Summary

  • Balatro's unique poker-inspired gameplay earned it a 97% user rating on Steam, becoming a massive hit in the gaming world.
  • The game was unexpectedly removed from certain digital stores due to a ratings issue, causing delays in availability for interested console fans.
  • Playstack assured existing Balatro owners that they will not be affected, and they are working to resolve the issue to make the game available on all platforms again.

Balatro, 2024's latest viral hit, is currently unavailable in digital stores of certain consoles due to a new ratings issue. Those who already own Balatro should be unaffected, according to the game's publisher.

Balatro was released on February 20 and quickly took the gaming world by storm. It brought a new twist to the roguelike deck-building genre by drawing inspiration from poker, as users create real-life poker hands combined with unique cards that come with special abilities. Balatro's distinctive gameplay has proven to be a massive hit, with the game holding a 97% user rating on Steam after more than 10,000 reviews. However, the Poker-inspired game recently ran into its first obstacle.

balatro tags explained
Balatro: What is a Tag and Double Tag?

This guide will help players understand Tags, including the Double Tag, in Balatro and get a sense of when they should pursue them.

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Balatro's publisher, Playstack Games, posted a tweet explaining the game's recent issues. Balatro's removal from a variety of digital stores is due to a ratings board unexpectedly changing the game's rating from 3+ to 18+, citing an apparently incorrect belief that Balatro "contains prominent gambling imagery" and "instructs about gambling." Playstack pushed against this claim by explaining that Balatro's developer took extra caution to ensure that the game contains no gambling mechanics of any kind. Playstack further explained that the same ratings board assured the publisher back in October that Balatro contained no gambling themes and that the board agreed with a 3+ rating. However, since then, the ratings board has clearly gone back on that stance.

Balatro Removed From Some Digital Stores

Playstack reassured Balatro fans that the game will remain on Steam and all PC stores and that existing users should not experience any issues. The publisher also detailed that it's working hard to get Balatro back on sale for all platforms. Playstack did not offer a timeline for when the issue will be resolved, but it did mention that the game may return with a temporary 18+ rating.

Thanks to Balatro's Joker mechanic and other creative features, the game continues to balloon in popularity. Its current rating of 92 on OpenCritic makes it the second-highest-rated game of the year, only beaten by the recently released Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. However, interested console fans might have to wait a bit until Balatro is available to purchase again.

In the meantime, fans can check out the best roguelike deck-building games on the market. There are plenty of options to choose from, with Slay the Spire being an especially tempting choice. Slay the Spire is still available on Game Pass and features fair, skillful, and rewarding gameplay. Other games similar to Balatro include Dicey Dungeons, Inscryption: Kaycee's Mod, and more.

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Balatro
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Released
February 20, 2024
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Balatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big.

The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.

Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. You’re going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory

Developer(s)
LocalThunk
Publisher(s)
Playstack
Genre(s)
Strategy, Digital Card Game, Roguelike