Balatro vs Mewgenics
Choose between Balatro's tight 8-hour poker loop and Mewgenics' sprawling 76-hour cat genetics grind.
Updated 27d 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 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 | Mewgenics |
|---|---|---|
| Value Balatro wins on value | ||
| Price now | $11.34 −24% · GameBillet | $29.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $10.15 | $22.49 |
| Cost / hour | $1.49/hr $11.34 · 8 h main story | $0.39/hr $29.99 · 76 h main story |
| Off its low | +12% low was Jul 2026 | +33% low was Jun 2026 |
| Main story | 8 h | 76 h |
| Health Balatro wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 98% 198k reviews | 90% 54k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 97% 2k votes · vs 98% lifetime | 86% 1k votes · vs 90% lifetime |
| Peak players | 10,017 Aug 2026 · ↑ 5% MoM | 5,728 Aug 2026 · ↓ 23% MoM |
| Launch peak | 29% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | 5% of Feb 2026 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 |
| All-time peak | 43,825 Jan 2025 | 115,063 Feb 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 23 months ago | 2 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 5 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 want a poker-based deckbuilder you can play in 15-minute chunks.
- You're fine with no cross-save between platforms.
- You prefer a game you can 'beat' and still master the stakes.
Pick Mewgenics if
- You enjoyed Binding of Isaac's humor and don't mind gross-out aesthetics.
- You want a turn-based strategy with deep meta-progression across generations.
- You can commit to a 200+ hour grind without losing interest.
Bottom line
Pick Balatro for a quick, near-perfect poker roguelike (98% positive) that respects short sessions; choose Mewgenics if you crave a long-term cat-genetics project and its 76-hour main story fits your schedule.