Jumping into a new survival horror roguelike, the last thing you’d expect to be doing is staying in one room endlessly cranking the lever on a slot machine. But that’s the exact premise of the Balatro-esque Cloverpit, which brings a huge range of modifiers, multipliers, and satisfying combos to the classic casino game. However, it’s a bit more poignant than that, as the game also acts as an allegory for the darker side of gambling.
I think we’re probably at the stage now where we can coin the phrase ‘Balatrolike’ as a new subgenre. The indie hit’s massive success has spawned several new PC games in recent months that follow its basic formula of putting a roguelike spin on classic card games, tabletop staples, or arcade machines. We’ve seen the likes of mahjong, chess, and solitaire all get this kind of treatment, and the latest is Cloverpit, which Balatro-fies slot machines.
What’s interesting though is that Cloverpit doesn’t aim to glorify the addictive gambling element of slots – in fact, the game’s creators straight up say that “we don’t really like gambling.” Instead, the demonic slot machine you play is your key out of a dark, rusty prison cell. Alongside the slot machine is an ATM where you must insert the coins you win in order to pay off your debts. As the game progresses, it’ll keep increasing your debts, so you’ll have to use your modifiers and power-ups to hit big combos and multipliers in order to earn more coins.
However, if you fail to pay off your debts and you run out of spins, it’s the end of the road. Like some kind of twisted game show, a trap door will open beneath your feet, sending you plummeting to your doom.
Developer Panik Arcade – the same team behind the 98% rated, Sonic-like platformer Yellow Taxi Goes Vroom – describes Cloverpit as “a sinister tale of addiction and escape,” and there are multiple endings that you can experience too.
Cloverpit is slated to launch in 2025, but there’s a Steam demo available right now to give you an early taste of the game. To download it, or wishlist Cloverpit, head to its Steam page here.
For more gritty and bleak vibes, check out our list of the best horror games. To see what else is arriving this year, our upcoming PC games guide is the place to be.
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