Xbox Game Pass Users Losing It Over Free Game That's Balatro Meets Slay The Spire

Published Oct 27, 2026, 9:44 AM EDT

Bruno Yonezawa is a Gaming Senior Writer for Screen Rant. He's been practicing professional journalism for over 10 years, and is also a communications specialist. He's played games all his life and turned that passionate hobby into a passionate career, in an industry where he's worked as a writer, editor, analyst, and more.

Members of Xbox Game Pass have been dropping praise bombs on a free game that was added to the catalog earlier this year, as its gameplay mechanics feel like a mix between Balatro and Slay the Spire. There are constant changes happening to Microsoft’s subscription service, so it’s quite easy to miss a few new additions. For example, October 29 on Xbox Game Pass is going to be huge, as four titles are arriving on the same date – one of which is a major Final Fantasy game. However, some smaller titles also deserve the spotlight.

That is the case with an indie game that was added to the catalog in May 2026. User WorseCaseOntari0 on Reddit has praised a game called Black Jacket, saying that they can’t recommend it enough. The redditor mentions that the title is a “blackjack version of Balatro with a similar map system to Slay the Spire,” pointing out that the goal is not to get a high score, but to win the hand in play. The user also calls the game “insanely addictive,” especially for those who have played and enjoyed blackjack in real life.

They aren’t the only ones who are satisfied with the May 2026 game on Xbox Game Pass. In response to their post on Reddit, other users sing praises to Black Jacket. User Old_Employee_6535, for instance, says they thought they were the only one playing the game. “It is really good and just as addictive as Slay the Spire and Balatro,” they mention. User grishnackh concurs, though they make a point that the lore and story content in Black Jacket is “absolutely fantastic.”

Black Jacket was a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass, meaning that access to it is a bit more limited. The indie card game can be played for free by members of the Ultimate and PC Game Pass tiers – Premium and Essential tier members don’t have it included in their catalog. The indie title created by Skystone Games can be played on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and via cloud gaming, and on top of that, it features the Play Anywhere feature, meaning it has a cross-purchase and cross-progression system.

So what is Black Jacket about, apart from its comparisons to Balatro and Slay the Spire? The beloved card game on Xbox Game Pass is described as a narrative-driven roguelite deckbuilder that is inspired by blackjack. The goal is to beat your opponents, either through card mechanics or by cheating, and gain enough soul coins to buy your way out of the underworld, back to the world of the living. Each opponent you face has a different playstyle, so it’s about reading them and adapting to them.

Black Jacket has clearly left a good impression on members of Microsoft’s subscription service. Even though it isn’t available for every tier, those who are subscribed to Ultimate or PC Game Pass may want to consider checking it out, as it does seem to have the potential to be one of the best card games this year. If you qualify, be sure to use your Xbox Game Pass membership to at least check it out.