Some people have criticized the new selling mechanic in the recently released mobile versions of the hit roguelike Balatro. The process of selling Joker cards in the Android and iOS ports Balatro different from the system players are already used to on PC and consoles.
The critically acclaimed indie Balatro got mobile versions on September 26, finally giving people the ability to play the poker-themed deck builder on the go. While the reception for these ports has been overwhelmingly positive — the version available in Apple's app store currently has a perfect five-star rating based on nearly 7,000 reviews — concerns about the changes made to the sales system have surfaced online.
In a recent post about Balatro subreddit, user docpagliacci complained that anyone could easily accidentally sell their jokers in the game's mobile ports. Most of the Balatros special Joker cards can only be obtained through a shop that appears during matches, making the management of the items a crucial aspect of gameplay. Selecting wildcards in the PC and console versions of Balatro unlocks the option to sell the cards via another click or button press, but those on the mobile gates must draw jokers to a new sell zone located next to the cards. This sell area should be moved to the right side of the screen, according to docpagliacci, who accidentally sold off a Joker while trying to rearrange the cards,
Complaint about new sales zone in Balatro Mobile
Many community members agreed with docpagliacci's opinion, and one person even claimed that it was strange for the mobile versions of Balatro to introduce another sales mechanic in the first place. Balatros solo developer LocalThunk, known for hiding game changes Balatro exploits before, have done exactly what docpagliacci suggested and moved the sell box further to the right of the screen. They ended up adjusting the location of the zone from patches 1.1.1 to 1.1.4, with each successive update placing the area further to the right.
Balatro became the best-selling game on Android and iOS after its launch on the platforms. It managed to surpass mobile juggernauts like Minecraftthe best-selling game of all time, in major markets such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the UK.
In August it was revealed Balatro had already sold two million copies since its launch in February. The game will receive its first major game update in 2025, which promises to bring new ideas and strategies to the popular deck builder.
