Dungeons, Dice, and Desperation: My Wild Ride Through a Gambler’s Wonderland

Wow, I engaged with something besides Baldur’s Gate 3! What an unexpected turn! So, following the suggestion from VICE’s very own Shaun Cichacki, I purchased and played Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers. It appeared to be the ideal choice! I enjoy Balatro, and I’m a fan of roguelike card/dice games! (Which reminds me, I might have to create one of these for Wildfrost soon.)

I played approximately four hours of Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, and, wow, I’ve got some opinions. So, as is customary, what exactly is the game about? Well, in its most simplified form: D&DG is Blackjack Balatro. You begin with a conventional playing deck, defeat anyone daring enough to challenge you in a lively game of Blackjack, and rise to the rank of Card Game Deity.

Videos by VICE

As you progress, you’ll acquire new cards with assorted effects, allowing you to create a deck that can hopefully endure the toughest challenges. You’ll also encounter sporadic events where you can discard cards, gain new ones, or face some completely unpredictable situations that disrupt your strategies. So, with all that out of the way: did Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers completely blow my mind from the four-hour sample I experienced?

‘dungeons and degenerate gamblers’ possesses the potential to compete with the heavyweights

To clarify one aspect: D&DG merits far better than being possibly dismissed and labeled as a Balatro imitator. Yes, they are both roguelike card titles. Nonetheless, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers carries its distinct style, depth, and rhythm! Balatro is more measured, allowing you to thoroughly plan your subsequent moves. D&DG is definitely not slow.

Initially, sure, the game may deceive you into believing it won’t be frantic and unruly. Nonetheless, as your adversaries become more skilled and it’s your deck synergies against theirs? The pace of the game accelerates drastically. I must admit, I found myself questioning what was happening during certain moments because the game transitioned from a leisurely jog to a high-speed chase.

Nevertheless, I adore Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers thus far. I still need to adjust to all the various cards and their capabilities to determine what possible “builds” I can create. These are excellent problems to have! Additionally, there’s an amusingly clear undertone of “Hey, gambling actually blows — and so does capitalism, for that matter!” threaded throughout the game that I find commendable! The fact that four hours zipped by unnoticed speaks volumes about the game’s early brilliance!

If you’re curious about what Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers entails but still feel hesitant? Try the Steam demo! Believe me, you won’t regret it!