LocalThunk’s Balatro, a rogue-like spin on Poker, has achieved a new sales milestone with over one million copies sold in its first month. Its last milestone was over 500,000 units sold in its first ten days of launching on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.
Developed by a one-person team, Balatro sees players creating classic Poker hands like Straights, Royal Flushes, Pairs, Four of a Kind, etc. The twist is that they can modify cards to provide different benefits, from increased multipliers to more chips. Jokers also come into play, with each offering unique buffs.
As players progress through rounds (known as “Antes”), they can discover other cards that boost the score of hands. You also encounter bosses who debuff specific suits or require you to draw only one hand. Though it’s a simple gameplay loop, Balatro offers incredible depth. Steam users are overwhelmingly positive about the title, with 97 percent of its 18,610 reviews positive.