Balatro vs Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era
Poker-roguelike ADD versus hex-and-counter strategy — pick your poison based on patience for RNG and session length.
Updated 25d ago
Definitive deck-building poker roguelike that holds up past 100 hours, with free Friends of Jimbo updates adding new collab card packs.
Olden Era revives the HOMM3 formula with modern flair, but its PvP-driven balance and single-player wonk make it a wait-for-full-release unless you're multiplayer-bound.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 9; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 9.
| Measure | Balatro | Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era |
|---|---|---|
| Value Balatro wins on value | ||
| Price now | $11.34 −24% · GameBillet | $29.99 −25% · GreenManGaming |
| All-time low | $10.15 | $27.69 |
| Cost / hour | $1.49/hr $11.34 · 8 h main story | $2.57/hr $29.99 · 12 h main story |
| Off its low | +12% low was Jul 2026 | +8% low was May 2026 |
| Main story | 8 h | 12 h |
| Health Balatro wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 98% 198k reviews | 87% 23k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 97% 2k votes · vs 98% lifetime | 74% 803 votes · vs 87% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 10,017 Aug 2026 · ↑ 5% MoM | 8,900 Aug 2026 · ↓ 35% MoM |
| Launch peak | 29% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 43,825 Jan 2025 | 60,562 May 2026 · now at 15% |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 23 months ago | 3 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 8 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
Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era
The HOMM3-inspired feel hooks veterans—builds feel varied, magic synergies shine, and randomly generated maps keep hundreds of hours fresh.
Balance and load times frustrate long-haul players—AI steamrolls on higher difficulties, templates are a gamble, and crashes mar sessions.
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Balatro if
- You have short play windows and want a portable deck-builder for mobile or PC
- You loved Slay the Spire and want a poker twist with robust scaling.
- You accept high variance and prefer roguelike mastery over a decade of ladder climbing.
Pick Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era if
- You primarily play strategy games in multiplayer against friends or randoms.
- You tolerate Early Access roughness such as clunky UI or performance stutters.
- You miss HOMM3's faction-based conquest and will sink 12+ hours per campaign.
Bottom line
If you want a proven, cheap solo roguelike with near-universal praise, grab Balatro's $1-2-per-hour value; if you're multiplayer-bound and can stomach Early Access, Olden Era's 11 recent patches show it's the riskier bet.