Balatro continues to expand toward world domination. The highly addictive poker rogue-like deck-building game that earned several Game of the Year nominations has been added to Game Pass.
The news broke during the most recent ID@Xbox showcase, which focused on indie titles coming to Xbox or Game Pass. While Balatro was already widely available on Microsoft's platform, the game's addition to the popular subscription service will allow a whole new slew of players to discover what the little indie is all about.
In addition, the Friends of Jimbo DLC 4 was revealed, which includes beloved franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Fallout, Bugsnax, Friday the 13th, and Civilization.
In previous packs, fans could personalize their decks with designs inspired by Among Us, Cyberpunk: 2077, The Binding of Isaac, and Stardew Valley, just to name a few.
Of course, these DLC packs are purely cosmetic. Don't expect developer LocalThunk to add any type of Joker cards or other game-changing additions inspired by these franchises. However, that would be extremely cool.
This isn't the first subscription service Balatro has participated in. iOS users can access Balatro+, essentially the same version of the game, via Apple Arcade. This service works exactly like Game Pass, allowing users to play the roguelike on the go for a monthly fee.
If you've never played one of the best games of 2024, there's no excuse anymore. Even if you're not into card games or roguelikes, the mixture of both works flawlessly.
click to enlargeYou'll start a game with a regular poker deck, which can be modified with several booster packs and Jokers that will enhance your score by playing different poker hands. Some Jokers will multiply the value of a two-pair hand, and some will make your Spades and Clubs be used in the same suit so you can pull off Flushes more easily. You get the gist.
Now, with the safety of Game Pass, you can decide if that's worth your time. Good luck avoiding trying to get sucked into the world of Jimbo, you'll need it.