I can’t play every game I want to when it comes out, and one that slipped by me at launch was Cascadou. I thoroughly enjoyed the demo back in 2025, and therefore I was eager to play the finished article when it dropped earlier this year. However, ill health prevented me from taking a look in April. Obviously, I’m feeling a bit better.
What kind of game is Cascadou?
I called Cascadou a chilled deckbuilder in the headline, so let’s dive into that description and explain what I mean by that.
Much like Balatro before it, Cascadou borrows from poker. If you know the difference between a full house and four-of-a-kind, then you’re already well on your way to having fun here.
Also like Balatro, Cascadou invents a few completely new hands for the occasion, because the rules of poker are merely the starting point, and it’s not long before you’re exploring undiscovered territory. And, importantly, having fun.
Moves in Cascadou are made by clicking on cards, and any hands connected to that card will then activate. That means a card that’s part of two hands, say as one half of a pair and as the fifth card in a flush, will activate twice as part of both hands, earning you lots of lovely points. As implied by the name of the game, it’s not long before you can chain these reactions together, making big scores in the process.
While there is pressure to make smart moves, the turns are taken at your own pace, which helps contribute to the relaxed vibe. You can move a card (swapping it with another) or click on it; either action costs one move, and you have a finite number per challenge. However, at no point are you rushed to do anything, so whether you’re rearranging the board looking for combos or browsing the shop, you can really take your time.
How Cascadou works
Play takes place on a board made up of playing cards. At first, there are typically 24 cards on-screen at any given moment. Initially, it’s a simple deck, much as you would have when playing poker or solitaire. Using this starter deck, you can mix and match hands based on suit and sequence, all using poker logic.
There’s a score multiplier, and the cards you play each have a base value. Between rounds, you’ll find shops where you can get upgraded cards and stickers. The stickers are particularly useful, because once purchased, you can affix them to a card of your choice. Then, when that card appears in play, the benefits of the sticker come to bear.
The sticker system spits out the most exciting decisions. There are ways to boost certain cards, hands, or suits. You might try to set up complex combos, or you might keep things simple and boost the value of basic poker hands, such as doubles and three-of-a-kinds.
Cascadou’s core mechanics are pleasantly engaging, and after a few hours of play, I can tell that there are several viable directions to take a build. Not only can you buy stickers to upgrade your deck, but you can buy upgraded cards that trigger twice or earn extra money.
On top of all that, in true roguelite fashion, as you play, new stickers are unlocked, further broadening your tactical options for coming runs.
On that front, beating the game is just the start, as there are a dozen-ish game modes and difficulty settings, with multiple daily challenges lined up, and a sandbox mode, too. All told, I think Cascadou is a neat little deckbuilder and I’m glad I made the time to go back and have a look.
Cascadou is out now on Steam PC (Mac, Win) and iOS as of June 18th. I received access courtesy of the developer!
