Balatro inspired slot machine horror game surpasses 680,000 demo downloads

I am not a huge fan of horror games, but sometimes one comes along that has something undeniably intriguing about it. And tricky survival horror Cloverpit definitely has that 'it' factor. Much like one of my favorite horror games of all time, Inscryption, you are locked in a small room and forced to play a game - except, instead of cards, Cloverpit has Balatro-inspired demonic slot machines that can win you your freedom, or let you fall to your ruin. Literally.

It looks like I'm not the only one to be intrigued by the concept. Over 680,000 copies of the Cloverpit demo have now been downloaded, with the horror game seemingly hitting the top 100 wishlisted games list. Developer Panik Arcade revealed the latest stats in an X post, saying that it was the first time they had checked the numbers in a while. "It feels like we're dreaming," they add, "so much happening."

It's not the only game to attempt to build on the massive success of Balatro, but Cloverpit is definitely one of the standout ones. And it also appears to be one of the few actively pointing out the dangers of gambling. The game has been described as a "sinister tale of addiction and escape" on the Steam page, and I can see how.

You're not alone in this rusty cell with just a demonic slot machine; there is also an ATM waiting for your hard-earned coins. Every round, the debt it demands increases and you will need to bend the rules, break the game, and manipulate the slot machine to make enough coins to meet your captor's demands.

If not, well, the trapdoor beneath your feet will open up and you will fall to your doom. Game over.

The demo for Cloverpit is available now. You can head over to the Steam page here to download it.

Planning on returning to Balatro sometimes soon? Then check out our guide on the best Balatro mods. Or alternatively, head on over to our guide on the best indie games to find something new to play.

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