Balatro’s commercial success was one of the most shocking twists to hit the video game industry in 2024. Its developer, LocalThunk, even expected it to receive a lukewarm response and get at least a 6 or 7 from professional reviewers. However, this simple, roguelike card game, which was even originally called Joker Poker, defied all odds to become the indie game of the year.
On Steam alone, Balatro sold more than 100,000 copies upon release. That number hit over two million across platforms by August 2024—and five million by January 2025. Its attention-grabbing graphics and mechanics even won it recognition from industry award bodies, including Game of the Year nominations from the BAFTAs and The Game Awards. At the latter, Balatro became only the third indie title in history to receive that recognition.
Given how much it’s grown since LocalThunk started developing it in 2023, it’s easy to wonder just why Balatro became a smash hit. The answer likely lies in how it’s rooted in online poker. Played regularly by over 100 million people worldwide, its digital nature allows it to experiment with game mechanics more than live poker. With that, it’s clear how online poker’s innovations could have easily influenced Balatro’s success.
Balatro Mimics Online Poker’s Gameplay Challenges
In online poker, one usually has to worry about the strength of their hand, potential game outcomes, and how they can use that information to maximize their winnings. That’s led to the rise of Game Theory Optimal (GTO) strategies, as well as the increasing use of ChatGPT poker tools, among players who want to use poker’s mathematical nature to bolster their win rate. The poker content site PokerGo, which hosts the competitive PokerGo Tour series, even began offering the solver tool GTO Wizard to its users once playing math-driven poker became more popular. Balatro poses similar gameplay challenges to make things just as exciting—but because it also simplifies them, it becomes significantly more fun to play.
Just like in online poker, understanding Balatro hand values can help players boost their winnings. However, unlike in GTO—which involves studying statistical ranges of various poker hand combinations—all you need to know in Balatro is one simple equation. Namely, the number of chips you earn depends on the value of your cards after a multiplier score is applied. You don’t need help checking which hands are more valuable either: just hit the “Run Info” button to see the necessary data. By eliminating most of the math usually involved in online poker, Balatro becomes a game you can learn faster and play for hours without needing external assistance.
Balatro Leverages Online Poker’s Innovative Formats
At its core, Balatro follows poker mechanics. You’ll be dealt nine playing cards, which you’ll use to create the best hand you can, round after round. From there, however, you’re actually encouraged to bend the rules. In particular, the game intermingles your runs with a deck of “lucky cards” to boost your score and even bosses that throw in modifiers—like only letting you play one type of hand—to make things even harder. The twists and turns these unique mechanics add to Balatro gameplay are highly reminiscent of the many innovative game formats you’ll find in online poker, where leading brands always strive to take player experiences to the next level.
You’ll find many of these unique formats on Americas Cardroom. Currently considered the #1 US online poker website, it’s known for hosting traditional No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha games through popular tournaments like its Venom series. However, it’s also launched more innovative promotions like the Bounty Hunter. Instead of having a user play poker directly, it sees them purchasing poker scratch cards that represent players from a completed poker tournament. Users get bounties for each opponent their players knock out. This unique game format follows poker’s basics, then veers off in completely new and different directions—something that may have inspired Balatro’s own mechanics.
Shares online poker’s ability to teach
Because it’s more accessible and easy to learn on the internet, online poker is one of the biggest avenues for spreading the card game to more people. Some people even use it to hone their skills, especially since the likes of global operator PokerStars offers personalized poker lessons with the help of AI. Because of that, online poker players today are considered to be significantly more skilled than they were just ten years ago. In a similar vein, Balatro can teach players more about poker, even if it’s only a poker-inspired game itself.
Just like in online poker, no two playthroughs of Balatro are the same. That’s primarily due to the sheer number of variables present in each game—aside from the regular 52-card deck, of course. Some of the effects and items that can impact your hands, for example, can only be unlocked after a few playthroughs. That includes three secret Planet Cards, which you’ll only be awarded if you play rare poker hands. Ceres, for instance, requires a Flush House, which is simultaneously a full house and a flush. In this way, Balatro can help even non-poker players familiarize themselves with different poker hands and even the ins and outs of probability and strategic gameplay. The more they learn, the more the game’s enthusiasts keep on playing—further illustrating how Balatro’s online poker roots have contributed to its overall success.
