Nathaniel Stevens
Digital ChumpsBalatro Review (PS5)
Published 2/25/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
95
+3 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalCritic Atlas
Making subjectivity useful.
PC / PS5 / PS4 / Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Nintendo Switch / iOS / Android - 2/20/2024
Balatro
A poker-inspired roguelike deckbuilder where players build powerful scoring engines through Jokers, deck manipulation, escalating blinds, and increasingly chaotic run-defining synergies.
- Developer
- LocalThunk
- Publisher
- Playstack
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Critic average
92
Average of 36 scored external reviews.
User average
84
Average of 7 saved user ratings.
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Run-based / proceduralDefining · Curated baseline
Highly replayableDefining · Curated baseline
Strategic / planning-heavyDefining · Curated baseline
Systems / mechanics-drivenDefining · Curated baseline
Buildcraft / customization-heavyDefining · Curated baseline
Unconventional / experimentalDefining · Curated baseline
Puzzle / logic-focusedStrongly · Curated baseline
Loot / progression-drivenStrongly · Curated baseline
Show 12 more descriptors
Atmosphere-driven / aesthetic identityStrongly · Curated baseline
Whimsical / playful / lightheartedModerately · Curated baseline
Cozy / low-pressureModerately · Curated baseline
Punishing / high-pressureModerately · Curated baseline
Side-content richModerately · Curated baseline
Short / focusedModerately · Curated baseline
Serious / dark / groundedNot present · Curated baseline
Reflex / execution-heavyNot present · Curated baseline
Story / character-drivenNot present · Curated baseline
Exploration-drivenNot present · Curated baseline
Combat / action-focusedNot present · Curated baseline
Multiplayer / socialNot present · Curated baseline
Bars show a weighted description signal from player answers and curated baseline data.
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Review coverage
Critic signal strength
Numeric critic scoring uses full scored reviews once available. Review-in-progress scores act as temporary early signal only until full review scores exist. Unscored reviews still count as coverage, but they are not included in the critic average.
High confidenceMostly aligned
Critic avg
92
36 scored reviews
Total coverage
38
2 unscored reviews
Score range
80–100
Lowest to highest scored review
Signal shape
Mostly aligned
Score range is 11–20 points
Critic landscape
The critic average is 92 across 36 scored reviews, with a 20-point spread. Critics mostly agree, but there is some useful variation in the individual reviews.
How to read this
The average is useful broad context, but the high and low reviews may explain what different critics valued or penalized.
Most scored reviews currently sit in the 90–100 band. 2 unscored reviews add coverage context without moving the critic average.
Score distribution
Shows how included scored reviews are clustered across the normalized 100-point scale.
36 included scored reviews
90–10031 reviews · 86%
80–895 reviews · 14%
70–790 reviews · 0%
Below 700 reviews · 0%
Showing 21-30 of 38 matching critic reviews. 38 total critic reviews. Page 3 of 4.
Alessandro Alosi
The Games MachineBalatro | Recensione | The Games Machine
Published 2/24/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
-2 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalCosmin Vasile
SoftpediaBalatro Review (PC)
Published 2/23/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-12 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalJustin Nation
Nindie SpotlightNindie Spotlight Balatro Review
Published 2/21/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
84
-8 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalJess Lee
Digital SpyBalatro review - a poker-based deckbuilder worth your time
Published 2/21/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-12 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalRobby Bisschop
Life is XboxXBOX REVIEW | Balatro
Published 2/21/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
98
+6 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalPJ O'Reilly
Pure XboxReview: Balatro - LocalThunk's Deck-Building Roguelike Is A P-P-P-Poker Ace
Published 2/21/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
-2 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalStephen Tailby
Push SquareMini Review: Balatro (PS5) - Roguelike Poker Ain't No Joker
Published 2/21/2024
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RoguelikeDeckbuilderPokerCard gameIndiePS5Score chasing
Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
-2 vs critic avg
Recommended
Read originalLeonardo Faria
WayTooManyGamesReview - Balatro
Published 2/20/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
-2 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalCorvo Rohwer
GamingTrendGamingTrend Balatro Review
Published 2/19/2024
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
90
-2 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalPlayer reviews
Player reviews
No player reviews yet. Published reviews from Critic Atlas users will appear here. These are separate from external critic reviews.