Side by side
Portal (video game) vs Balatro
Portal (video game)
14 positive (88%) · 2 mixed (13%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +88%
Top excerpts
Portal is an extremely polished and focused lab escape experience with a focus on puzzle solving. I like playing a game with such focused and tight narrative with interesting puzzle designs.
Great! Now you're ready for Portal and Portal 2
A medium difficulty for a puzzle game imho. Portal is easy and Baba is You is hard for comparison.
I finished Portal and really enjoyed it! ... Now I’m working on the 100% and oh my god is it the worst. My self-imposed rule is not to use guides on the main game (which was fine here, I felt like 97% of the time once I figured out the solution, it was easy to actually execute) but they’re fine to get 100% (which are so necessary here because even watching videos and knowing what to do and that it will work can still take so many tries).
I started Portal. I definitely struggle with spatial awareness problems (those damn fold/unfold this cube ones on the SAT still haunt me), but I’m finding this just the right difficulty level. I really like that the penalty for trying something wrong is minimal or even nothing, and it’s really encouraged me to feel comfortable experimenting.
Balatro
68 positive (75%) · 15 mixed (16%) · 8 negative (9%)
Trust + time weighted: +67%
AI summary — not a quote
Balatro is a highly acclaimed poker-themed roguelike deckbuilder known for its extremely addictive gameplay loop and deep strategic variety. Users frequently describe it as a 'time-sink' that is difficult to put down, particularly on mobile and handheld platforms where its turn-based nature excels.
Pros
- Compulsive 'one more run' gameplay loop
- Excellent port quality and controls on mobile and Nintendo Switch
- Deep strategic depth through Joker and card synergies
- No predatory monetization or real-money gambling mechanics
Cons
- RNG (luck) can occasionally result in frustrating or unwinnable runs
- Potential for extreme time-consumption due to its addictive nature
- Some users find the gameplay loop becomes repetitive after long-term play
Top excerpts
Warning, this game is like crack
I didn't listen to everyone who said to be careful because it's addicting. I've drained my phone to zero twice this week playing it.
how would I go about trying to recreate the psychedelic background of balatro on a website?
I don't think Balatro's addictive either.
Highly addicting and well-thought out. Permanent install.