Balatro vs Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era
Quick deck-building synergies versus slow-turn-based nostalgia — pick your strategy poison.
Updated 10d 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 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 | Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era |
|---|---|---|
| Value Balatro wins on value | ||
| Price now | $11.99 −20% · Steam | $29.99 −25% · GamesPlanet US |
| All-time low | $10.15 | $27.69 |
| Cost / hour | $1.58/hr $11.99 · 8 h main story | $2.57/hr $29.99 · 12 h main story |
| Off its low | +18% low was Jul 2026 | +8% vs $27.69 low |
| Main story | 8 h | 12 h |
| Health Balatro wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 98% 196k reviews | 87% 21k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 97% 2k votes · vs 98% lifetime | 81% 969 votes · vs 87% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 9,514 Jul 2026 · ↑ 3% MoM | 13,594 Jul 2026 · ↓ 24% MoM |
| Launch peak | 27% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 43,825 Jan 2025 | 60,562 May 2026 · now at 22% |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 22 months ago | 4 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 10 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 love Slay the Spire and want a poker-themed alternative
- You play games in short bursts on PC or mobile
- You enjoy building crazy synergies and don't mind losing to RNG
Pick Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era if
- You're a Heroes III veteran craving the same feel with QoL improvements
- You want deep turn-based strategy with faction variety
- You can tolerate early access rough edges for a classic experience
Bottom line
Pick Balatro for tight, replayable deck-building loops; choose Olden Era only if you're a patient strategy fan who can ignore broken multiplayer.