Balatro vs Slay the Spire 2
Balatro's poker-infused runs are shorter and mobile-friendly; StS2 expands with co-op and deeper relics.
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.
Still the best in its genre — the new multiplayer co-op alone justifies the buy even in early access.
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 | Slay the Spire 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value Balatro wins on value | ||
| Price now | $11.99 −20% · Steam | $24.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $10.15 | $24.99 |
| Cost / hour | $1.58/hr $11.99 · 8 h main story | $2.61/hr $24.99 · 10 h main story |
| Off its low | +18% low was Jul 2026 | At its low low was Mar 2026 |
| Main story | 8 h | 10 h |
| Health Balatro wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 98% 196k reviews | 61% 194k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 97% 2k votes · vs 98% lifetime | 67% 6k votes · vs 61% lifetime · improving |
| Peak players | 9,514 Jul 2026 · ↑ 3% MoM | 124,547 Jul 2026 · ↓ 18% MoM |
| Launch peak | 27% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | 22% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 43,825 Jan 2025 | 574,638 Mar 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 22 months ago | 8 days ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 9 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
Slay the Spire 2
The new four-player co-op hooks even skeptical friends, and regular updates keep the card pool evolving
Ascension 10 balancing draws consistent frustration — brutal enemy scaling and RNG-heavy bosses feel unfair to many
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Balatro if
- You want a deckbuilder you can play on mobile during short breaks.
- You enjoy building around poker hands and expect runs to end fast.
- You're OK with no cross-save between mobile and PC.
Pick Slay the Spire 2 if
- You loved Slay the Spire 1 and want new relic combos and events.
- You want co-op deckbuilding that still works as a solo game.
- You have a PC or Steam Deck and prefer 30-minute run lengths.
Bottom line
Choose Balatro for shorter, poker-driven runs on mobile; choose Slay the Spire 2 for co-op and deepened relics on PC.