Like poker, but reimagined by a deranged mystic, Balatro is dangerously compelling in that just-one-more-turn way that can make hours disappear like magic. With just a few tweaks and some major arcana, the simple mechanics of five-card draw are turned into a strategic rogue-like, with lots of interesting new cards and modifiers to collect and experiment with as you go.
I just wish the devs had invested a little more time in presentation, the pixel art game pieces and UI are excellent,with a crisp, sharp-cornered look that delivers the game's constant stream of numbers and modifiers with focus and clarity for the most part, but the order in which the cards are going to be triggered can be hard to follow on the more-complicated hands, and while it's a small thing, I would also love to see some additional effort to give the dramatic moments some more impact. The build-up to a big multiplier is well executed enough, but winning a Balatro run, currently, has all the drama of closing a pop-up window. I think victory should be like opening a 5-item chest in Vampire-Survivors, a joyous explosion of celebratory pixels, or at least something slightly moreish than, in essence, "You Have Won! New Game: Y/N?"
Nevertheless, it's a fantastic experience all around, it could just use a tiny bit more polish.

What to even call this? A big, collaborative virtual art project that's as much about how we experience art as the artwork on display? That sounds about right. If that description doesn't just immediately make you want to exit through the giftshop, do give this a try.