Balatro: Unleash the Power of Cheats and the Debug Menu
Balatro, the 2024 Game Awards sensation, captivated gamers worldwide with its innovative gameplay and endless replayability. While mastering its mechanics is rewarding, some players crave fresh challenges. This guide explores how to access and utilize Balatro's built-in cheat menu, offering a compelling alternative to mods for seasoned players. The cheat menu allows for crafting ideal Joker combinations without tedious seed hunting, all while preserving achievement unlocks.
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How to Enable Cheats in Balatro
To activate Balatro's debug menu and unlock its cheat functionality, you'll need 7-Zip, a free, open-source archiving tool. Locate your Balatro installation directory (typically C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Balatro). If you can't find it, access it via your Steam library: right-click Balatro, select "Manage," then "Browse Local Files."
Right-click Balatro.exe and choose to open the archive using 7-Zip (this might be under "Show More Options" depending on your system and 7-Zip settings). Inside, locate and open conf.lua with a simple text editor like Notepad.
Modify the line _RELEASE_MODE = true to _RELEASE_MODE = false, then save the file. If saving proves impossible, extract conf.lua to your desktop, make the change, and replace the original file. With this done, the debug menu will activate by holding the Tab key during gameplay.
Deactivate the debug menu anytime by reverting _RELEASE_MODE back to true in conf.lua.
How to Use the Debug Menu in Balatro
Balatro's cheat menu is user-friendly. Most functions are self-explanatory. Unlock any collectible by hovering over it and pressing 1. Add jokers to your current game by hovering and pressing 3. Initially limited to five jokers, transform a joker into a negative by hovering over it and pressing Q four times, effectively expanding your joker count.
