Choose The Legend of Bum-Bo
Choose The Legend of Bum-Bo if you want an Adventure experience. 3,563 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Legend of Bum-Bo vs Balatro
The Legend of Bum-Bo and Balatro both land in Strategy, Indie on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam. The Legend of Bum-Bo (2019) is 5 years older than Balatro (2024). Balatro scores higher on Steam reviews (98.1% positive) than The Legend of Bum-Bo (78.4% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Balatro
Choose Balatro if you want a Casual game with Color Alternatives, Custom Volume Controls, and Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 98.1% positive across 99,852 reviews.
Both The Legend of Bum-Bo and Balatro sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 The Legend of Bum-Bo |  Balatro | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2019 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Adventure | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 78.4% positive (3,563 reviews) | 98.1% positive (99,852 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Edmund McMillen, James Interactive, Ridiculon | LocalThunk |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- The Legend of Bum-Bo (2019) is 5 years older than Balatro (2024).
- Balatro scores higher on Steam reviews (98.1% positive) than The Legend of Bum-Bo (78.4% positive).
- Balatro is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than The Legend of Bum-Bo (14.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: The Legend of Bum-Bo is Deck Playable, Balatro is Deck Verified.
The Legend of Bum-Bo vs Balatro — FAQ
- Which is better, The Legend of Bum-Bo or Balatro?
- On Steam reviews Balatro scores higher (98.1% positive) than The Legend of Bum-Bo (78.4% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Balatro is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play The Legend of Bum-Bo or Balatro first?
- If you want chronology, The Legend of Bum-Bo (2019) came out before Balatro (2024). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are The Legend of Bum-Bo and Balatro similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.