size of your hand in each round also varies. It can be a measly seven or eight cards, or quite a bit more depending on circumstances. Every third round is unskippable however, and is the boss round. Boss rounds feature a boss ability designed to counter your cheats. Additionally, the score requirement is generally substantial. This is the round where the dealer gets to cheat, basically. Should you ever fail to complete a round, it's game over. If you complete a run, you have the option to keep playing in Endless mode, or you can just start a new run. By completing a run, and by fulfilling random objectives along the way, you also unlock new types of runs, new cheats, and so on. Continuing a run after completing it also gives you the opportunity to acquire certain achievements which you'll never have built up enough to do in the basic runs. Btw, there are three rounds per "ante" (level), and eight antes per run. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3243199930 There are also challenge modes, which set certain additional parameters to runs. They do offer both greater challenges and greater rewards. And that is more or less the gameplay loop. There is a couple of catchy tunes. There's also a mechanic whereby, as a single hand starts racking up points, a fire begins to crackle, blaze, and rage on screen lol. The graphics are cool and a variation on online poker tables. I played a bit of this on the Steam Deck. It's compatible, but you will need to use the touchscreen for everything. Personally, I think this is one of the most pure fun games I've enjoyed on Steam. It's insanely fun and insanely addictive. The easiest of recommendations really. Definitely play it. [code]If you found this review helpful and would be interested in supporting my Curator group, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32549618/]Robilar's Reviews[/url], it would be appreciated. Cheers.[/code] [code]Also follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32732116-IndieGems/]IndieGems[/url] for more reviews like this one.[/code]