Balatro review
Poker hands, wild Jokers and runs you can't put down
- LocalThunk / Playstack
- Paid
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Windows, Mac
5.0 from 108.4K App Store ratings 1M+ Google Play downloads #7 in Paid Games on the US App Store
Does it deserve #1?
Is Balatro worth it?
Yes. Balatro scores 9.2/10 and ranks #1 in Card & Board Games. It's best for card game fans who love building combos and chasing high scores. Skip it if you dislike luck deciding whether a run lives or dies. Price: $9.99 once on iOS and Android, no in-app purchases; Balatro+ is on Apple Arcade.
The verdict
Balatro takes the poker hands you already know and turns them into a roguelike you'll keep coming back to. You build hands to beat each blind, then bend the rules with more than 150 Jokers, so every run becomes a different combo puzzle. The controls are remastered for touch, and it's a single price with no ads or upsells. Your only real risk is losing whole evenings to one more run.
- Over 150 Jokers to combine
- Campaign and challenge modes
- Touch-remastered controls
- Controller support
- Also on PC and Mac
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Oct 2026Bug-fix update for the iPhone and iPad versions
Privacy 8.2/10
App Store label: identifiers may be used to track you, but no data is linked to you. The Apple Arcade edition, Balatro+, lists no data collected.
What we like
- Every run plays out differently
- Pay once: no ads and no in-app purchases
- Controls feel built for touch, not ported
What could be better
- The big 1.1 content update still has no release date
- Bad luck can sink a promising run
Card game fans who love building combos and chasing high scores
you dislike luck deciding whether a run lives or dies
Questions about Balatro
Is Balatro worth it in 2026?
Yes. Balatro scores 9.2/10 and ranks #1 in Card & Board Games. It's best for card game fans who love building combos and chasing high scores. Skip it if you dislike luck deciding whether a run lives or dies. Price: $9.99 once on iOS and Android, no in-app purchases; Balatro+ is on Apple Arcade.
Is Balatro free?
No, it costs $9.99 on the App Store and Google Play, with no ads or in-app purchases. Apple Arcade subscribers can play Balatro+ at no extra cost.
Can you play Balatro offline?
Yes. It's a single-player game with no account, so it plays fine without a connection.
Is Balatro gambling?
No real money is involved. The App Store rates it 13+ and lists infrequent simulated gambling because it's built around poker hands, while Google Play rates it Everyone 10+.
What are the best alternatives to Balatro?
The closest alternatives are Slay the Spire, Marvel Snap and Lichess. See all of them ranked on our Balatro alternatives page.
Where does Balatro rank?
Balatro ranks #1 of 8 in our Card & Board Games ranking, with an overall score of 9.2 out of 10.