Balatro’s Release on iOS and Android Will Ruin Your Productivity

If you’ve heard me talk about game recommendations throughout the year, I always come back to Balatro. This little Canadian-made indie darling has had me in a chokehold all year long. It has only been made worse this week as Balatro is coming to iOS (and Apple Arcade) alongside its Android release. Now, having this roguelite poker game available in the palm of my hand, my productivity is taking a nosedive.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Balatro would be coming to iOS and Android. Developed by a solo Canadian developer known as LocalThunk, Balatro was first released on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch back in February. A macOS port later followed. However, ever since, LocalThunk has been working on bringing the critically acclaimed title to iPhone and Android devices. Now, on September 26th, players across mobile can jump in and play.

Balatro’s gameplay loop is simple in its execution

For the uninitiated, Balatro is a hybrid between a traditional roguelite and poker. Players will run through a gauntlet known as Antes, beating various Blinds and Boss Blinds. Each Blind has a progressively higher score target with Boss Blinds adding in additional challenges to make gameplay more difficult. To get through each round and Ante, players must lay down traditional poker hand types (two pairs, flush, straight, high card, etc.) Each card and hand type has its own set of points that’ll score “Chips” and “Mults”, which are used to determine the score of the hand.

Where the deeper roguelite elements start to come in is when players hit the Shop. If successful and you beat a Blind, you’ll accumulate money which you can spend at the Shop between Blinds and Ante rounds. Here, you’ll be able to purchase Joker cards. By default, you’ll have access to five Joker slots. Each Joker has a different permutation of perks and buffs.  For example, one Joker card may grant additional Chips or Mults if your played hand meets certain conditions. Rarer Jokers provide even greater benefits such as disabling the effect of every Boss Blind. In the game, there are over 150 Joker cards to unlock. Each run will be different so there’s no guarantee you’ll find your favourite. There are also Foil, Holographic, Polychrome, and Negative card types that add additional effects to each played hand. Players can also purchase Tarot and standard card booster packs, providing new cards and buffs to playable deck cards.

With this as its basis, Balatro creates a really effect (and addicting) gameplay loop. Each round can last a couple of minutes at most. While playing on iOS this past week it’s become a go-to pass time during work and throughout my day. Thanks to the way the game autosave your progress, even if I accidentally closed the game, my current hand would be waiting for me the next time I popped in. It’s quickly becoming my way of zoning out while in an Uber. I’ve even been sneaking in a round or two while cooking dinner.

Balatro on mobile is a blessing for players and a curse for productivity

While I say it in jest, Balatro‘s gameplay is dangerously good. It falls into that space of “one more game” so nicely. Due to each round, each Ante being completely randomized, there’s always a little voice in my head saying, “We got the next one, let’s run it.” Once you win eight Antes successfully, you’ve successfully completed a run. You then have the option to continue in an endless mode to see how many more rounds you can complete and how high you can get your score.

Once you’ve either completed a run or been defeated in endless mode, you’ll be rewarded some unlocks to help on your next run. This could vary from unlocking a new deck with different effects. You’ll also unlock new Jokers by completing challenges throughout the game. This incentive encourages players to try new hand types, strategies, etc. all to be more flexible in the next run.

What I’ve immediately grown fond of is how Balatro feels at home on mobile. I’ve put in around 50 hours of Balatro on Xbox Series X. I know the control scheme like the back of my hand. Playing the game on iOS this past week, I’ve been surprised by how intuitive it all is. Balatro adopts touchscreen functionality for its mobile ports. You now individually tap each card you’d like to play in your next hand. Cards like the Planet and Arcana cards must be dragged to be used in certain instances. The transition to a touchscreen is fantastic and fluid. I’ve been really impressed by the intuitive controls on the iPhone.

Balatro uses the haptics of the iPhone 15 Pro to such a satisfying degree. While also having a response across controllers on the console, there’s something about the iPhone’s haptics that make playing Balatro feel better. Every time a card’s score is activated, there’s a punchy kick in response via the haptics. When the cards are then brought back to the deck following a round, the quick succession of haptics scratches a part of my brain.

Final thoughts

Workplaces around the world are undoubtedly going to issue cease and desist letters to LocalThunk this fall. Bringing Balatro to iOS and Android is a feat worth celebrating as now more players get to jump into one of 2024’s best indie games. The transition to mobile makes sense from a gameplay perspective of having time for a round or two throughout the game. Controls are also incredibly intuitive on iPhone. If this is your first time playing Balatro, the mobile version is more than deserving of your time. If you’re like me and have already been absorbed by the game, the iOS and Android version is a great way to get that little fix.

Balatro launches on iOS and Android on September 26th for $12.99 in Canada. It’ll also be available on Apple Arcade.