The aim of the game is to get rid of all your cards as soon as you can. Suits don't matter; all that matters is the ranking of cards: twos, followed by aces, are high, and threes are the lowest.

Ben Starr's real-life appearances as headlining joker Jimbo aside, nothing about Balatro is particularly sinister. 2024's smash-hit card game is a soothing, number-blasting joy that, as developer ...