Summary

  • PlayStation Plus members can get Balatro for free until June 3.
  • The popular poker roguelike is available for free for members of all tiers.
  • New games being added on June 3 include Bomb Rush Cyberfunk and Alone in the Dark.

PlayStation Plus subscribers have around 24 hours to snag the award-winning poker roguelike Balatro free of charge, with the game available to those in any tier. Over a year since the title was released, Balatro continues to be a cultural phenomenon, with countless players spending hundreds or even thousands of hours in the addictive deck-builder.

Developed by solo developer LocalThunk, Balatro took the world by storm early last year, with the title even nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. While it lost the biggest prize of the night to Astro Bot, the roguelike did take home several major awards during the ceremony, including Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best Mobile Game. In early May, Balatro was added to PS Plus, with members across all three tiers gaining access to the title. However, the clock is now winding down on this incredible deal, and those who haven't snagged the game yet are encouraged to do so sometime in the next 24 hours.

balatro fan hand-draws every card chip deck and more
Balatro Fan Draws 'EVERYTHING' from the Game

In a remarkable endeavor, one Balatro fan draws “everything” from the game, bringing to life the many elements of the popular indie hit.

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Subscribers to PS Plus Essential, PS Plus Extra, and PS Plus Premium have until June 3, or less than 24 hours, to snag Balatro free of charge. It's worth noting that the game will only remain free as long as a user's PlayStation Plus account is active, and currently, those without a subscription can still snag Balatro for 15 percent off until June 12. On June 3, new free titles will be added to the service, including Bomb Rush Cyberfunk and Alone in the Dark. Even gamers who aren't typically fans of roguelike titles may want to add this one to their library, with the game currently boasting an average OpenCritic score of 92 and Balatro celebrating five million copies sold as of January 2025.

Balatro Is Free for PlayStation Plus Subscribers Until June 3

While the reasons for Balatro's success are clear to millions of dedicated players, its creator was less certain when putting the game on the market. According to a recent blog post, LocalThunk was shocked by Balatro's commercial success, with the developer initially only crafting the game for a few of his close friends. The title's launch was reportedly 10-20 times larger than LocalThunk anticipated, and sales continue to trickle in, with Balatro's popularity showing no signs of slowing.

After several well-received collaborations, more Balatro crossovers are likely on the way, with LocalThunk recently going on record to state that he'd like to partner with Path of Exile 2. Fans are always eager for more card designs in the game, with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Dave the Diver, Among Us, Vampire Survivors, Cyberpunk 2077, Stardew Valley, and more already making their way into the poker title.

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Balatro Tag Page Cover Art

Balatro
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Strategy
Digital Card Game
Roguelike
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
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Released
February 20, 2024
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
Developer(s)
LocalThunk
Publisher(s)
Playstack
Engine
LÖVE
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Genre(s)
Strategy, Digital Card Game, Roguelike