If you enjoyed the 'poker-roguelike' vibes of Balatro but wanted something you could play more passively, 'This Ain’t Even Poker, Ya Joker' is the game for you. It takes that satisfying feeling of building a perfect deck and translates it into an incremental clicker format that is almost impossible to put down.
The progression feels perfectly paced—every time you feel like you're hitting a wall, you unlock a new mechanic like Expeditions or a new Deck that boosts your numbers into the stratosphere. The art is weird and characterful, and the 'Jester' theme provides a great sense of rivalry. It's the kind of game that 'ruins' your productivity in the best way possible.
Available on: Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod
Version 0Wed Dec 31 1969
Coming Soon · Expected Mar 19, 2026 · $5.99
Requires iOS 13.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.Welcome to This Ain’t Even Poker, Ya Joker - a unique incremental idle clicker where you flip cards to earn money, grow your hand, buy new decks, unlock powerful upgrades, discover new cards, and more. Can you defeat the Jester and escape the carnival?
Steam: Very Positive, 89%
GROW YOUR HAND
Buy new cards to increase your odds of hitting good hands. If you're rich enough, you can even break the rules and get over 5 cards.
ESTABLISH DOMINANCE
Even though the Jester doesn't like it, you can buy new decks of cards in order to play more hands at once. Use this to your advantage to grow those numbers even faster!
GET UPGRADED
Buy powerful upgrades using your hard earned coins, enabling you to progress quicker, open up new avenues, and take on the evil Jester!
GO ON EXPEDITIONS
Once unlocked, you can send your minions on expeditions to discover new otherworldy cards with powerful benefits. Upgrade these missions to provide even more powerful benefits as you progress. You can even unlock missions to destroy cards from your deck that you don't want, to ensure every hand is exactly how you want it.
ASCEND TO GREATNESS
Make a deal with the Jester to start over in exchange for Poker Chips (poker chips? But this ain't even poker...?), use those chips to buy even more powerful upgrades.
ESCAPE THE HOUSE OF CARDS
You're trapped in the Jester's domain, can you manage to defeat him and escape? Or will he keep you there, trapped forever in an endless cycle?
Trapped in the Jester's domain, you must play your way out in this unique incremental idle clicker. Flip cards to earn money, grow your hand beyond the traditional 5-card limit, and buy new decks to play multiple hands at once. Send minions on expeditions to find otherworldly cards, make deals with Mary the Fairy for powerful chips, and ultimately defeat Lester the Jester. It’s got the flavor of poker with the mechanics of a deep strategy idle game.
Incremental 'number-go-up' gameplay with a card twist
Break the rules by playing more than 5 cards per hand
Deep ascension system and permanent upgrades
Quirky characters and a dark carnival theme
Unlock expeditions as early as possible. Sending minions to 'Destroy' unwanted cards from your deck is the best way to ensure you always pull high-value hands.
When your progress slows down, trade your progress for Poker Chips with Mary. Use these to buy permanent upgrades that will let you breeze through early stages.
A basic knowledge of poker hands helps, but the game teaches you everything you need to know about its unique rule-breaking mechanics.