Info about Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers:

Official game description:
Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers - A Blackjack Roguelike Adventure
Begin your adventure in a tavern that is home to a unique, corrupted version of blackjack you have never played before. You will need to pick up the rules and adapt to them as you progress through the tavern, challenging a colourful cast of blackjack-addicted townspeople. Discover the mystery of who runs this twisted casino as you progress through the tavern to take them down!
Pick a suit: hearts for healing, spades to offer you some protection, diamonds for more currency for shop purchases, or clubs for extra damage. Remove cards from your deck as you progress. Pick up more aces and face cards, or fill your deck with tarot cards, business cards, birthday cards, hall passes and more!
Make your way through the tavern challenging patrons, purchasing additional cards for your deck, resting up when your health gets low, opening boosters packs, participating in minigames and much more! Take on the run-based deckbuilding roguelike challenge, with endless possibilities for unique and interesting decks!
**Features**
*   Unique play styles based around card suits
*   Ascend or descend through the tavern over and over by unlocking new starter decks when you complete runs for entirely new ways to play
*   Discover incredible rule-breaking synergies in order to defeat the house edge.
*   Over 300 unique cards!
*   60 characters to defeat
*   Use unique chips to gain advantage and activate special cards
*   Minigames and events to gain more chips or enhance your deck
*   Unique grimy pixel art aesthetic
*   All the degeneracy from a seedy casino but with no risk to your finances, mental health, or your loved ones

Release date: 8 Aug, 2024

Categories: Roguelike, Deckbuilding, Card-based Gameplay, Turn-based Combat, Single-player Story, Character Progression, Resource Management


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Charming theme, humorous references (weight 0.88): The game's charm is enhanced by its unique theme, art style, and humor, with many reviewers appreciating the references and parodies incorporated into the card designs and gameplay. This combination of strategic depth and lightheartedness contributes to a positive and engaging player experience.
- Roguelike, blackjack blend well (weight 0.81): Reviewers highlight the game's successful blend of roguelike elements with card game mechanics, particularly blackjack, creating a unique and engaging experience. The roguelike structure adds depth and replayability, while the card-based gameplay allows for strategic deck-building and varied playstyles.
- Rewarding progression, engaging gameplay (weight 0.73): The game provides a rewarding sense of progression and accomplishment, motivating players to continue playing and improving their skills. The element of chance combined with strategic decision-making creates a compelling gameplay loop that keeps players engaged.
- Simple, easy to learn (weight 0.68): The game is easy to learn and play, with simple mechanics that are accessible to new players. Despite its simplicity, the game offers strategic depth and engaging gameplay.
- Good art, music, and sound (weight 0.68): The game's overall presentation is well-received, with reviewers praising the quality of the music, sound effects, and art style. These elements contribute to an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.
- Highly addictive (weight 0.67): The game is highly addictive, with many reviewers noting its ability to capture their attention for extended periods. This addictive quality is a testament to the game's engaging gameplay loop and rewarding progression system.
- Unique blackjack twist (weight 0.18): The game puts a unique spin on blackjack, adding new mechanics and strategic depth to the classic card game.  Reviewers appreciate how the game expands upon the familiar rules, creating a fresh and engaging experience for both blackjack enthusiasts and newcomers.
- Strategic card effects, manipulation (weight 0.14): The game features a variety of cards with unique effects that can significantly impact gameplay, allowing players to manipulate hands, disrupt opponents, and create strategic advantages. Mastering these cards and understanding their interactions is key to success.
- Compared to Balatro (weight 0.14): Many reviewers draw comparisons to Balatro, noting similarities in gameplay and addictive qualities. While some find it a unique experience, the constant comparisons suggest that Balatro has set a benchmark in the genre, influencing player expectations and perceptions of similar games.
- Fun deck-building, experimentation (weight 0.11): Experimenting with different decks and strategies is a key part of the fun, with reviewers enjoying the process of discovering new combinations and mastering the game's mechanics. The satisfaction of building a powerful deck and defeating challenging opponents is a recurring theme.
- Positive demo reception (weight 0.04): The demo version of the game was well-received, generating excitement and anticipation for the full release. This positive reception suggests that the game's core concept and mechanics are appealing to players.

Common complaints:
- Poor deck-building, limited card synergies (weight 0.93): Reviewers criticize the game's deck-building mechanics, citing limited card removal options, a lack of card synergies, and an overabundance of useless or detrimental cards. This makes it difficult to create focused, effective decks, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences and a sense of being overwhelmed by the card pool.
- Excessive RNG diminishes player agency (weight 0.89): The game relies too heavily on RNG, diminishing player agency and strategic deck-building.  Many reviewers expressed frustration with the unpredictable nature of card draws, enemy actions, and event outcomes, leading to runs that feel unfair and out of control. Some reviewers noted that the game's blackjack mechanics exacerbate the reliance on luck.
- Busting penalty too severe (weight 0.71): The game's penalty for busting is too severe, leading to defensive play and limiting strategic options.  Reviewers noted that the high risk associated with busting makes it difficult to play aggressively, while the lack of healing options makes it difficult to recover from mistakes.
- Opponents have unfair advantages (weight 0.41): Many reviewers noted that opponents often have unfair advantages, such as optimized decks, the ability to consistently draw the cards they need, and mechanics that disrupt the player's strategy. This can lead to frustrating situations where the player feels powerless to overcome the odds, especially in later stages of the game.
- Unfavorable comparisons to Balatro (weight 0.09): Many reviewers compared the game unfavorably to Balatro, citing a steeper learning curve, less strategic depth, and a lack of polish. Some reviewers felt that the game was simply a mediocre attempt at a Balatro-like experience, while others expressed disappointment that it wasn't a direct clone.
- Limited healing options, deck imbalance (weight 0.08): Healing options are scarce, making it difficult to recover from damage and sustain runs, especially with non-heart suit decks. This creates an imbalance between the heart suit and other decks, as the heart suit provides a significant advantage in terms of survivability.
- Useless starting deck (weight 0.05): The starting deck is often considered useless, with limited options to improve it early on. This can lead to frustrating early game experiences and a reliance on luck to survive.
- Unbalanced starting chip strength (weight 0.03): The strength of starting chips varies greatly, with some chips being almost useless. The limited and random selection of chips can force restarts if unsuitable chips are offered.
- Poor music and sound design (weight 0.03): The music is often described as boring, repetitive, and negatively impacting the overall experience. Some reviewers even resorted to muting the game and using external music sources.
- Clunky Steam Deck controls (weight 0.02): The controls feel clunky and unresponsive on the Steam Deck, making it difficult to select cards and navigate menus. This creates a frustrating experience for players using the Steam Deck.
- Losing feels luck-based (weight 0.01): This cluster contains emotional language without specific details. Losing feels like it's completely based on luck.
- No guaranteed healing (weight 0.01): This cluster contains emotional language without specific details. When the player's health drops to zero, the run ends, and there's no guaranteed healing.
- Deck destroyed by enemies (weight 0.01): This cluster contains emotional language without specific details. The player's deck can be destroyed by enemies later in the game.
- Compelled to restart runs (weight 0.01): This cluster contains emotional language without specific details. The reviewer feels compelled to restart runs that aren't progressing perfectly.

Gameplay feedback:
- Deck-building is key mechanic (weight 0.26): Players build decks to improve their odds and disrupt opponents.  This involves collecting cards with various effects, managing hand draws, and strategically deciding when to hit or stand.  Some cards go directly to the player's hand, offering more control, while others have on-play or on-discard effects.
- Core is modified Blackjack (weight 0.25): The core gameplay revolves around a modified version of Blackjack, where players aim to reach 21 or get closer than their opponents without exceeding it.  Card suits often grant special effects, such as healing, damage boosts, shields, or currency.  Basic Blackjack knowledge is helpful but not always essential, as the game introduces unique twists and mechanics.
- Enemies have unique strategies (weight 0.09): Enemies possess unique, pre-built decks with specific strategies and gimmicks.  Players must adapt their deck-building and gameplay to counter these strategies, often by disrupting the opponent's deck or exploiting their weaknesses.  Information on the enemy's deck, stand threshold, and discard pile is often available.
- Roguelike elements present, uneven depth (weight 0.07): The game incorporates roguelike elements, but the depth may be less than other titles in the genre.  Experimentation with different deck builds is encouraged, but the game's difficulty can stem from randomness and punishing missteps.  Some reviewers found that the optimal strategy involves prioritizing disruption cards.
- Damage based on score difference (weight 0.05): Players and opponents deal damage based on the difference between their hand values, with busting resulting in a score of zero.  The goal is to reduce the opponent's health to zero while managing one's own, often prioritizing disruption over maximizing one's own score.  Temporary protection can be acquired.
- Card exploits and 'Advantage' system (weight 0.04): Cards can manipulate opponent's cards or grant advantages through "cheating", often using a resource called "Advantage".  Advantage points are required to use Exploit cards or play held cards, and are gained through a chip system chosen after the first fight.  Some reviewers found the advantage system to be underutilized or poorly balanced.
- Suits grant unique Blackjack bonuses (weight 0.04): The game features card suits that confer benefits in Blackjack: Hearts heal, Clubs deal damage, Diamonds offer monetary gain, and Spades build a shield.  These effects often trigger when reaching 21 or winning the round with the highest score.  Players start by choosing a deck, initially consisting of the standard 52 cards and a single suit.
- Roguelike with gambling elements (weight 0.02): The game is a roguelike, often compared to Balatro and Slay the Spire, with a fantasy gambling sim aesthetic.  It incorporates elements of luck and strategy, where losses can occur due to bad RNG even with optimal play.  The game may lean towards a more traditional roguelike design.
- Max value triggers suit effects (weight 0.02): Hitting the max value (21 by default) triggers bonus effects based on the card suit. If a player's score exceeds 21 (bust), they automatically stand and are treated as having a score of 0.
- Heavy reliance on RNG (weight 0.02): RNG (random number generation) is a core element of the gameplay, significantly influencing run success and limiting the impact of strategy. Some runs are subject to randomness, which is typical for roguelite games.
- Limited branching paths (weight 0.01): The game features branching paths, but the limited number of routes and relatively fixed events may lead players to prioritize certain paths. The game's paths and encounters are almost entirely the same between every run, allowing players to plan their builds.
- Calculation-heavy, Slay the Spire-like progression (weight 0.01): The game requires more mathematical calculation compared to Balatro and Slay the Spire. Progression is similar to Slay the Spire, starting at The Tavern and progressing through areas, facing opponents and area bosses.
- Unique opponents, Slay the Spire-like progression (weight 0.01): Players encounter opponents with unique gimmicks that must be learned to overcome them. The game uses a similar progression system to Slay the Spire, where each run requires defeating a specific opponent rather than reaching a score threshold.

Performance notes:
- Good performance and optimization (weight 0.04): The game is generally well-optimized, runs smoothly, and is playable on the Steam Deck. Players have reported good performance and responsiveness on various devices, including the Steam Deck.
- Poor controller support (weight 0.01): Controller support is lacking, making menu navigation difficult and imprecise. Players suggest improvements such as limiting button functions to card selection to avoid accidentally selecting UI elements.
- Call card button gets stuck (weight 0): The call card button sometimes gets stuck, which can disrupt gameplay. This issue can negatively impact the player's experience.
- Proton needed for Linux (weight 0): Linux users may need to run the game with Proton to ensure proper window settings and achievement tracking. This workaround is necessary for a seamless experience on Linux.

Recommendations:
- Balance and RNG issues (weight 0.41): Many reviewers mention balancing issues, RNG problems, and a lack of depth or strategic options. They suggest the game needs more polish, rebalancing, and content to be truly enjoyable and worth the purchase. Some reviewers find the game frustrating due to these issues.
- Similar to Balatro/Slay the Spire (weight 0.38): Many reviewers compare the game to Balatro, Slay the Spire, and Blackjack, recommending it to fans of these genres. Some find it similar and enjoyable, while others suggest sticking to the original games or waiting for updates to improve the experience. The game is often described as a roguelike deckbuilder with blackjack mechanics.
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.29): Many reviewers suggest the game is worth buying on sale or at a discounted price, but not at full price. They cite balancing issues, lack of content, or other flaws that make the full price not worth it. The game is considered a good value for its entertainment at a lower price point.
- Fun and enjoyable experience (weight 0.28): Many reviewers express overall enjoyment and recommend the game, with some giving it high scores. They find it fun, addictive, and engaging, with the potential for long-term play. Some reviewers suggest trying the demo to see if it fits your preferences.
- Needs more content/polish (weight 0.17): Reviewers suggest the game needs more content, quality of life improvements, and better UI/UX. They hope for future updates to address these issues and add more variety and depth to the gameplay. Some reviewers also suggest specific improvements, such as a quick restart option or more engaging encounters.
- Excessive RNG is frustrating (weight 0.03): Some reviewers express frustration with the game's heavy reliance on RNG, which can lead to unfair situations and a lack of player agency. They suggest that skill is irrelevant and completing the game requires exceptional luck. One reviewer recommends avoiding the game if high reliance on RNG annoys you.
- Hopes for future support (weight 0.02): Reviewers express hope for future support, updates, and ports to other platforms like mobile or Switch. They note that the developers are active and working on improvements, suggesting potential for significant changes in the future. This indicates a desire for the game to continue evolving and expanding.
- Solid foundation, needs expansion (weight 0.01): The game has a solid foundation and the addition of items to the traditional 21-point gameplay brings more variables, making it attractive to many enthusiasts. The reviewer suggests adding mechanics to increase the 21-point limit to allow for higher damage potential and a more satisfying numerical experience.

Other player notes:
- Compared to Balatro (mixed) (weight 0.04): Many reviewers compare this game to Balatro, but some argue that the similarities are superficial or coincidental, as this game was in development before Balatro's release. Some reviewers use the comparison to highlight differences in quality, scope, intent, and pacing, with some finding this game less favorable.
- Hopes for future updates (weight 0.02): Some reviewers express excitement for future updates and content, including the addition of trading cards. The developers' responsiveness and adjustments to the game indicate a strong commitment to the game and its community.
- Chaotic, slow-burn gameplay (weight 0.01): The game features a mix of slow-burn gameplay with chaotic elements, including lengthy fights and various card types. It incorporates simple storylines, cutscenes, events, and mini-games, similar to other deck-building games.
- Balancing issues being addressed (weight 0.01): The developers are aware of balancing issues and are planning an update to address them. This indicates an ongoing effort to improve the game's overall balance and fairness.
- Unfair blackjack implementation (weight 0.01): The game is based on blackjack, but some reviewers feel that the player is at a disadvantage compared to the opponents. Blackjacks seem to happen rarely for the player, while opponents are favored.
- Excellent Japanese translation (weight 0.01): The game has full Japanese language support, and the translation is excellent. This makes the game easy to read and understand for Japanese-speaking players.
- Unusual card themes/items (weight 0.01): The game features cards that include items like playing cards, flower cards, SD cards, and train tickets. Any item with "card" in its name is forcibly turned into a card.
- Rougelike/lite implementation issues (weight 0.01): Some reviewers express a desire for a gambling roguelike casino game. Some reviewers suggest the game's system should be a rougelite instead of a rougelike given its RNG-based nature and limited ability to make use of player knowledge.

Emotions:
No emotions}