Burn With Me Pitches a Finite Card Game Against Balatro-Likes

Burn With Me, a hand-drawn demon card game featuring the artist’s unique style, is now available on Steam. Rock Paper Shotgun describes it as a “refreshingly finite alternative” to the many Balatro-likes flooding the genre.

This perspective is important. Unlike typical Balatro-style roguelike deckbuilders that focus on endless runs and ever-increasing scores, this card game offers a defined endpoint. That sets it apart.

So far, the information available is limited. The articles from Rock Paper Shotgun have only headlines, and the Kotaworld piece confirms the game is on Steam. Unfortunately, we couldn’t verify details like the developer, price, release date, or run length from these sources. We’ll update this story once we get more information from a store page or press release.

Burn With Me faces a tough benchmark. Rock Paper Shotgun’s coverage compares it to Balatro, which launched on February 20, 2024, and boasts a 98% positive rating from 123,365 Steam reviews. Any competitor in this space will inevitably be compared to it.

The hand-drawn art adds another layer of appeal. Having the artist’s own touch in the game gives it a distinct visual style that sets it apart from other card games. The real question is whether the game mechanics can hold up alongside that artistic flair.

By The Numbers (Balatro, the genre benchmark)

Steam review score	98% positive (123,365 reviews)
Current Steam price	$14.99
Current players	5,208
Release date	February 20, 2024
Developer / publisher	LocalThunk / PlayStack

Community Pulse

Community feelings about the genre’s top game are mixed, which highlights why a finite design might be appealing. One Steam reviewer, who logged 144 hours in Balatro, expressed frustration: “144 hours in the game and my progress has just been deleted? Devs, please fix this.” While this complaint is about save data rather than game length, it underscores the significant investment players put into long-running roguelikes and the risks involved when things go wrong.

What To Watch

• Steam reviews and player counts: The initial weeks of reviews and concurrent players will indicate if the “finite” concept attracts an audience.
• Price and run length: Confirmed pricing and expected completion time will clarify how Burn With Me compares to Balatro’s $14.99.
• Replayability feedback: A finite structure could lead to shorter playtimes. Keep an eye on whether reviewers see this as a positive or negative aspect.