A blind consists of multiple rounds, where the player has to utilize various combinations of cards to score at least the required amount of points.

Boss blinds provide additional challenges, such as debuffing the effects of certain cards or requiring the player to clear the round in only one hand.

[10] Joker cards affect the game in various ways, such as offering additional Chips or Mult when conditions are met or changing how certain poker hands can be played.

Jokers can be found with or upgraded to variants like Foil, Polychrome, Negative or Holographic versions which provide further bonuses.

[2][6] Planet cards raise the level of select poker hands, increasing their base Chips and Mult values when played.

[21] He at one point considered the name Joker Poker for the game, before settling on balatro, a professional jester or buffoon.

[25] A very early version of the game was circulated among his friends, who gave positive reviews after months of playing.

[26] About a year prior to release, LocalThunk quit his day job to focus on finishing Balatro "to put on a resume"[21] He signed a publishing contract with PlayStack, and with their help developed a launch campaign around beta releases and promotion via major video game streamers.

[31] Three free "Friends of Jimbo" updates, adding interchangeable cosmetic packs featuring crossovers with other video games, were released on August 27, October 24, and December 12, 2024, respectively.

[35] Additionally, content based on Balatro was added to Dave the Diver via a free update released on October 24, 2024.

[37] LocalThunk and Playstack confirmed plans for ports to Android and iOS mobile devices in March 2024.

[40] A physical deck of playing cards using Balatro's pixel graphic arts, produced by Fangamer, is set to be released sometime in 2025.

Simon Cardy from IGN described it as "ludicrously fun" and "remarkably approachable,"[3] while Jordan Helm from Hardcore Gamer called it "addictive" and "expertly-crafted".

[47] Charlie Brooker, the creator of Black Mirror, called it "possibly the most addictive thing ever created" and that once it was released for mobile devices, "humankind's activity is going to drop about 25%".

Abbie Stone from PC Gamer described gameplay as "strategizing your way to success,"[8] and Alessandro Barbosa from GameSpot called each run "surprisingly fresh.

"[7] Chris Allnutt writing in Financial Times praised the "wonderfully retro VCR-style visuals, lo-fi music and irreverent sound effects.

"[53] With the success of Balatro, LocalThunk kept to a low profile, not wanting much attention on their real-world identity and avoiding the stress that would come with it.

[26] They have also used the attention drawn to Balatro to highlight other indie titles released near the same time,[54] including naming Animal Well, Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing for their "Golden Thunk Awards".