ROGUELIKE Deckbuilder Balatro Sells 1 Million Copies

The indie game Balatro has hit a milestone, selling over 1 million copies in less than a month since its release. Developed by LocalThunk and published by Playstack, Balatro is a unique roguelike deckbuilder that infuses classic poker gameplay with innovative mechanics allowing players to add new cards to their deck to influence the game, such as incorporating cheating tactics or changing the rules. Despite a recent controversy where the PEGI age rating for Balatro was raised from three to eighteen, causing a temporary halt in digital sales, both the developer and publisher maintain that the game does not promote gambling.

Why was Balatro's PEGI age rating changed from three to eighteen years?

The PEGI age rating for Balatro was changed to eighteen because the game contains elements that could be interpreted as encouraging gambling, which is not considered appropriate for a younger audience. The updated rating reflects caution over potentially sensitive content, although the game's creators argue that it does not promote gambling.

Balatro is part of a growing genre of games known as roguelike deckbuilders, where players proceed through a game by using a deck of cards that can be modified or expanded upon as they play. This genre mixes strategy and RNG (random number generation), requiring players to adapt their tactics as the game evolves. Games like Slay the Spire and Monster Train are also popular in this category, appreciated for their replayability and challenging gameplay. Balatro's innovative take on including poker elements adds a unique twist within this genre.