How to Use Cheats in Balatro (Debug Menu Guide)

Balatro: Unleashing the Power of the Debug Menu for Enhanced Gameplay

Balatro, the 2024 Game Awards sensation, captivated players worldwide with its innovative gameplay and endless replayability. Selling over 3.5 million copies and scooping three prestigious awards, its popularity endures. However, even seasoned players might seek new ways to revitalize their experience. While mods offer one solution, accessing Balatro's built-in developer debug menu provides a cheat-enabled alternative that preserves achievements.

Quick Links

• Accessing Balatro's Cheats
• Mastering the Debug Menu

Accessing Balatro's Cheats

Enabling cheats requires the free, open-source 7-Zip software. Locate your Balatro installation directory (typically C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Balatro; otherwise, find it via your Steam library: right-click Balatro, select "Manage," then "Browse Local Files").

Right-click Balatro.exe and open the archive using 7-Zip (this might be under "Show More Options," depending on your OS and 7-Zip settings). Inside, find and open conf.lua with a text editor (like Notepad).

Modify _RELEASE_MODE = true to _RELEASE_MODE = false, save the file. If saving fails, extract conf.lua to your desktop, make the change, and replace the original. The debug menu activates by holding the Tab key in-game. To disable cheats, revert _RELEASE_MODE to true.

Mastering the Debug Menu

Balatro's cheat menu is user-friendly. Unlock collectibles by hovering and pressing '1'; spawn jokers by hovering and pressing '3'. Initially limited to five jokers, pressing 'Q' four times on a joker in your hand transforms it into a negative, effectively expanding your joker limit.

Complete List of Balatro Cheats (Hold Tab to Access)