new gamemode | Balatro | Page 1

finite sparrow Jan 3, 2026, 11:25 PM

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im not a game designer but i do feel like it could work with having an extra mode

one being
before a runyou draft a small pool of jokers, vouchers etc
you can only see or buy from that pool during said run.
focusing on optimizing a constrained build
progression could unlock stuff like
larger draft pools
more reroll tokens etc
starter synergies are a main focus making it a more plan based mode that stress tests builds kind of like a guantlet

by itself or paired with a modified boss blind only system could be fun

maybe something like a locked function flush based, discard based, face cards, etc
jokers reinforce the progression unlocks and harder weirder starting constraints
maybe you cant replace the base until you win a certain amount maybe.

Shops offer upgrades only within the parameters of your base.

or maybe even something that tests your understanding of the game mechanics or cards with predetermined blinds that are more like puzzles
and completing puzzles unlocks harder scenarios or rarer starting jokers

the scope of any of these isn't really needed to be huge or groundbreaking mechanically just something auxiliary to the main bread and butter of the game, and virtually anything could be taken out or replaced to make it work better but they're just basic ideas.

I mean maybe even a freeplay mode or a small story mode would be engaging.

i wouldnt say that the challenge decks really change why you play rather just how

i'm looking for both.

someone made a multiplayer mod that pins your blind feats against each other to win (which I'm not asking for but it's a good example of how to use the same gameplay loop to achieve a different goal.)

steel surge Jan 3, 2026, 11:36 PM

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So, just challenges?

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 3:49 AM

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steel surge So, just challenges?

no a different use of the gameplay loop that uses balatros already established gameplay mechanics in a different structured goal

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 3:50 AM

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steel surge So, just challenges?

i did add that maybe challenges from the main gameplay loop would unlock stuff in the other mode for example especially in making a prebuilt build to start with so that it doesn't just spoil the hidden nature of unlocks in general.

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 4:00 AM

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steel surge So, just challenges?

challenges in balatro are basic modifiers
same win condition
once you beat them they’re kinda done
what im talking about is a separate side mode
different goal different progression
still using balatro core gameplay
not a whole new game just another way to use the systems
maybe using unlocks as items kinda like how u can pick stuff in the beginning of csgo matches
more about build mastery and replayability for a little extra fun or something

thats just an example

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it doesn't have to be that exact format

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but a side mode is all I'm asking for at the end of the day.

void sun Jan 4, 2026, 4:51 AM

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"all" an entire new gamemode isn't a small ask

sacred rover Jan 4, 2026, 9:36 AM

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another day, another suggestion that doesn't say what it's suggesting

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"add a new gamemode!" what's the gamemode? god knows!

languid creek Jan 4, 2026, 10:02 AM

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The discovery portion of the game is not long enough to justify this, any gameplay additions should be to the full game

worthy light Jan 4, 2026, 10:36 AM

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Make your own fun

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Use deck creator or debug+

runic shell Jan 4, 2026, 10:49 AM

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languid creek The discovery portion of the game is not long enough to justify this, any gamepl...

im of the general opinion that unless the games item pool is that massive another new mode of play is unnecessary

plucky geyser Jan 4, 2026, 11:37 AM

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a boss rush could actually be somewhat fun, but thatd only work as a challenge really

runic shell Jan 4, 2026, 11:43 AM

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a boss rush is just the rule change you could put on a challange

plucky geyser Jan 4, 2026, 11:48 AM

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ye!

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like.

all blinds are boss blinds
chicot is unable to be drawn

tardy socket Jan 4, 2026, 2:16 PM

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i think this person is thinking something like greed mode from isaac, which is kinda a boss rush mode?

runic shell Jan 4, 2026, 2:34 PM

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greed mode sucks ass tho

tardy socket Jan 4, 2026, 2:58 PM

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AGREED

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pun not intended ?

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 9:43 PM

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😔 guess my idea explanation wasn't well thought out

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:34 PM

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new gamemode

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:35 PM

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void sun "all" an entire new gamemode isn't a small ask

fair enough but i said what i felt

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:36 PM

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sacred rover "add a new gamemode!" what's the gamemode? god knows!

i mean the inference is kinda the point. I'm not really a dev but i am a gamer, id probably look at how other games enhance the main game by reusing the base game for a different context. doesn't have to be enormous.

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:37 PM

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worthy light Make your own fun

doesn't really do much for me to want the localthunk experience or game design philosophy if im doing it myself.

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:38 PM

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languid creek The discovery portion of the game is not long enough to justify this, any gamepl...

fair it was just an idea

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:39 PM

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runic shell im of the general opinion that unless the games item pool is that massive anothe...

this one i highly disagree with. the item pool in this game is massive in my opinion and its synergies actually grow its potential.
if LocalThunk is adding more cards anyway in 1.1 i feel thats more reason to disagree.

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:41 PM

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runic shell a boss rush is just the rule change you could put on a challange

when you and @steel surge say "challenge" are you taking about a custom mode or something that people do to change the game mechanics? like a mod or something?

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:41 PM

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plucky geyser like. >all blinds are boss blinds >chicot is unable to be drawn

see that's interesting to me

runic shell Jan 4, 2026, 10:42 PM

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finite sparrow when you and <@495262386257920058> say "challenge" are you taking about a custom...

challange runs in game already do pretty heavy rule bending

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jokerless and golden needle shows that extreme restrictions arent off the table

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:43 PM

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tardy socket i think this person is thinking something like greed mode from isaac, which is k...

ive never played Isaac so i had to look this up and while i like the idea maybe itd have to be in the oven a little bit to make it not as unfun as people say greed mode is. idk.

runic shell Jan 4, 2026, 10:43 PM

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finite sparrow this one i highly disagree with. the item pool in this game is massive in my opi...

not to burat your bubble but 150 items which are all fairly simple generally is nothing for a roguelike

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and you see a lot each run so really we have a very small pool of items

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compared to other roguelikes

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:50 PM

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runic shell compared to other roguelikes

thats fair. it doesn't have the largest pool of stuff i agree but i still believe the possibilities are big enough due to synergies and the possibility of items specific to the gamemode itself.

runic shell Jan 4, 2026, 10:51 PM

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also id argue challange runs are that extra mode

void sun Jan 4, 2026, 10:51 PM

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^

runic shell Jan 4, 2026, 10:51 PM

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since no roguelike is gonna have a side mode as detailed and focused on as the main runs

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:52 PM

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runic shell jokerless and golden needle shows that extreme restrictions arent off the table

i should have clarified earlier i am looking for different applications of the gameplay not new decks.
more so a different reason to complete blinds and deal with these challenges than to just defeat the challenge itself.

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:53 PM

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runic shell also id argue challange runs are that extra mode

fair i can see that and id even say it does that well but i wouldn't say its the fleshed out kind of separate mode im feeling the game could really benefit from.

runic shell Jan 4, 2026, 10:53 PM

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what do you consider the gameplay

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just the blinds and scoring or the shop too

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:53 PM

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runic shell since no roguelike is gonna have a side mode as detailed and focused on as the m...

fair enough i cant argue with that

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hahaha

runic shell Jan 4, 2026, 10:55 PM

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finite sparrow i should have clarified earlier i am looking for different applications of the g...

so an alternate win condition?

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im confused what you want

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:55 PM

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runic shell just the blinds and scoring or the shop too

hmmmmm the deck building system is the main gameplay loop but the blinds, shop and ruleset/challenge set could be interchangeable with a different context

like maybe strict puzzlesets that test you or the deck for example

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 10:56 PM

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runic shell im confused what you want

i rewrote the main body of this post to realign with what i mean sorry.

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 11:03 PM

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runic shell so an alternate win condition?

yeah actually that could be one.
i mean maybe even a freeplay mode or a small story mode would be engaging.

finite sparrow Jan 4, 2026, 11:06 PM

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void sun ^

i see where you guys are coming from but i wouldnt say that the challenge decks really change why you play rather just how

when I'm looking for both.

i mean someone made a multiplayer mod that pins your blind feats against each other to win (which I'm not asking for but it's a good example of how to use the same gameplay loop to achieve a different goal.)

#new gamemode