Choose Balatro
Choose Balatro if you want a Casual game with Color Alternatives, Custom Volume Controls, and Touch Only Option. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 99,852 Steam reviews back the pick.
Balatro vs Deck of Stabs
Balatro and Deck of Stabs 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. Balatro (2024) is 2 years older than Deck of Stabs (2026). Balatro scores higher on Steam reviews (98.1% positive) than Deck of Stabs (85.7% 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 Deck of Stabs
Choose Deck of Stabs if you want a RPG game with Save Anytime and #category_playable_at_your_own_pace. Deck of Stabs launched in 2026.
Both Balatro and Deck of Stabs sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list 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 |  Deck of Stabs | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 12.74 USD |
| Steam reviews | 98.1% positive (99,852 reviews) | 85.7% positive (14 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | LocalThunk | RetroAction Games |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Balatro (2024) is 2 years older than Deck of Stabs (2026).
- Balatro scores higher on Steam reviews (98.1% positive) than Deck of Stabs (85.7% positive).
- Deck of Stabs is currently ~15% cheaper on Steam than Balatro (12.74 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Balatro is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Deck of Stabs has no Deck rating yet.
Balatro vs Deck of Stabs — FAQ
- Should I play Balatro or Deck of Stabs first?
- If you want chronology, Balatro (2024) came out before Deck of Stabs (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 Deck of Stabs 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.
- Does Balatro run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Balatro is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Deck of Stabs doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.