I’m not a gambler, but I certainly know how to gamble. I would say that the addition of chance makes most games fun for me. Luck Be a Landlord takes the simple concept of a slot machine and gives the player the ability to “even the odds,” one could say. Borrowing from the concept of “more risk means more rewards,” this game strives to bring the rush of hitting the slots at home in a creative and charming package, but this goal falls short when repetition becomes all too familiar.
Let me give you an example of what I mean. After every round in which you pay your landlord, they ask for a larger amount in the next round. This very rarely changes, as well as the moments in which the Renter’s Aid Organization gives the payer a free roll. It is the same for every playthrough. This lack of variety nibbles away at the replay value of this title, and I cannot overstate the importance of variety in a deck-builder or roguelike.
Despite this, the main feature of the game, the 152 slot symbols, makes this game a blast to play in spurts. The rounds are quick, and building strategies to gain more money is easy during the earlier parts of the game when the landlord only requires a small amount of rent. Though picking symbols that interact with each other may increase your odds, there is a certain amount of luck the player must have to win. Even the best strategies fall apart when luck is not on the player’s side, and this can result in some short-fuse rage quitting rather quickly.
The visuals are basic, very basic. The pixel art is not bad, it is just crude and unrefined. In this day and age of “high bit” games that use modern game engine technology with 8- and 16-bit renderings, the Pico8 style of game design (Google it) does very little to entice players to play the game. The soundtrack is a stronger feature, presenting smooth techno beats that change every few levels. Even then, however, without solid and immersive gameplay, no matter how simple it is, Luck Be a Landlord lands short of measuring up to other deck builders using similar mechanics.
All criticisms aside, Luck Be a Landlord can pull its own when it comes to bringing a fun, albeit short, gameplay experience. Just the feeling of not knowing what symbol will come next gives the players enough of a dopamine rush to encourage them to drop the hammer at least one more time. If this game is something that interests you, it is now available on all modern consoles as well as PC.
J.R. Sommerfeldt is a family man, licensed counselor, farmer, fiber artist, and indie game enthusiast living in the heartland of America. He has found solace living the simple life, and his preference for games centering around narratives, crafting, and exploration is a testament to this.
