The history of video game versions of the perennially popular casino game, Blackjack, dates back further into the 20th century than you may imagine. The Atari 2600 launch title (simply called Blackjack), released in 1977, wasn’t even the first digital adaptation of the game (nor was it the last time the game appeared on the Atari 2600!).
The latest title to adapt Blackjack digitally is Black Jacket, and thanks to an open playtest, we’ve been able to check out Black Jacket for ourselves. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer in this upcoming, card-based roguelike deckbuilding game.
What is Black Jacket?
As mentioned, Black Jacket is a roguelike deckbuilding game; though we’ve seen countless examples in the genre recently, Black Jacket’s unique selling point is its strong narrative feel, along with very stylish presentation. In Black Jacket, you’re trapped in the Underworld, and must play against other souls in order to win their money, upgrade your deck, and bribe the ferryman to secure your freedom.
Is Black Jacket Fun to Play?
Though it’s at an early stage, the gameplay in Black Jacket is already pretty compelling. The narrative element is especially strong, and that’s unusual for a roguelike; as we’ve seen in the recent Monster Train 2, it’s really not easy to integrate a story into a deckbuilding game successfully, but the developers of Black Jacket already seem to have pulled it off really well.
There’s some influence from Balatro here, which is to be expected for a roguelike deckbuilding game based on a real world gambling card game, but Black Jacket has its own, distinct feel, helped by the aforementioned aesthetic and compelling narrative.
When Will Black Jacket Be Released?
At this stage, we know that Black Jacket will release in 2026, but there’s no firm release date beyond that yet. The open playtest is running via Steam as of the time of writing, and if you’re lucky enough to get an invite, you’ll be able to check it out for yourself. Stay tuned, as we’re very keen to see how Black Jacket develops, and we’ll be on hand with further updates, and a review, as Black Jacket’s launch approaches! You can also add Black Jacket to your wishlist using the Steam widget below:
Why not check out our reviews of other roguelike deckbuilding games with dark themes, such as Deck of Haunts, or Into the Restless Ruins?
