We saw yesterday, the famous Balatro will soon be launched on Apple Arcade, at the end of the month alongside a certain NBA 2K25. Players who did not subscribe to the service were disappointed, but the studio LocalThunk and the publisher Playstack announced that in addition to the “+” version, Balatro will also arrive on the App Store in a premium version. Excellent news after the officialization of its port last spring.
Balatro’s story
The roguelike Balatroinspired by poker, sold more than 2 million copies on PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch and Steam in less than six months. The game will arrive on mobile on September 26, with a major update planned in 2025 to add new strategies. For the record, its launch on consoles and PC was chaotic, Balatro having been briefly banned due to a PEGI classification error, going from 3+ to 18+ because of its thematic links with gambling.
If you’ve never played it, Balatro is an addictive card game that combines elements of poker and solitaire, allowing you to create powerful combos and use wild cards to defeat bosses. With more than 150 jokers, special items and several game modes, it offers an original experience, accompanied by a detailed and careful pixel art style.
Watch the mobile version video:
Our opinion on Balatro
As explained previously, Balatro is a little gem that fully deserves its success.
Balatro stands out with ingeniously designed maps, unique graphics, and a catchy soundtrack that stays in your head. Accessible while offering strategic depth for experienced players, this game manages to captivate with complete gameplay (thanks to wild cards, modifiers and challenges), like the best roguelikes. It builds on the simplicity of poker, while integrating complex mechanics that provide depth that was initially unsuspected. Even accessibility has been perfectly thought out.
Moreover, LocalThunk announced upcoming updates to rebalance the game and perhaps add new wild cards. The editor Playstack also plans to develop merchandising, including physical card games based on Balatrodemonstrating that the economic model is already well in place.
Release date on iOS
You can pre-order Balatro on the App Store for iOS and pre-register on Android via the Play Store. The Apple Arcade versionBalatro+” will be launched on the same day, September 26. Count on €10, compared to €15 on Steam (Mac compatible).
EDIT : both titles are available!
