bal8tro

Bal8tro delivers the addictive thrill of Balatro with a playful, home‑brewed 8‑bit Commodore 64 twist. You’ll shuffle poker‑style hands, unlock rogue‑lite combos, and feel retro synth vibes—all pixel‑perfect and developer‑crafted with love. Cute, quirky, and totally unauthorized in the best fan‑made kind of way—just don’t expect an official seal, but definitely expect a blast.

How to play Bal8tro

Gameplay is simple but rich: assemble poker hands to meet score goals, use limited discards each round, buy retro‑style Joker power‑ups, and begin again if you fail. The charm is in building synergies and nailing that perfect hand—all with joy‑pad or pixel keys! Bal8tro runs on C64‑style hardware—so it adapts beautifully depending on your setup:

🎮 Desktop (keyboard )

• Movement: Cursor keys to navigate menus and card selection
• Confirm / Draw: Z acts as your ‘fire’ button

🕹️ Connected Gamepad (USB or Bluetooth)

• Directional pad to highlight cards
• A (or fire) button to select/play/discard/etc

📱 Mobile / Touchscreen

• The browser-based C64 emulator can emulate touch control in mobile view.

FAQ

1. Is this an official Balatro port?

No, it’s not an official port — just pure Balatro vibes, C64 style. It’s a fan-made homage that captures the spirit and some core mechanics, but isn’t licensed or endorsed by LocalThunk or Playstack.

2. How many jokers are included?

There are 45 jokers included in Bal8tro—enough to recreate synergies.

3. Are there boss blinds or endless mode?

Yes and no! Bal8tro mirrors the structure: small blinds, big blinds, and tougher “Boss” rounds. Endless mode is not included.

4. Any music or sound effects?

Absolutely—chiptune melodies and retro bleeps dynamically evolve to heighten tension as your run progresses.

5. Can I play on Windows, Mac, or Linux?

Yes—Bal8tro runs in a browser-based emulator, so it’s cross-platform (just like those classic C64 game nights!).