Choose Balatro
Choose Balatro if you want the Color Alternatives and Touch Only Option side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 99,852 Steam reviews back the pick.
Balatro vs Pick Squad
Balatro and Pick Squad 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 Pick Squad (2026). Balatro is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Pick Squad has no Deck rating yet. 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 Pick Squad
Choose Pick Squad if you want the #category_playable_at_your_own_pace side of the pairing. Pick Squad launched in 2026.
Both Balatro and Pick Squad 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 |  Pick Squad | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | Price unknown |
| Steam reviews | 98.1% positive (99,852 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | LocalThunk | ACE-Block |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Balatro (2024) is 2 years older than Pick Squad (2026).
- Balatro is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Pick Squad has no Deck rating yet.
Balatro vs Pick Squad — FAQ
- Should I play Balatro or Pick Squad first?
- If you want chronology, Balatro (2024) came out before Pick Squad (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 Pick Squad 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.
- Does Balatro run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Balatro is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Pick Squad doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.