Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers (2024)

An entertaining roguelike deckbuilder held back by irritating design decisions. Frustrating, but far from a bust.

In the ever-expanding realm of card-based strategy games, Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers boldly emerges as a blackjack-inspired iteration of the popular game Balatro. If Balatro is the master of strategic bluffing and deck manipulation, then Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is its chaotic, luck-fueled cousin, where the stakes are higher, the risks are wilder, and the rewards are as sweet as a perfectly timed blackjack.

Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers has a lot of potential with its unique gameplay mechanics, customization options, and engaging card-playing elements. However, it is held back by unresponsive controls, lack of a tutorial, and a flat atmosphere. Despite these issues, it remains an easy game to get into and offers a variety of challenges and rewards for players willing to dive into its world.

Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is a more traditional deck building roguelike that features battles and power ups. It just so happens to be a casino card game at its base.

All in all, Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers surprised me quite a bit. While I’ve been a fan of other rogue-like games, such as Dead Cells and The Rogue: Prince of Persia, I didn’t expect this silly little deck builder to quickly climb the ladder of my favorites. There are some rough patches through and through, but they’re charming in a way.