Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Crimson Desert
  • Pokopia
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Starfield
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Don't miss these
Crimson Desert: Cliff Macduff looking out into the distance during the new game, Crimson Desert.
Open World Games Crimson Desert "makes me feel a sense of wonder I've not felt since Oblivion," says Palworld publishing chief
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead Gustave faces a gommage
RPGs "You can't build clever little games anymore" unless you're Expedition 33, RPG legend says
A screenshot from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, showing a man named Verso covered in dirt and blood, looking into the camera.
JRPGs Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 star didn't expect the RPG to have "the same impact" as Final Fantasy 16
We Gotta Go characters holding lanterns
Games Steam's new "golden age" is special because so many genres are popping off at once, expert says
Astarian looking pensive with his hand resting on his chin in Baldur's Gate 3
Games The 25 best Steam games to play in 2026
Hades 2
Roguelike Games The 25 best roguelike games to play right now
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Survival Horror Games "They're not good enough," joke devs behind "self-feeding" horror giant stuck in the Steam Top 50 while others rot
A woman in witchy garb surrounded by crows and dead trees in Crimson Desert
Open World Games Palworld dev reluctantly goes back to work instead of playing more Crimson Desert
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 screenshot of Verso, a man with black hair with white streaks running through his fringe
RPGs Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Ben Starr told friends to keep expectations "in check" before launch
Horses
Horror Games Steam made him "radioactive," but creator of banned game Horses wants next project to be disturbing
A header image for the Best Games 2026 list with a GamesRadar+ logo, showing Pokemon Pokopia, Romeo is a Dead Man, Demon Tides, and Resident Evil Requiem
Games The best games to play in 2026, so far
Arjun blasts through the Ancient Depths in Saros, an abandoned, mechanical mining environment, while avoiding orbal energy blasts, with the orange GamesRadar+ Big Preview frame
Roguelike Games 7 reasons why Saros has me hooked on its eclipse-powered roguelike runs
Arjun runs towards Bastion in Saros, using his blue shield to absorb a spiral of blue orb bullets, with the orange GamesRadar+ Big Preview frame
Roguelike Games Saros will "tempt you to do tricky things", its game designer tells me about its aggressive, creative shield combat
Crimson Desert screenshot of Kliff with an orange On the Radar overlay
RPGs I hope Crimson Desert never fixes its weird controls
Tiny Bookshop screenshot showing the small mobile bookshop decorated with lights and plants set up on the beach as a customer walks inside. A dog can be seen sitting on a couch outside of it
Games The 20 best Switch indie games you should play in 2026
  1. Games
  2. Roguelike Games
  3. Balatro

Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker has been infected by Balatro, and the hit roguelike's creator loves it: "It's possibly the most addictive thing ever created"

News
By Jordan Gerblick published 14 August 2024

Brooker is also playing Ghost of Tsushima and Dave the Diver

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Balatro Joker card
(Image credit: Playstack)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

The creator of the Black Mirror television series is hooked on Balatro, the roguelike indie hit whose astonishing success led to a million copies sold in just a month.

Charlie Brooker, who wrote the 2013 TV series How Videogames Changed the World and is a noted video game enjoyer, recently told Deadline he's among the legions of people this year who've become enthralled by Balatro.

"This is going to sound so tragic, but right now there’s a game called Balatro," Brooker said. "It’s like poker, and it’s possibly the most addictive thing ever created. It’s currently on Nintendo Switch and Steam deck, but it’s going to be released on phones, and at that point I think humankind’s activity is going to drop about 25%. I play that in short bursts when I’m writing to reward myself. I do like Ghost of Tsushima and Dave the Diver too, but there’s loads more."

Article continues below
You may like
  • Raccoin Balatro's legacy has spawned yet another time-devouring roguelike, and I might have ruined Steam Next Fest for myself
  • Balatro Joker card Balatro's big 1.1 update is still coming, LocalThunk says: "Last night I stayed up until the early hours of the morning"
  • Slay the Spire 2 "Slay the Spire 2 has taken over his life":  Palworld CEO gets a telling off for playing too much of the deckbuilder

First of all, Brooker, there is nothing tragic about playing a great indie game, and secondly I'm going to have to 'well actually' you and remind everyone that Balatro is also on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One as well. That said, Balatro, Ghost of Tsushima, and Dave the Diver is a trifecta of greatness that shows you have excellent taste in video games. Like, if you were stuck on an island with only three games to play for the rest of your life, that would be a really solid selection.

Naturally, Balatro creator LocalThunk took to Twitter to share his enthusiasm over Brooker's comments, reacting with a devious smile that suggests he's happy to be taking over the world with his poker-themed roguelike. 

Balatro can't be sold to any gambling companies or casinos even after its creator dies, because its solo dev is so against that idea they've written it into their will.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming PS5 Xbox Series X Nintendo Switch PS4 Xbox One Platforms PlayStation Xbox Nintendo
Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick
Social Links Navigation
Staff Writer

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Read more
Raccoin
Roguelike Games Balatro's legacy has spawned yet another time-devouring roguelike, and I might have ruined Steam Next Fest for myself
 
 
Balatro Joker card
Roguelike Games Balatro's big 1.1 update is still coming, LocalThunk says: "Last night I stayed up until the early hours of the morning"
 
 
Slay the Spire 2
Roguelike Games "Slay the Spire 2 has taken over his life":  Palworld CEO gets a telling off for playing too much of the deckbuilder
 
 
The key art for the Blue Prince showing a doorway on a blue wall, which is open to reveal several more rooms within its frame, a person deep within opening another door several layers deep to a bright white light
Puzzle Games Blue Prince creator couldn't "physically" make another game as "ambitious" as his 2025 puzzle hit
 
 
Horses
Horror Games Steam made him "radioactive," but creator of banned game Horses wants next project to be disturbing
 
 
Masters of Albion soldier fighting
Simulation Games LittleBigPlanet lead working on OG Fable boss Peter Molyneux's new god game finds cozy games "incredibly boring"
 
 
Latest in Roguelike Games
Slay the Spire 2 classes
Roguelike Games Slay the Spire 2 dev teases 3 new modes, including something "very competitive"
 
 
Slay the Spire 2 classes
Roguelike Games Slay the Spire 2 devs were caught off guard by 13,000 negative Steam review spike
 
 
Arjun shields up as Prophet blasts out a spiral of yellow corrupted bullets in a Saros boss fight, with the GamesRadar+ Big Preview frame
Roguelike Games Saros: The Big Preview – Hands-on and developer access with PS5's roguelike game-changer
 
 
The Regent from Slay the Spire 2
Roguelike Games Slay the Spire 2 devs walk back the nerf that sparked 10,000 negative Steam reviews
 
 
Hades 2 protagonist Melinoe
Hades Hades 2 getting "bonus content and quality-of-life improvements" alongside PS5 and Xbox ports
 
 
The dino-like Pyrophina beast in Mewgenics roars, shaking the screen
Roguelike Games "Oh hi Switch 2": Mewgenics port looks imminent as Edmund McMillen shows it on Nintendo's hardware
 
 
Latest in News
Man runs down stone steps as woman trails behind
Stealth Games Immersive sim legend Warren Spector's new stealth game Thick as Thieves drops PvPvE in favor of single-player and co-op
 
 
Todd Howard
Games Skyrim artist says Bethesda's Todd Howard has too many yes men: "A lot of people are afraid to say no to Todd"
 
 
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Games The best PS3 emulator is getting massive improvements on PC handhelds
 
 
Tom Holland and Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Movies Spider-Man star Zendaya says she wants to work with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler
 
 
Misty behind her counter in Cyberpunk 2077, the NPC who tells you about tarot cards.
Cyberpunk Cyberpunk 2077's best shopkeeper was originally a side character devs had no idea what to do with
 
 
Gabe Newell in an orange shirt
Games "Gabe really had a great vision": Steam became a PC icon because Valve built community, dev says
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Todd Howard making a point
    1
    Skyrim and Fallout 4 artist says Bethesda's Todd Howard has too many yes men: "A lot of people were afraid to say no to Todd and that hurt him"
  2. 2
    Immersive sim pioneer Warren Spector's new stealth game Thick as Thieves makes the blessed pivot, dropping PvPvE in favor of single-player and co-op
  3. 3
    Prime Video's top 10 shows and the 3 you need on your watchlist right now (April 3–April 5)
  4. 4
    Spider-Man star Zendaya says she wants to work with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler: "He means so much to the world, but he also means so much to us"
  5. 5
    Sony may never support PS3 games again, but at least the platform's best emulator is getting massive improvements on PC handhelds like Steam Deck

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...