Balatro vs Mewgenics
Chained poker combos or mutated cat squads? Balatro fits in your pocket; Mewgenics demands a PC.
Updated 12d ago
Definitive deck-building poker roguelike that holds up past 100 hours, with free Friends of Jimbo updates adding new collab card packs.
Makes good on the decade-long Mewgenics dev cycle — McMillen and Glaiel's cat-genetics roguelite hits Isaac territory at 89 MC and 94% recommend.
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 | Mewgenics |
|---|---|---|
| Value Balatro wins on value | ||
| Price now | $11.99 −20% · Steam | $29.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $10.15 | $22.49 |
| Cost / hour | $1.58/hr $11.99 · 8 h main story | $0.39/hr $29.99 · 76 h main story |
| Off its low | +18% low was Jul 2026 | +33% low was Jun 2026 |
| Main story | 8 h | 76 h |
| Health Balatro wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 98% 196k reviews | 90% 52k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 97% 2k votes · vs 98% lifetime | 83% 1k votes · vs 90% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 9,514 Jul 2026 · ↑ 3% MoM | 7,424 Jul 2026 · ↓ 7% MoM |
| Launch peak | 27% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | 6% of Feb 2026 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 43,825 Jan 2025 | 115,063 Feb 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 22 months ago | 3 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 2 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
Mewgenics
The cat-breeding loop's mutation chains and roguelike adventure variety are what 200-hour fans replay for.
The brutality of losing a well-bred cat line is the wall that ends many long playthroughs.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Balatro if
- You play in short bursts and want a game you can pause anytime.
- You prefer deterministic deck-building over randomized genetics.
- You want a polished, critically-acclaimed indie that runs on any device.
Pick Mewgenics if
- You love Binding of Isaac's humor and don't mind grotesque themes.
- You enjoy long, strategic turn-based battles with deep meta-progression.
- You have a PC and are willing to commit to 200+ hour run cycles.
Bottom line
If you want a pick-up-and-play roguelike with near-universal access, choose Balatro. If you crave deep generational strategy and love The Binding of Isaac's style, wait for Mewgenics on PC.