How to Use Cheats in Balatro (Debug Menu Guide)

Balatro, the 2024 breakout hit selling over 3.5 million copies and winning multiple Game Awards, continues to captivate players. However, mastering its mechanics might leave some seeking fresh challenges. While mods offer one solution, accessing Balatro's built-in developer debug menu provides an alternative, preserving achievements. This guide details how to enable and utilize this cheat menu.

Quick Links

• Enabling Cheats in Balatro

• Using the Balatro Debug Menu

Enabling Cheats in Balatro

To activate Balatro's hidden cheat menu, 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 unsure, find Balatro in your Steam library, right-click, 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"). Inside, locate conf.lua and open it with a simple text editor like Notepad.

Modify the line _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 file. With this done, pressing and holding the Tab key in-game will reveal the debug menu. To disable cheats, simply revert the _RELEASE_MODE parameter back to true.

Using the Balatro Debug Menu

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 your hand transforms it into a negative, effectively granting unlimited Jokers.

All Balatro Cheats (Hold Tab to Open Menu)

Cheat / Key Effect 1Unlock a Collectible (while hovering) 2Discover a Collectible (while hovering) 3Spawn a Collectible (while hovering) QChange Joker Edition (while hovering in hand) HIsolate Background JPlay Splash Animation 8Toggle Cursor 9Toggle All Tooltips $10Adds $10 to Total +1 RoundIncreases Round by 1 +1 AnteIncreases Ante by 1 +1 HandAdds one Hand +1 DiscardAdds one Discard Boss RerollRerolls the Boss BackgroundRemoves Background +10 ChipsAdds 10 Chips +10 MultAdds 10 to Multiplier X2 ChipsDoubles Chips X10 MultIncreases Multiplier by 10 Win this RunCompletes the Run Lose this RunEnds the Run ResetResets the Run JimboMakes Jimbo Appear Jimbo TalkDisplays Jimbo Text Box