Balatro, the 2024 breakout hit selling over 3.5 million copies and earning multiple Game Awards, maintains immense popularity. However, seasoned players might seek ways to revitalize their gameplay. While mods offer one solution, utilizing Balatro's built-in developer debug menu provides an alternative, preserving achievements. This guide details how to access and utilize this cheat menu.
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How to Enable Cheats in Balatro
To activate Balatro's debug menu and access its cheats, you'll need 7-Zip (free, open-source software). Locate your Balatro installation directory (typically C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Balatro). If unsure, find Balatro in your Steam library, right-click, select "Manage," then "Browse Local Files."
Right-click Balatro.exe and open the archive using 7-Zip (may be under "Show More Options"). Find conf.lua and open it with a text editor (like Notepad).
Change _RELEASE_MODE = true to _RELEASE_MODE = false, then save. If saving fails, extract conf.lua to your desktop, make the change, and replace the original. The debug menu will now activate by holding the Tab key in-game. To disable, revert the _RELEASE_MODE parameter to true.
How to Use the Debug Menu in Balatro
Balatro's cheat menu is user-friendly. Unlock collectibles by hovering and pressing '1'; spawn them with '3'. Initially limited to five Jokers, pressing 'Q' four times on a Joker in hand converts it to a negative, effectively allowing unlimited Jokers.
All Balatro Cheats (Hold Tab to Open Menu)
Cheat / Key
Effect
