Balatro vs Hades II
Balatro's rapid-fire poker combos versus Hades II's deliberate mythic brawling — both are endless loops, but one rewards pattern recognition, the other positional mastery.
Updated 11d ago
Definitive deck-building poker roguelike that holds up past 100 hours, with free Friends of Jimbo updates adding new collab card packs.
Supergiant's hardest swing in years — Hades II isn't a remix, it's a deeper, weirder game that still respects the original's perfect run-based loop.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | Balatro | Hades II |
|---|---|---|
| Value Balatro wins on value | ||
| Price now | $11.99 −20% · Steam | $29.99 Microsoft Store |
| All-time low | $10.15 | $20.99 |
| Cost / hour | $1.58/hr $11.99 · 8 h main story | $0.98/hr $29.99 · 31 h main story |
| Off its low | +18% low was Jul 2026 | +43% low was Jun 2026 |
| Main story | 8 h | 31 h |
| Health Balatro wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 98% 196k reviews | 96% 122k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 97% 2k votes · vs 98% lifetime | 95% 1k votes · vs 96% lifetime |
| Peak players | 9,514 Jul 2026 · ↑ 3% MoM | 9,038 Jul 2026 · ↑ 13% MoM |
| Launch peak | 27% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | 8% of Sep 2025 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 43,825 Jan 2025 | 112,300 Sep 2025 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 22 months ago | 11 days ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 3 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Balatro
The addictive roguelike loop of Balatro, with its endless joker and tarot combos, keeps 100+ hour players chasing new synergies.
The reliance on early-game luck and frequent restarts after bad tags or discards is the frustration veterans with 100+ hours consistently hit.
from our May 2026 verdict
Hades II
The sheer variety of weapon builds, boon combinations, and engaging narrative drive players to return for hundreds of hours.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Balatro if
- You loved Slay the Spire or Monster Train and want a deck-builder grounded in poker hands
- You play in 15-minute chunks and want a tight portable experience
- You are OK with no cross-save between PC and mobile
Pick Hades II if
- You did 64+ heat runs in Hades and want deeper systems with witchcraft layers
- You enjoy Greek mythology and long-form NPC arcs that reward 30+ hours of investment
- You were fine with Hades II's slower, stance-based combat and crafting overhead
Bottom line
Pick Balatro for quick, strategic runs with zero narrative overhead; choose Hades II if you want a deep action RPG with a sprawling story and systems to master.