Setting the numbers on fire in Balatro
Balatro, the poker-based roguelike that took everybody by surprise in 2024, is known for being habit-forming, and there’s nothing that forms habits in video games quite like numbers going up. But what if when your numbers went up you also saw the UI catch on fire? That’s the itch Balatro scratches when you have a hand good enough to overcome a challenge, even as it’s still calculating your cards’ value. Seeing the fire ignite on the screen means you can already start celebrating, and it’s an instant hit of dopamine.
