Review: Jokers of Neon

I spent ten long days in Buenos Aires, five of them, inside the Starknet Foundation’s Startup House, surrounded by young founders and developers who breathe blockchain and mathematics as if it were fresh air. I, a rough King of Fighters player and hard-drinking musician, was there more as a curious observer than as part of that intellectual machinery. But it was precisely in this environment that I had direct contact with the creators of Jokers of Neon, and the experience opened up a perspective for me that, as a gamer and journalist, I had never experienced.

The game, recently launched for Android and also listed on blockchain gaming platforms, is a strategic card game based on poker, with roguelike mechanics that allow you to build combos, unlock special cards and face increasingly challenging levels. The proposal is simple: start with a basic deck and, with each round, expand your strategy with modifiers and unique cards. The result is a game that is easy to learn, but infinitely replayable, as the developers themselves highlight.

I confess that only today, when I actually played, did I realize that it was a poker game. The aesthetics that maybe diverted me from this essence, or whatever…
When I think of card games, I immediately remember Pokémon TCG, Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone. Jokers of Neon doesn’t have the same immediate impact as a good hand of poker, but it doesn’t sound like a copy of anything either. The creators mentioned Balatro, winner of recent awards, but even without having played this title, I realized that there is its own personality here — and that is rare in the indie scene.

What impacted me most was realizing that behind every indie game there is always one or more people passionate about it. They are young adults, still learning, but with an unusual drive. And that passion shines through in Jokers of Neon. The current aesthetic is competent, the layout works, but there are points that need evolution. Audio, for example, lacks impact: in any game, sound is a fundamental part of the experience. When an action is accompanied by a creative sound effect, the player is eager to discover the next sounds. Here, I missed that seasoning.

My impression is that developers could explore playing more games. There are simple solutions that could be applied without much effort, even more so with the support of artificial intelligence nowadays. This does not diminish the merit of the project — on the contrary, it reinforces that there is room for growth. And like any good indie, Jokers of Neon is the result of talented kids, with good looks and structured families, who took on this challenge.

I played until I lost, I understood the mechanics well and I had fun. Jokers of Neon is interesting, has personality and deserves attention. It’s not perfect, but it’s authentic. And authenticity, in the world of games, is worth its weight in gold. I wish the team success — because they already have plenty of talent and passion.