In a world teeming with card games, few evoke the same level of stress as blackjack. The game hinges on high-stakes risk and reward, where strategy only goes so far, ultimately leaving players at the mercy of the draw. It’s hard to imagine making this simple premise even more tense, but a new video game, *Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers*, manages to do just that. This card game, now available on Steam, developed by Purple Moss Collectors, is essentially Balatro for blackjack. While this comparison is apt, it also highlights the game’s strengths and weaknesses within indie gaming’s unlikely emerging genre.
At its core, *Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers* is a roguelike where players battle opponents through blackjack matches. The fundamental rules remain intact; players aim to reach 21 without exceeding it, choosing to stay or hit, the heart of risk-reward in gaming. However, a plethora of twists differentiate this game. Like Balatro, players gradually enhance their standard deck with quirky cards, passive boosts, and playable effects. Some cards are straightforward, like the “Big 2” card, playable as a two or a 12, while others, like the “negative cards” that decrease the count, are more complex and often quite humorous.
The “Gerald of Riviera” card, for instance, destroys an opponent’s played card, playfully referencing *The Witcher*, while “Charred Lizard,” reminiscent of Charizard’s original Poké*mon card, can be played as a 10 or sold to the opponent’s discard pile for 10 chips. This concept fits within the blackjack context, although it’s not as natural a fit as it was for poker in Balatro. Blackjack inherently revolves around the luck of the draw, making deck-building decisions feel somewhat less effective. At times, it feels like I’m drawing from a random pile of effects, hoping for the right ones to appear, rather than executing a strategic plan. Held cards, like the trump card that provides an instant 21 in a pinch, mitigate this somewhat, but the game can devolve into complex math that’s difficult to follow.
Despite this hit-and-miss aspect, the game’s most remarkable design feature lies in its combat hook. Opponents don’t simply play hands to win chips; winning a round inflicts damage on the opponent equal to the difference between the final hands (a 21 versus an 18 results in the loser taking three HP). Going bust leads to the full amount of the opponent’s hand in damage. This ingenious dynamic elevates the tension of blackjack even further. Going bust isn’t merely about losing a hand; it could lead to devastating damage. When an opponent stays at a high number like 20, it’s often safer to stay at 16 and take four damage than risk drawing a bad card and taking 20.
Here, *Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers* truly differentiates itself from Balatro. It’s not about racking up numbers through deck-building; it’s a mental game where knowing when to push your luck or back down is paramount to long-term success. If anything, the more Balatro-like card mechanics hinder this elegant concept. Even if some design elements feel a tad forced in pursuit of a trend, *Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers* is a clever spin on blackjack that understands the inherent tension of the simple card game. If you’re interested in Balatro but prefer blackjack, you might as well try your luck with this one. *Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers* is now available on Steam.
