Balatro vs Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era
A poker roguelike built for endless replay vs a nostalgic turn-based strategy still in early access.
Definitive deck-building poker roguelike that holds up past 100 hours, with free Friends of Jimbo updates adding new collab card packs.
Worth it for Heroes 3 fans who can tolerate early-access bugs and AI issues, thanks to its alternate unit upgrades and single hero mode.
Steam popularity
Balatro
Apr 2026 peak CCU 11,516 ↓ 7% MoM
All-time peak 43,825
Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era
Steam Charts hasn't recorded a calendar month yet.
Key differences
Core gameplay loop
Balatro melds poker hands with joker synergies into tight roguelike runs that change every session.
Olden Era recreates the HoMM 3 loop of exploring maps, building towns, and resolving turns critically.
Time per session
Balatro fits 15-minute commutes with fast hand-based rounds and no long animations.
Olden Era demands multi-hour sessions for map exploration, town management, and multiplayer.
Release state
Balatro is a complete 1.0 with free updates and high replay value beyond 100 hours.
Olden Era is early access with unresolved subclass and magic balance, promising future polish.
Which one is for you?
Pick Balatro if
- You want instant gratification and high replayability from a polished roguelike.
- You play in short bursts and need a game that respects your time.
- You enjoy building synergies and don't mind luck-driven runs.
Pick Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era if
- You love classic turn-based strategy with town building and army management.
- You are willing to tolerate early access bugs for a nostalgic HoMM experience.
- You have hours to spare for deep strategic sessions.
Bottom line
Pick Balatro for a complete, endlessly replayable deckbuilder; wait on Olden Era unless you are a HoMM 3 veteran comfortable with early access.