Balatro, the sensational poker-inspired indie game that took the gaming world by storm in 2024, is joining forces with Good Shepherd Entertainment's upcoming title, Monster Train 2. While the exact mechanics of this crossover remain under wraps, fans can expect to see the iconic Balatro mascot Jimbo and his mischievous Jokers play a significant role.

Released in February 2025, Balatro by LocalThunk and Playstack is a unique roguelike poker game where players use special modifiers like Jokers, seals, and enhancements to maximize their hand values and conquer each round, known as a Blind. The game skyrocketed to fame even before exiting early access, selling over 5 million copies. Its creator expressed astonishment at its overwhelming success, noting in March that Balatro's near-perfect ratings were beyond expectations.

Now, another indie developer stands to gain from Balatro's massive popularity. A new trailer for Monster Train 2 reveals that Jimbo will be bringing Balatro's Jokers into the deck-building roguelike. The Monster Train series revolves around defending Pyre Hearts aboard a multi-level train against waves of enemies using strategic card play. Although the trailer doesn't showcase Jimbo and his Jokers in action, six of them—Chicot, Perkeo, Triboulet, Caino, Yorick, and Gros Michel—have been confirmed for the crossover.

Monster Train 2 is scheduled for release on May 21, with a free demo currently available on Steam. The sequel promises new cards, enemies, and features while retaining the core gameplay of its predecessor. This isn't the only crossover announced for Monster Train 2; in late April, a partnership with Cult of the Lamb was revealed, bringing the charming cultists from the 2022 hit roguelike into the fray.

For fans craving more Balatro beyond the game and its crossover content, an official merchandise shop is offering a physical Balatro deck via FanGamer for $16. This set includes 52 standard playing cards and four Jokers, all adorned with the game's signature pixel art. Pre-orders are open, though a release date has yet to be confirmed.