Balatro is that rare gem: a game that's genuinely enriching without being preachy, wildly fun without being exploitative, and deep enough to keep adults hooked. It's a deck-building roguelite where you play poker hands to score points, but there's zero actual gambling—no betting, no money, just pure strategy and math.

The controversy around its 18+ PEGI rating was absurd (now corrected), but it highlights how the game uses poker as a framework, not a lifestyle. Kids learn probability, hand rankings, and risk assessment while hunting for wild Joker synergies that break the game in delightful ways.

No ads, no microtransactions, no online toxicity. Just you, a deck of cards, and increasingly impossible odds to overcome. The one-more-run loop is strong, so set boundaries, but otherwise? This is one of the best indie games of 2024, and it's genuinely good for developing strategic thinking. Highly recommend.