Balatro Lite v1.2.1

Android

• Added an Import Save (.zip) option to bring a Steam save to Android. ZIPs containing meta.jkr, profile.jkr, and save.jkr are imported into profile 1.
• Android saves now use the app’s external files storage, making them easier to access for backup or transfer where Android permits it.
• Existing saves are automatically moved to the new storage location without overwriting files already there.

Install

Requires your own copy of Balatro.

Android

Install balatrolite-v1.2.1.apk. On first launch, choose your own Balatro.exe; importing and patching happen on the device.

PortMaster

Download balatrolite-v1.2.1.zip, then either:

• copy it, still zipped, into PortMaster's autoinstall folder and open PortMaster, or
• unzip it into your device's ports folder.

Either way, then copy your Balatro game file into the balatrolite folder.
See the README for which file that is.

Balatro Lite v1.2.0

This release introduces Android support and makes the small screen layout and performance modifications optional.

What’s new

• Added a game-free Android APK alongside the PortMaster release. The APK does not contain Balatro or redistribute any purchased game files.
• On first launch, Android asks for your legally owned Balatro.exe or Balatro.love and patches it entirely on the device.
• Added setup options for:
  • Small-screen or original Balatro layout.
  • Optimized or original performance settings.
• Added Initialize Port Settings to the in-game Options menu. Changes are applied after restarting.
• APK updates automatically rebuild the patched game from the privately stored original.
• Added Android touch input, display, shader, save-path, and compatibility fixes.
• Added support for using Start to open and close the pause menu on handhelds.
• Improved PortMaster’s first-launch setup and automatic rebuild detection.
• Layout and performance choices are now independent on PortMaster.

Important notes

• The Android importer currently supports Balatro 1.0.1o.
• Android uses the system/SDL controller mapping and does not run PortMaster’s button-label setup.
• Imported game files and saves are kept in private app storage. Clearing app data or uninstalling the APK removes them.
• Existing PortMaster users can reopen all setup questions through Options → Initialize Port Settings.

Install

Requires your own copy of Balatro.

Android

Install balatrolite-v1.2.0.apk. On first launch, choose your own Balatro.exe; importing and patching happen on the device.

PortMaster

Download balatrolite-v1.2.0.zip, then either:

• copy it, still zipped, into PortMaster's autoinstall folder and open PortMaster, or
• unzip it into your device's ports folder.

Either way, then copy your Balatro game file into the balatrolite folder.
See the README for which file that is.

Balatro Lite v1.0.2

Documentation

• Clarified the requirements and setup guidance for running Balatro Lite on PortMaster with your own copy of Balatro.
• Updated the screenshots, including a new view of the cash-out screen.

Install

Requires PortMaster and your own copy of Balatro.

Download balatrolite-v1.0.2.zip, then either:

• copy it, still zipped, into PortMaster's autoinstall folder and open PortMaster, or
• unzip it into your device's ports folder.

Either way, then copy your Balatro game file into the balatrolite folder.
See the README for which file that is.

Balatro Lite v1.0.1

Interface

• Improved text scaling on small screens, keeping text layouts and the cash-out screen within the display.

Windows Testing

• Added a windowed, resizable mode for Windows-based testing environments.

Install

Download balatrolite-v1.0.1.zip and unzip it into your device's ports folder.
You need to own Balatro; see the port's README for which file to copy in.

Balatro Lite v1.0.0

Interface

• Added a responsive layout that adapts to the handheld’s actual aspect ratio and fills the entire screen.
• Replaced the desktop sidebar with a compact horizontal status bar.
• Enlarged cards in the player’s hand by 25%.
• Redesigned the shop to fit on small screens without the oversized animated shop sign.
• Reworked blind selection to use the available screen width.
• Made card descriptions larger and easier to read.
• Stacked edition, seal, enhancement, and referenced-card information beneath card descriptions so it stays on screen.
• Added fixed-size score and blind-requirement fields that shrink large numbers to fit instead of overflowing.
• Improved the positioning of the hand, owned Jokers, consumables, play area, buttons, counters, menus, tutorials, and speech bubbles.

Visual quality

• Enabled smoother filtering for card art, fonts, and other textures on low-resolution displays.
• Improved font rendering to reduce broken or jagged letter strokes.
• Applied the clearer Nunito font on every supported device.
• Switched to the lower-memory texture set while retaining smooth scaling.

Performance

• Disabled CRT, bloom, shadows, screen shake, and other unnecessary desktop effects by default.
• Reduced the cost of the CRT and animated-background shaders.
• Enabled reduced motion and cached the stationary background instead of recalculating it every frame.
• Avoided unnecessary animation calculations when reduced motion is enabled.
• Added allocation-aware garbage collection to prevent memory growth and gradual frame-rate degradation during long runs.

Controls

• Added a first-launch controller setup for A, B, X, Y, L1, L2, R1, and R2.
• Made in-game button prompts match the labels physically printed on the handheld.
• Added support for creating a complete controller mapping when the device does not provide one.
• Added a safe inactivity timeout that keeps the device’s existing mapping.
• Added Set Up Buttons to the options menu for repeating calibration.