It seems like 2024 was the year of the “Casino Rogue-like” to some degree. Games like Balatro, Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers, and other indies put a Rogue-like twist on typical casino games. Released in 2023, Luck Be a Landlord is one such game that takes a common casino favorite and adds a Rogue-like twist.

You are a new tenant in a suspicious new building. To meet your rent payment, you have to spin slot reels, adding things to your reels to create synergies to make more money per spin. As you level, you’ll get more items on your reels, consumables, and items that enhance your run overall. If you meet the end of your run, you unlock a new level/floor.

This is where Luck Be a Landlord really gets intense. The higher the floor, the higher the difficulty. Once you pass a certain floor, you’ll have even more to deal with such as a boss battle and things that hinder your run overall. The game is fairly simple in its execution, but it is surprisingly enthralling.

Like Balatro, it happens to have this “just one more run” idea to it. It is great to have open in the background to play while you listen to music, watch Netflix, or even just play a round or two on work breaks. After a while, you run out of new content and build combinations, but I’ve gotten well over 50 hours in. The addition of Steam Workshop mod support really helps with the content options, too.

The only major complaint I have is that some runs are just lost from the very first spin. Maybe you don’t get the right things on your reel. Alternatively, maybe you don’t get them fast enough to reach your goal. Either way, since luck is in the name I suppose it only makes sense that sometimes your luck runs out. Even with mods that fix some of the quality-of-life issues, sometimes the odds are stacked against you.

If you like playing slots, Luck Be a Landlord is absolutely a great option for you. I would say the same if you’re looking for a new Rogue-like that is a little different than your average deckbuilder or action-based game. It isn’t the best I have ever played, but it definitely will give you plenty of fun for a while.

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Luck be a Landlord

9.99

9.5

Score

9.5/10

Pros

• Fun concept
• Steam Workshop support adds QoL Options
• Engaging gameplay

Cons

• Some runs are unfairly lost.