Every Friday, A.V. Club staffers kick off the weekend by taking a look at the world of gaming, diving in to the ideas that underpin the hobby we love with a bit of Game Theory. We’ll sound off in the ...

In a year filled with massive open world RPGs and AAA live service games with ambitious season passes, it’s incredible that the title that truly captured the hearts (and free time) of players in 2024 ...

"I do not condone gambling," says Balatro developer LocalThunk, "nor do I believe that Balatro contains gambling." When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

LocalThunk's Balatro arguably became the defining indie game of 2024, chewing through its players' available hours with a novel yet incredibly deep roguelike spin on playing poker hands. The game ...

We loved Balatro so much, we just had to write more about it. First of all, Balatro just feels nice on a handheld device. It's the kind of game that you can play passively while watching TV or ...

This review was previously published during Balatro’s February launch. We’re resurfacing the story in honor of its Game of the Year nomination at The Game Awards. I’m not a poker guy, but I am ...

Last week, I downloaded a game called Balatro for a few casual turns on Steam Deck. I haven’t been able to think of much else since I am one of those people who feels like crying when the rules of a ...

There are some games that keep you entertained for a weekend. Some keep you busy for an hour on a weeknight after failing to settle on what new Netflix documentary to watch next. But then, every so ...

Balatro is the poker-themed deck builder that could well be one of the sleeper hits of 2024. It sold 250,000 copies in its first 72 hours on sale, according to its developers, and it’s still hovering ...