Choose Balatro
Choose Balatro if you want the Color Alternatives and Touch Only Option side of the pairing. 99,852 Steam reviews back the pick.
Balatro vs Runeveil
Balatro and Runeveil both land in Strategy, Indie, Casual 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, Casual on Steam. Balatro (2024) is 2 years older than Runeveil (2026). Balatro scores higher on Steam reviews (98.1% positive) than Runeveil (93.6% 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 Runeveil
Choose Runeveil if you want an Early Access game with Stereo Sound, Adjustable Difficulty, and Save Anytime. On Steam, it's currently about 36% cheaper on the Steam Store. Runeveil launched in 2026.
Both Balatro and Runeveil sit in Strategy, Indie, and Casual on Steam and both list Custom Volume Controls, Playable without Timed Input, and Mouse Only Option, 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
 Balatro |  Runeveil | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 9.59 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98.1% positive (99,852 reviews) | 93.6% positive (47 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | LocalThunk | dicehit |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Balatro (2024) is 2 years older than Runeveil (2026).
- Balatro scores higher on Steam reviews (98.1% positive) than Runeveil (93.6% positive).
- Runeveil is currently ~36% cheaper on Steam than Balatro (9.59 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Verified.
Balatro vs Runeveil — FAQ
- Should I play Balatro or Runeveil first?
- If you want chronology, Balatro (2024) came out before Runeveil (2026). 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 Balatro and Runeveil similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, Casual 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.
- Do Balatro and Runeveil both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.