Balatro vs Hades II
Poker math vs. divine combos — Balatro's runs take minutes; Hades II demands hours to master its deeper systems.
Definitive deck-building poker roguelike that holds up past 100 hours, with free Friends of Jimbo updates adding new collab card packs.
Supergiant's hardest swing in years — Hades II isn't a remix, it's a deeper, weirder game that still respects the original's perfect run-based loop.
Steam popularity
Shared scale — sparklines are directly comparable across both games.
Balatro
May 2026 peak CCU 11,550 ↑ 0% MoM
All-time peak 43,825
Hades II
May 2026 peak CCU 9,116 ↓ 21% MoM
All-time peak 112,300
Key differences
Run length
Balatro sessions fit 15-minute commute chunks; runs are short and self-contained.
Hades II runs are longer, with a 5-hour onboarding before systems fully open.
Depth of systems
Joker synergies and stake progression offer endless build variety for mastery players.
Witchcraft hex casts, omens, and ingredient gathering add a resource layer beyond combat.
Narrative weight
Balatro's campaign is in-depth but story-light; discovery is through unlocking decks and stakes.
Hades II's story unfolds over dozens of runs, with NPC arcs rewarding 30+ hours of investment.
Which one is for you?
Pick Balatro if
- You want a deck-builder you can play in 15-minute chunks on mobile.
- You loved Slay the Spire or Monster Train and like poker hand recognition.
- You prefer mastery through stake progression and endless mode over narrative.
Pick Hades II if
- You did 64+ heat runs in Hades and want deeper combat and systems.
- You enjoy Greek mythology and Supergiant's character arcs across many runs.
- You don't mind a slower, stance-based combat compared to Hades' original pace.
Bottom line
If you have limited time or want a pure deck-builder, get Balatro. If you prefer action combat and deep narrative, Hades II is the stronger choice.