Balatro vs Slay the Spire 2
Balatro's poker synergies vs Slay the Spire 2's refined archetypes — both are top deckbuilders, but they reward different kinds of patience.
Definitive deck-building poker roguelike that holds up past 100 hours, with free Friends of Jimbo updates adding new collab card packs.
Still the best deckbuilder roguelite — Mega Crit's sequel deepens the relics and events without breaking the original's perfect 30-min run-shape, on co-op now too.
Steam popularity
Shared scale — sparklines are directly comparable across both games.
Balatro
May 2026 peak CCU 11,550 ↑ 0% MoM
All-time peak 43,825
Slay the Spire 2
May 2026 peak CCU 230,185 ↓ 36% MoM
All-time peak 574,638
Key differences
Core mechanic
Balatro uses poker hand rankings with Joker cards that multiply chips for massive scoring.
Slay the Spire 2 uses card combos and relics that synergize during turn-based combat.
Run length
Balatro runs can stretch over an hour in endless mode, but standard runs are ~20-30 minutes.
Slay the Spire 2 keeps the tight 30-minute run shape of the original for quick sessions.
Platform availability
Balatro is available on PC, consoles, and mobile (no cross-save).
Slay the Spire 2 is PC-only at launch, with possible future releases.
Which one is for you?
Pick Balatro if
- You loved Slay the Spire or Monster Train and want poker-hand synergy.
- You play on mobile and need a portable deckbuilder.
- You enjoy deep build-around scaling and endless mode runs.
Pick Slay the Spire 2 if
- You sunk 200+ hours into Slay the Spire 1 and want fresh relic combos.
- You're new to deckbuilders and prefer a straightforward 30-minute entry.
- You want co-op deckbuilding and have a PC or Steam Deck at launch.
Bottom line
Balatro is the better pick now for mobile players and poker fans; StS 2 is for StS veterans who want co-op and can wait for PC-only launch.