Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Review (unArthodox)
This game is not Balatro.
Describing D&D Gamblers as "Balatro but Blackjack" is misleading. Let me explain why this game is worth your time, without ever mentioning Balatro again.
D&D Gamblers is a highly underrated deck-building roguelike that deserves more attention. It hooks you with its absurd cards and humor while keeping you engaged through creative deck archetypes, a familiar but constantly shifting gameplay loop, and rewarding skill expression.
As with most roguelikes, this game isn’t easy. Many of the foes you’ll encounter have decks built around specific mechanics or gimmicks you’ll need to adapt to. These mechanics become clearer as you gain more playtime and experience.
In a way, this game reminds me of Hearthstone:
- You can either play strategically, calculating and shifting odds in your favor to achieve the desired outcome,
- Or you might find yourself drawn to an absurdly chaotic card, and let the RNGesus take the wheel... and still somehow win!
There are no "bad cards" in D&D Gamblers, something I’ve come to realize after almost 30 hours of play. Every card has its use. Some are more versatile, while others trade potential value for safety. Figuring that out, while discovering new deck archetypes, feels like an enlightening process.
D&D Gamblers isn’t without its flaws, of course:
There are some balance issues, with enemies being either too easy or too hard for the locations they appear in, and same goes for certain cards. Some archetypes are trivial to assemble (like Cue Cards and "Symbol of Number"-type cards) and be very effective, while others (...just trying to make Cardecu work) require multiple runs to even attempt. Part of this is due to the limited opportunities for card removal, while the game constantly throws new cards at you (sometimes forcing you to pick, like with Tarot Cards) and essentially screams, "JUST PICK A CARD ALREADY!" Whether this supports or detracts from the game’s philosophy is up for debate, but it’s worth pointing out.
The music is fantastic, with each enemy adding a unique layer to the location’s theme. However, the secret boss theme is extremely distracting - exactly when you’re facing the most difficult encounter in the game (besides Your Biggest Fan - seriously, fuck 'em). I really want to see a remake of the music track, because the soul of it is there, and I see it, but the theme is trying too hard to be "Hey, I'm a final boss of the game, fear me!"
The "optimal" strategy in this game works against our human nature. Gambling is fun for most of us. The thrill of hoping to draw that one perfect card for a sweet, sweet Blackjack is exciting! But too often, you have to fight that impulse and let logic prevail so you don’t gamble your run away. This can feel frustrating and counterintuitive for some players, but personally, I enjoy this psychological tension.
Overall, this game is amazing. It needs a few adjustments to its balance and more interesting starter decks, but beyond that? It’s a fantastic game for fans of deck-builders or roguelikes. And even if you're new to these genres, this game might not be the worst place to start!