Balatro
Every time I think of Balatro I can still hear the music perfectly. I remember the crushing defeats and shocking runs of good fortune just as vividly as I remember the way the virtual cards sound when they’re shuffled into my deck, and the sound of money falling “clink” “clink” into my fictional purse. Balatro is an RNG management sim full of clever synergies and surprising depth, but it’s not just a chaotic calculator you decode and then put down. Its moment-to-moment decision making and surreal mood generator make every run as delightful and evocative as playing casino games with a carny behind a tent that smells of caramel popcorn and funnel cakes. — Ethan Gach
A good match for: People who love watching numbers go up and want a way to play poker alone.
Not a good match for: Anyone bad at math or who doesn’t have time for it to take over their life.
