Ballionaire
- December 10, 2024
- newobject
- 77h median play time
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Get on itch.io Store"Ballionaire is a physics-driven strategy roguelike offering 77+ hours of playtime, where you build pachinko-inspired boards, overcome tribulations set by the ELDERS, and master multiple board layouts to become a Ballionaire. Satisfy their monetary demands, create chaos with kinetic combos, and draft new triggers each round to earn money and build an unstoppable scoring engine."
PC
Steam Deck
Web Browser
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game is highly addictive and offers a satisfying gameplay loop with numerous synergies to explore.
- The art style and sound design are vibrant and engaging, enhancing the overall experience.
- It's a fun and chaotic mix of pachinko and roguelike elements, making it enjoyable for fans of similar games like Balatro and Luck Be a Landlord.
- The game can feel overly reliant on RNG, leading to frustrating moments where player agency seems limited.
- Content is perceived as lacking, with some players feeling they quickly unlock everything and run out of challenges.
- Certain game modes and mechanics, like fishing and pinball, are seen as less enjoyable and can detract from the overall fun.
- gameplay22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Ballionaire is characterized by a unique blend of pachinko mechanics and roguelite elements, offering an addictive and rewarding experience. While the game features enjoyable mechanics and a satisfying gameplay loop, some players note balancing issues and a lack of interactivity with certain elements. Overall, it captures attention with its wacky art style and smooth mechanics, making it a recommended choice for fans of the genre.
“This game satisfies every gameplay desire I have had on the front of plinko, and the deckbuilding element is dope as hell.”
“The gambling/casino themed roguelike genre is still relatively new enough that Ballionaire's concept and execution feels fresh with its well-crafted pachinko gameplay.”
“Addicting gameplay, crazy synergies, beautiful art style!”
“There's also some minor balancing issues within the game that bother me, like coins being obviously the strongest archetype to use, agers being a mechanic that has a lot of things to increment them but lacks enough actual members in its type, chain items only consisting of two items with both being mediocre, and finally the lack of cooldown interactivity - there are a few items and boons that reset them, but otherwise you simply don't interact with them, so they can be very feast or famine at times.”
“You rarely feel satisfied as the gameplay feels like it is missing something.”
“Needs a banish or draft mechanic to really take it to the next level, but as-is, you'll get your money's worth if this kind of game is usually your jam.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their colorful and retro art style, which many reviewers describe as charming and reminiscent of classic games. The visuals are noted for their creativity and attention to detail, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, reflecting the developer's passion and enhancing the game's addictive gameplay.
“The art style is really colorful and retro, and I enjoy that.”
“I love the art style; you can tell the developer poured a lot of themselves into this project, and it shows.”
“Art style: 10/10. The game is beautiful and welcoming; it also reminds me of Peggle.”
“The wacky character aesthetic and characters only translate well in the trailer.”
“Visuals, sound, and gameplay are all extremely satisfying.”
- music15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for being enjoyable, relaxing, and fitting well with the vibrant art style, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. However, many users express a desire for more variety in the music tracks across different stages, with some noting disappointment that the main menu music does not match the excitement of the launch trailer. Overall, while the music enhances the gameplay experience, there is room for improvement in track diversity.
“Beautiful art style, and good music.”
“Music is so enjoyable, relaxing, and tons of fun.”
“A lot of games for me are hit or miss just based off the music and this one nails it; the gameplay loop is really fun and both complex and simple at the same time.”
“Each stage needs more than one music track.”
“The fact that the song from the launch trailer isn't the main menu music is criminal.”
“I wish it had more than one terrible musical track.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed positively, with many players enjoying the difficulty curve and potential for fun through modding and community-created content. However, some users feel that once all modes are completed, the lack of variety and unlockables limits long-term replay value. There is a consensus that future expansions and more diverse gameplay options could enhance replayability further.
“Although there's not a lot of variety and unlockables, it's still a very replayable and enjoyable experience.”
“Awesome game with tons of synergies and replayability.”
“All that said, this game is really great and it does what it does really well; it just starts to lack in replayability once you have finally beaten every difficulty or mode.”
“I would want to see more expansion to less gimmicky boards to extend endgame replayability.”
“Game is fun, and easily has a generous amount of replay value - and that will only go up if people start actually doing what the devs encourage: making new triggers, boons, and other stuff in the workshop; as with any moddable game, this has absolutely ridiculous potential if the fanbase rises to meet it.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be a highlight, appreciating its quirky elements like funny animations and unexpected outcomes that arise from its randomness. The comedic aspects, such as the amusing reactions of characters and the absurdity of certain gameplay mechanics, contribute to an enjoyable experience, even when players encounter frustrating moments like infinite turns. Overall, the humor enhances the game's charm and keeps players engaged.
“I find it funny that most negative reviews are criticizing the game for being too 'random', when the game is literally based on a gambling mechanic that relies on pure randomness and luck. They still bought it! The devs have already implemented features to keep the randomness in check, but it's up to you to discover the combos. LMAO, really fun game! I hope the devs keep adding new content over time.”
“I just like the vibes, man. The funny dancing stick figure that says 'wow!' every time I pick a new upgrade really motivates me.”
“It's funny to see a board you've built work really well and spawn dozens of extra balls.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a mix of emotions while engaging with the game, experiencing initial frustration as they learn the mechanics, but ultimately finding joy and clarity through successful gameplay. The satisfaction of executing well-planned strategies and achieving unexpected successes contributes to a rewarding emotional experience.
“They may laugh or giggle a lot and experience a sense of mental and emotional clarity.”
“Planning your triggers and combos works fantastically alongside the emotional satisfaction of getting that lucky bounce.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for causing significant stuttering and performance issues when players create highly optimized builds, leading to frequent explosions and a lack of smooth gameplay.
“Once a build gets optimized, everything just explodes every time I drop a ball.”
“The game runs smoothly and efficiently when the builds are well-optimized.”
“I love how the optimization allows for creative strategies without sacrificing performance.”
“The only problem is, once a build gets optimized, everything just explodes every time I drop a ball.”
“The game seems to stutter hard whenever a build gets too optimized or overblown.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning art and excellent music, creating an engaging and immersive experience that enhances the addictive gameplay.
“Great art, excellent atmosphere, the music is great, and gameplay is addictive, but not in a way like cigarettes that will take years off of your life.”
