What is VELATO?
If you've been riding the Balatro hype train but miss the feeling of fighting an actual enemy, you need to play VELATO. It's a poker-bluff roguelike that lets you cheat the odds and gaslight AI opponents into folding.
Gameplay
You're essentially building a Joker-driven economy engine to bankrupt AI opponents. Instead of just chasing a high score, you're playing a poker-bluff roguelike where you manipulate the table to make the AI fold. The core loop is all about hunting for broken Joker synergies that let you cheat the odds or turn a hand of complete trash into a perceived powerhouse. It's got that same 'one more run' addiction you find in Balatro, but it adds the tension of actually fighting an enemy like you do in Slay the Spire.
Run variety is high because your strategy shifts constantly. One run you'll play it safe with high-value hands, and the next you'll focus entirely on gaslighting the AI into thinking you've got a Royal Flush. The meta-progression and power scaling feel familiar if you've played Monster Train, though that's where the rough edges show. It's in Early Access, so it's a bit unpolished and some of the progression feels derivative of the big hitters in the genre.
At $14.99, it's a fair price for the loop it provides, but you should know it's not reinventing the wheel. It's more about taking proven deckbuilding mechanics and slapping them onto a poker table. If you're looking for a totally new genre-bending experience, this might feel too close to its inspirations, but the mechanical loop is solid enough to keep you hooked.
Key Features
- Joker-driven economy engine
- Bluffing AI opponents
- Poker-based roguelike loop
- High run variety
Video Review
Screenshots
Verdict
I'd give it a 7.5/10. It's perfect for fans of Balatro who want more opponent interaction, but if you hate derivative progression or unpolished Early Access titles, you might want to wait for a few more updates.
View on Steam →* Price at time of publication (checked 06.07.2026). Prices may vary by region and are subject to change. This is an editorial review, not a commercial offer.