Balatro Cheats — Full Debug Menu Guide & How to Enable It
Balatro does not ship with a traditional cheat menu, but it does include a fully functional developer debug mode hidden inside the game files. Once activated, this menu gives you direct control over nearly every aspect of a run — from spawning legendary jokers and adding money to skipping boss blinds and instantly winning rounds.
This guide walks you through enabling the debug menu on PC and Mac, explains every cheat command and keybind, and covers safe backup practices so you never corrupt your save.
How to Enable the Debug Menu in Balatro
The debug menu is disabled by default, but unlocking it requires only a single-line edit inside the game archive. You will need 7-Zip (free, open-source) and a basic text editor like Notepad.
Method 1 — Edit conf.lua (Recommended)
- Find your Balatro installation folder. In Steam, right-click Balatro → Manage → Browse local files.
- Right-click Balatro.exe and choose Open archive with 7-Zip. On Windows 11, this may be under Show more options.
- Inside the archive, locate the file named conf.lua.
- Drag conf.lua to your Desktop, then open it with Notepad.
- Find the line _RELEASE_MODE = true and change it to _RELEASE_MODE = false.
- Save the file, then drag it back into the 7-Zip window and confirm the replacement.
Method 2 — Edit controller.lua
- Follow steps 1–2 above to open Balatro.exe with 7-Zip.
- Navigate to the engine folder and find controller.lua.
- Extract it to your Desktop and open it in Notepad.
- Press Ctrl + F and search for if not _RELEASE_MODE then.
- Delete the word not and one of the surrounding spaces so the line reads if _RELEASE_MODE then.
- Save, drag the file back into the archive, and confirm the replacement.
Mac Instructions
- In Finder, go to Applications, right-click the Balatro app, and choose Show Package Contents.
- Navigate to Contents → Resources → Game → Engine.
- Find controller.lua, copy it to your Desktop as a backup, then edit the original.
- Search for if not _RELEASE_MODE then, remove not, save, and close.
Both methods achieve the same result: the next time you launch Balatro, the debug menu will be active.
How to Open the Debug Menu
Once the edit is applied, launch the game and press and hold the Tab key at any time during gameplay. A small overlay will appear in the corner with buttons and keybind hints. Release Tab to close the menu.
Activating the debug menu does not disable Steam achievements, making it a safe way to experiment without losing progress toward your collection.
Full List of Balatro Debug Menu Cheats
The debug overlay splits its functions into two groups: button cheats you click with your mouse, and keybind cheats you press on your keyboard while the menu is open. Below is the complete reference.
| Type | Command / Key | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Keybind | 1 | Unlock a collectible while hovering over it in the collection |
| Keybind | 2 | Discover a collectible while hovering over it in the collection |
| Keybind | 3 | Spawn a collectible into your current run while hovering over it |
| Keybind | Q | Cycle the edition of a joker while hovering over it in hand (Base → Foil → Holographic → Polychrome → Negative) |
| Keybind | H | Isolate background — hides all cards and UI for clean screenshots |
| Keybind | J | Play the splash animation |
| Keybind | 8 | Toggle cursor visibility |
| Keybind | 9 | Toggle all tooltips on or off |
| Button | $10 | Adds $10 to your current money total |
| Button | +1 Round | Advances the current round counter by 1 |
| Button | +1 Ante | Increases the ante level by 1 |
| Button | +1 Hand | Grants one additional hand for the current blind |
| Button | +1 Discard | Grants one additional discard for the current blind |
| Button | Boss Reroll | Rerolls the current boss blind into a different one |
| Button | Background | Removes the background art |
| Button | +10 Chips | Adds 10 chips to your current score |
| Button | +10 Mult | Adds 10 to your current multiplier |
| Button | X2 Chips | Doubles your current chip total |
| Button | X10 Mult | Multiplies your current mult by 10 |
| Button | Win this Run | Instantly completes the current run |
| Button | Lose this Run | Immediately ends the current run in defeat |
| Button | Reset | Restarts the current run from the beginning |
| Button | Jimbo | Makes Jimbo appear on screen |
| Button | Jimbo Talk | Triggers a text box from Jimbo |
How to Use Keybind Cheats — Practical Examples
Keybind cheats only work while you are holding Tab and hovering over the correct target. Here are the most common use cases.
Spawn Any Joker Instantly
- Open the Collection from the main menu.
- Hold Tab to bring up the debug overlay.
- Hover over any joker you want and press 3. It will spawn directly into your current run.
If your joker slots are full, press Q four times while hovering over the joker in your hand to turn it into a Negative edition. Negative jokers do not count toward your slot limit, allowing you to carry as many as you like.
Unlock Missing Collection Entries
- Go to Collection and find a locked item.
- Hold Tab, hover over the locked card, and press 1 to unlock it or 2 to mark it as discovered.
Stack Money Fast
During a run, hold Tab and repeatedly click the $10 button. Each click adds another $10 with no cap. For even faster gains, edit your deck stats directly inside game.lua (see the Advanced section below).
Alternative Methods: Trainers & Cheat Engine
If you prefer not to edit game files, third-party tools offer similar control with a simpler interface.
WeMod Trainer
The WeMod app includes a Balatro trainer with Unlimited Hands and Unlimited Discards. It auto-detects your game version and does not require manual file editing. Note that it currently offers only two active cheats, so the debug menu remains the more powerful option for full customization.
Cheat Engine Tables
Cheat Engine allows you to scan and edit live memory values such as money, round score, hands remaining, and discards remaining. Download a community-made cheat table, attach it to the Balatro process, and toggle the options you need. This method is version-sensitive, so update your table whenever the game patches.
Advanced: Edit Deck Stats in game.lua
For players comfortable with Lua, open Balatro.exe in 7-Zip, find game.lua, and locate the deck definitions. You can add parameters such as dollars = 99999 and joker_slot = 5 directly into a deck's config block. Save the file back into the archive, and every new run with that deck will start with those bonuses.
How to Disable Cheats & Restore Default Settings
Reversing the debug menu is simple and does not require any additional tools.
Via Steam File Verification
- Right-click Balatro in your Steam library.
- Select Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files.
- Steam will scan your installation and automatically restore conf.lua and controller.lua to their original states.
Manual Reversal
If you edited the files manually, simply repeat the extraction steps and revert your changes — set _RELEASE_MODE = true in conf.lua or re-add not to the controller.lua line. Save and replace the file in the archive.
Safety Tips & Backup Guide
- Back up Balatro.exe before editing. Copy the entire executable to a separate folder. If a patch breaks your modified archive, you can restore the backup instantly.
- Back up your save files. Balatro saves are stored in your system user folder. Copy them before experimenting with run-altering commands like Win this Run or Reset.
- Use a dummy profile for testing. Create a new Steam save slot or use family sharing to test cheats without risking your main collection progress.
- Do not edit files while the game is running. Close Balatro and Steam completely before modifying any archive contents to prevent file-lock errors.
- Re-verify after every major patch. Game updates overwrite modified files. Re-enable the debug menu only after confirming the new version is stable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using the debug menu disable achievements?
No. Balatro is a strictly single-player game, and the developer debug menu does not trigger any anti-cheat flags. You can unlock collectibles with 1 or 2 and still earn Steam achievements normally.
Can I use cheats on console or mobile?
No. File editing requires access to the game archive, which is only possible on PC and Mac. Console and mobile players cannot enable the debug menu at this time.
What happens if I mess up a file edit?
Steam's Verify integrity of game files feature will restore every original file. There is no risk of permanently breaking your installation.
Is there a limit to how many jokers I can spawn?
Technically no, but you are limited by your joker slots. Convert spawned jokers to Negative edition by pressing Q four times while hovering over them. Negative jokers bypass the slot cap.
Can I edit my starting deck to give infinite money?
Yes. By modifying game.lua inside the archive, you can set starting dollars and joker slots for any deck. This is the cleanest way to create a sandbox experience without repeatedly pressing debug buttons.
Final Thoughts
The Balatro debug menu is one of the most generous built-in cheat systems in modern roguelikes. With a single file edit, you gain the ability to spawn any joker, manipulate scores, skip difficult bosses, and fill your collection without grinding for hours.
Whether you want to test broken synergies, recover from a bad seed, or simply relax with an overpowered run, the debug menu delivers full control. Just remember to back up your files, verify your edits, and enjoy the chaos responsibly.
