Indiehit Balatro Suddenly Given 18+ Rating, Disappears from Stores

The indie game Balatro, known for combining poker elements with roguelike mechanics, has recently received an 18+ age rating in Europe, leading to its removal from certain digital stores in some countries. Originally released with a 3+ rating, its publisher, Playstack, has disputed the new classification. Despite the absence of gambling gameplay mechanics—as emphasized by the game's creator who is against gambling—the title now warns of gambling content in the PlayStation and Xbox digital stores and is no longer available in the Nintendo Switch eShop within some regions. While the game remains on sale on Steam, Playstack is currently working on resolving the issue and suggests that the 18+ rating may be temporary.

Why has Balatro received an 18+ rating, and what does Playstack plan to do about it?

Playstack has stated that the 18+ rating given to Balatro is unjustified as the game contains no gambling elements—a factor confirmed by the developer's anti-gambling stance. The publisher is actively working to resolve the situation and believes that the new rating is likely temporary.

Balatro launched on February 20th on consoles and Steam, as an indie title that stands out by blending the thrill of poker with the replayability of roguelike experiences. This fresh take on card game dynamics allows players to engage in what is typically known as a "rogue-lite" adventure, albeit through a digital card game lens. The unexpected change in age rating has sparked conversation about the interpretation of gambling elements in video games and the ratings process itself.