Now That It's On Xbox Game Pass, You Have No Excuse Not To Play This 2024 GOTY Contender

There's one surprise addition to the Xbox Game Pass catalog that every member should take the time to check out. While I'm constantly in awe of the consistently growing range of titles on Game Pass, I'd be lying if I said every game on the service appealed to me. Game Pass is purposely designed to be for all kinds of players, meaning there are many games on the service that only appeal to certain audiences. However, there was one announcement in the most recent ID@Xbox showcase that piqued my interest and that of many other players, and for good reason.

It's hard to deny the huge waves that Balatro has made within indie gaming over the past year, and its addition to Game Pass will be a huge win for members already familiar with the poker-themed roguelike. Moreover, Balatro possesses certain qualities that allow the game to achieve huge appeal among players, regardless of skill level or preference. As someone who was initially hesitant to try the title, Balatro captivated me in a way that not many games can achieve, and it's a must-try for any Game Pass member yet to play it.

Why Everyone Loves Balatro

The Game Is Easy To Learn, But Difficult To Master

It's no secret that Balatro has been a hit with players and critics alike. The game saw huge success during the most recent awards season, most notably winning Best Independent Game at The Game Awards and Game of the Year at the Canadian Game Awards. With this in mind, it will leave many of you who haven't played Balatro wondering what makes the game so enjoyable. While Balatro has many qualities, the secret to the game's success is, in large part, due to how approachable it is.

Balatro was, in fact, the most-awarded game at the Canadian Game Awards 2025, winning a total of 5 awards. It was followed closely behind by Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which won 4 awards in total.

Balatro is deceptively simple in its first few moments, simply asking you to reach a certain score with a limited number of poker hands. However, as you progress, Balatro's true complexity begins to show, with the introduction of Joker cards, Tarot cards, and more that can be used to ensure you meet the ever-growing score threshold. Balatro expertly draws players into its variety of gameplay mechanics in a way that's never overwhelming, contributing to its huge overall appeal.

After A Formal Appeal, Balatro Is No Longer Considered An 18+ Game

PEGI has finally lowered the deck-building roguelike Balatro's age rating from PEGI 18 to 12, making it much more accessible to players everywhere

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Furthermore, Balatro, like many other classic card games, is easy to learn but difficult to master. Once you finally have a grasp on how the game works, and begin to make those leaps of progress, Balatro simply demands more from you, with several different decks and difficulty levels to choose from. Regardless of how many runs you may have already attempted, Balatro always offers something new to keep the game fresh and exciting, which is why the game is still hugely popular.

Don't Ask If Balatro Is The Right Game For You - It's The Right Game For Everyone

The Game Has A Fantastic Sense Of Progression

A hand containing the Lucky Cat, Credit Card, and Golden Ticket cards from Balatro alongside the smiling Jimbo Joker plushie.

Despite its success, many who haven't played Balatro might still ask whether it's the right game to try, and understandably so. I was certainly within that group of players for quite some time, only having picked up Balatro following its triumphant run during the awards season. While I'm constantly looking to expand my indie game library, I've never been a fan of deck-building games in general, so I took a cautious approach when opening Balatro for the first time. Fortunately, it didn't take long for me to become completely engrossed in what Balatro had to offer.

The game never stopped providing me with opportunities to improve.

What stuck with me during my experience with Balatro is its sense of progression. Regardless of whether my last run was successful or not, I was likely to receive some new Joker card or voucher as a reward for reaching a certain milestone. While Balatro is certainly difficult at times, the game never stopped providing me with opportunities to improve, giving me this sense of progression that's more consistent than what I've found in other video games.

The Joker from Balatro and Yi from Nine Sols in front of Luck be a Landlord gameplay.

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Balatro is a game for everyone because of how welcoming and encouraging it is overall. If you give Balatro a chance, you'll likely find yourself completely engrossed in its gameplay and motivated by its constant rewards and varying difficulty. With Balatro's Xbox Game Pass release making it more accessible than ever before, there's almost no excuse not to give this game a go.