I should have compared it with StS, you’re right. But even in that case, the important difference is that games like balatro still only provide you with one outcome in the end.

In this case a combination of cards which makes the score larger. Whereas in StS it’s the journey that counts, with the comparison being build differences as opposed to score differences.

Just my way of looking at it I suppose.

Games like this one and Roll, Rollscape, the roulette roguelike, even Luck be a Landlord. They have limited shelf life due to being based on the “make the number larger” concept, which isn’t that interesting at the end of the day.

Compare that to weapon combinations in dead cells, crazy item synergies in Isaac, wands that do stupid things in Noita, perks in Hades… That offers more interaction and satisfaction.

I’d cross balatro off this list. It runs on hype and will die off soon.