{"id":73017,"date":"2024-11-28T00:22:07","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T00:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=73017"},"modified":"2024-11-28T00:22:07","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T00:22:07","slug":"indie-poker-game-balatro-doubles-up-at-golden-joystick-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/indie-poker-game-balatro-doubles-up-at-golden-joystick-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Indie Poker Game \u2018Balatro\u2019 Doubles Up at Golden Joystick Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Poker-themed roguelike videogame Balatro<\/em> has won both the \u2018Best Indie Game\u2019 and \u2018Breakthrough Award\u2019 at the 42nd Annual Golden Joystick Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The game was created by a Canadian developer known online as LocalThunk, and has been released on multiple platforms including Steam, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One and Series X\/S, along with more recent mobile ports for iOS and Android.<\/p>\n

\"Balatro
Image: Flickr\/future.publising.events<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If all you\u2019ve seen of Balatro<\/em> is a still screenshot, it\u2019s probably very confusing that this game is receiving so much hype. But what it lacks in cutting-edge graphics it makes up for in fresh, fast-paced gameplay which keeps players coming back.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s all based around poker.<\/p>\n

How to Play Balatro<\/span><\/h2>\n

A roguelike is a fairly liberal gaming term for a specific genre of videogame. In roguelikes, you\u2019ll move through levels which have an element of random generation, equipping yourself with things like ammo, armor, and special skills which make each run unique.<\/p>\n

In Hold\u2019em, you always receive two hole cards and up to five community cards, but there are a million variables which make every hand unique. Similarly, Balatro<\/em> gives you a completely new experience every time you start a run.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a solo game and there\u2019s no bluffing involved. You begin with a deck of 52 cards and have to meet certain chip thresholds to beat the \u2018Blinds\u2019. The three Blinds are:<\/p>\n