# Balatro

A poker-inspired roguelike deckbuilder that became one of 2024’s breakout indie hits — a native Mac release via Steam, one-time purchase.

- **Category:** [Utilities](https://notchlist.vercel.app/category/utilities/)
- **Price:** $14.99 one-time
- **Open source:** no
- **Official site:** https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/Balatro/
- **Available via:** Direct
- **Requirements:** macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later · Apple silicon or Intel · via Steam
- **Maker:** LocalThunk (published by Playstack)

## Kitsmith's take

Editorial-override inclusion (docs/PIVOT.md rule 5): the approved-candidate pool for this section had almost nothing beyond Minecraft, but Balatro is one of the most decorated indie games of the last two years — Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam across 100,000+ reviews — and it genuinely runs native on Mac, Apple silicon included, not through emulation.

## Features

- **Poker-hand deckbuilding:** Combine poker hands with Joker cards to build synergies across an escalating run.
- **150 Jokers, 15 decks:** A large pool of modifiers and starting decks for replay variety.
- **Native Apple silicon build:** Runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel Macs via Steam, no emulation required.

## FAQ

**Is Balatro available on Mac?**

Yes — a native macOS build (Apple silicon and Intel) is available through Steam.

**How much does Balatro cost?**

$14.99, one-time purchase, no subscription.

**Who makes Balatro?**

Solo developer LocalThunk, published by Playstack.


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Hand-verified listing on Kitsmith: https://notchlist.vercel.app/apps/balatro/