Welcome to the Underrated Gems, a brand-new review series for underrated games. Every other week,, I will be reviewing a game I consider to be Underrated between all the games that are released. These games would be considered not that well known in the mainstream media, hidden gems, and most importantly: just Underrated. All these games will be reviewed on my Steam account unless otherwise stated. This week, we go back to the Dealer’s Table to play a special game of Blackjack

     Few weeks ago, I reviewed Balatro: a roguelike poker game that utilized an underutilized card, The Joker. Now, another game inspired by it, released on May 5, 2024, that turns the game of Blackjack into another roguelike game. Developed by Purple Moss Collectors, the game titled “Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers” came out on steam. And now, let’s just say we may have a full roguelike casino- based games as a new subgenre in the future

Gameplay

     The gameplay is, well simply put, playing a game of Blackjack. Trying to get to 21 or lower, and not busting higher against increasingly difficult npcs. But with this game being a roguelike, it has a twist. Now damage can be dealt to the other npc, and the main objective is to defeat the npc by getting their health to zero. The way damage is dealt is the values of the cards. Both you and the npc have to use their deck to get to a value of 21 when drawing, with both scores being used as damage points. If you both stand at a score of 19-17, you will only deal two damage, as the npc has 17 damage points to defend. But if either bust, both will be left with nothing to defend themselves with, and either you or your opponent take full damage.  Once you complete the initial stage, you are rewarded with a new card that can be used in your deck of spades, diamonds, hearts, or clubs. But after every match is completed, you’ll see the cards are not your traditional deck of cards, but completely different items representing cards. You get negative cards that reduce your score by the amount, giving you a chance to think again before drawing a new card. You get tarot cards that give you a special ability. You get cards that reference Squid Games, Balatro, Monopoly, and Pokemon. You get…cards that give you instant 21s. Whatever is the case, these cards are all so different from one another, provide special abilities that can screw over your opponent, protect you from any damage, or just completely mess you up. 

     With that being said, you have a lot of enemies to face, each with their own unique decks. From poker players, to knights & squires, to…Count Dracula himself. You get the chance to decide where to go after completing the initial low end bar stages. Either you shot your way to the top, places getting more fancier, exclusive, and more tougher than the last. Or transverse below, getting dirtier, non human enemies taking you on, and just trying to survive. Whatever the case is, all it takes is a well thought out deck that contains cards that can get close to chip away at an opponent each turn. Or just not care about the new cards and run the table with an original deck. Either way, each run is going to have it’s new cards, events, and enemies to face, and all it takes is just the grand score of 21 to advance.

Overall

     While this game isn’t as exactly polished and generous to new players, it provides here is how the roguelike type games can expand in weird and wacky ways. And with the case of blackjack, this game is able to make it seem so unique compared to other roguelike games. Never has a game of blackjack felt so high stakes without even betting feeling so much more thrilling in any way or form. Yet it still feels like productivity rates will continue to fall down, now that you can feel the “Nope!” sign every time in Balatro, and going just one above 21 in D&D Gamblers.