The genre of roguelike deckbuilders has been largely ruled by Slay The Spire for the last few years and if someone was willing to outdo it, many assumed it would be the same developers when they rolled out a sequel. Spoiler alert, it’s not a sequel that has managed to outdo that game.
If you haven’t been living under a rock, the name Balatro may ring a bell. After all, ever since its release, it has become a viral sensation.
A flashy newcomer, Balatro has witnessed tremendous fanfare, something that is validated by its jaw-dropping sales figures. Its publisher earned a massive sum of USD 1 million in just eight hours and by the tenth day of its release, it was adopted by 5,00,000 players. This puts it in the same league as some of the best-selling video games in history. Clearly, developer LocalThunk had done their homework.
But is Balatro’s impressive success enough to topple Slay The Spire as the king of the deckbuilding games? A game that has defined this genre since 2017? Well, our detailed Balatro vs Slay The Spire comparison will help answer that question.
‘Balatro’ vs ‘Slay The Spire’: Does the new kid on the block slay the king?
Graphics
Most video games in this genre usually rely on simple yet attractive digital artwork, pushing forward the idea that you don’t always need ray tracing and/or a beefy GPU to deliver engaging gameplay. Both Balatro and Slay The Spire are shining examples of this notion.
With Slay The Spire, you experience a dark atmospheric setup featuring thoughtfully designed backdrops, menacing shadows and towering enemies. The cartoonish theme does a great job of forging the mood. Along with a sweet soundtrack, Slay The Spire effectively creates a dark, fantasy-themed visual experience.
In a rather stark contrast, Balatro’s artwork and graphics are all about vibrancy. Instead of going dark, Balatro‘s user interface seems cheerful. It sort of imparts a high-stakes poker room mood set in a fancy casino, complete with Joker cards. Along with a jazzy and casino-inspired background score, Balatro seems to engage its players more lightheartedly than its popular rival.
While both games follow a different theme, it is Balatro that comes out on top as the better-looking card game in this comparison.
Winner: Balatro
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Gameplay
While these video games are all about decking and cards, they differ vastly in the way you interact with them. While one tries to impart a poker room vibe, the other prefers sticking to a tried-and-tested turn-by-turn fantasy experience.
Slay the Spire embraces a turn-based system wherein you choose from one of four characters, each offering a unique starting deck and playstyle. Each path unlocks a vast array of cards, allowing for deep deck customisation. The idea here is to build powerful synergies between the cards. The game forces you to take your time and master a character by experimenting with moves and strategies. As you ascend the Spire, you’ll collect an enormous pool of cards, allowing you to craft highly specialised decks for each of the characters. Relics, which are powerful items found throughout your run, further enhance your strategic possibilities.
Balatro, on the other hand, offers the thrill of a poker table, with the only difference being that the Joker cards are way more useful here than they have ever been in the real world. The game has you navigating a series of escalating trials as you manage your single-core deck that evolves throughout your run. To do so, you get an array of potent tools like different Decks, Jokers, Tarot cards, Planet cards, Spectral cards and Vouchers, all of which can ignite a combo frenzy and turbocharge your poker hands for creating synergies. The key here is to master the core mechanics of hand management and combo building to achieve success.
Ultimately, both games offer an engaging experience suited to different tastes; hence, it is difficult to pick a winner here.
Winner: Tie
Run length
Run length is another crucial aspect when choosing between these deckbuilding games.
Slay the Spire demands a significant investment of time. A single climb can take multiple hours as each floor presents new challenges and bosses to fight. While this allows for a great sense of progression, it can also feel tiresome for players who seek short bursts of fun.
Balatro’s runs are shorter and more focused, courtesy of the Skip Blind system. This allows the player to shorten the overall gameplay time by skipping the regular fights and only engaging in the ‘Boss fights’. This makes more sense for casual players looking for a short burst of fun.
While the immersive nature of Slay The Spire may appeal to enthusiasts, Balatro’s fast-paced run length is better suited for most players. Hence, Balatro takes this round.
Winner: Balatro
‘Balatro’ vs ‘Slay The Spire’: Our verdict
Winner: Balatro
With a vibrant and fun new take on deckbuilding, it isn’t surprising to see Balatro take the honours in this comparison against Slay The Spire.
Balatro’s streamlined experience is more appealing, especially since it focuses on quick, satisfying combos and a vibrant poker-inspired world. For those wanting a fun yet challenging card-battling fix, Balatro is our prime recommendation.
That said, if you love a strategy-oriented deckbuilding experience, complete with a turn-by-turn move system in an immersive world which is reminiscent of Dungeons and Dragons, Slay The Spire will be the more suitable choice.
(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Playstack and Mega Crit Games)
