Ultrapool

Buen juego, divertido, mezcla de balatro y pool bien ejecutada

Ultrapool takes the recognizable fundamentals of billiards and reshapes them into a creative roguelike centered on high scores, unusual ball effects, upgrades, and increasingly unpredictable chain reactions. Developed by Icedrop Games and published by offbrand games, it is clearly not intended to be a serious pool simulation. Instead, it uses the familiar act of lining up and taking a shot as the foundation for a progression system where building the right collection can be just as important as understanding angles and rebounds. At the beginning, the gameplay feels straightforward. Players aim the cue ball, calculate trajectories, and attempt to sink balls into pockets. The difference quickly becomes apparent once special balls enter the equation. Rather than behaving as ordinary billiard balls, many possess distinctive properties that can alter the state of the table or trigger additional effects. Ghostly balls, explosives, strange creatures, and other deliberately unconventional objects give each setup its own personality. A single successful shot can therefore accomplish considerably more than simply adding points to the score. The scoring system provides the motivation behind each run. Players must reach increasingly demanding targets while attempting to earn additional money by performing well. Currency can be spent between rounds to expand or improve the collection, creating a satisfying cycle of shooting, earning, purchasing, and experimenting. Surviving all ten rounds requires more than consistent accuracy because later scoring requirements encourage the construction of increasingly efficient combinations. This is where Ultrapool reveals its strongest strategic element. Building a collection feels surprisingly similar to constructing a deck in a roguelike card game. Some balls provide immediately useful abilities, while others become valuable only after being paired with complementary effects. Choosing what to purchase involves considering the current setup rather than automatically selecting whatever appears strongest individually. A modest effect can become extremely powerful when it repeatedly activates another mechanic or contributes to a larger scoring chain. The cocktail bar introduces even greater possibilities through ball fusion. Two balls can be combined into specialized creations, opening hundreds of potential combinations. This dramatically increases the amount of experimentation available during repeated runs. Discovering an effective fusion is satisfying because it can fundamentally change how the player approaches the table. Some builds gradually become wonderfully excessive, producing enormous chains from what initially appears to be a relatively ordinary shot. Variety is supported by a collection exceeding 150 unlockable balls spread across eight themed sets. More than 50 Snacks and Cubes further modify rounds, adding another layer of decision-making beyond the balls themselves. Multiple difficulty levels and Daily Challenges provide additional objectives, while more than 80 stickers and other cosmetic rewards allow players to personalize their table. These extras give progression a broader purpose and encourage experimentation beyond simply completing a successful run once. The actual physics remain important despite all the roguelike mechanics surrounding them. Angles, rebounds, collisions, and positioning still determine whether a carefully constructed strategy succeeds. This creates an entertaining relationship between skill and controlled chaos. Players can plan an excellent shot, but once several balls collide and abilities begin activating, the outcome may develop in unexpected directions. That unpredictability suits the game's playful character, particularly when an ordinary attempt unexpectedly turns into a huge scoring sequence. Its presentation complements this approach with a colorful, lighthearted visual identity rather than the subdued realism associated with traditional billiards games. The unusual balls are easy to distinguish, and the exaggerated concepts make the increasingly strange table configurations entertaining to watch. The pool-bar theme also provides an appropriate setting for the cocktail-inspired fusion mechanics and other quirky additions. The biggest limitation is that the experience remains fundamentally built around repeated pool shots and score chasing. Players who dislike roguelike repetition or billiards-style physics may find that the underlying loop does not offer enough variety for extended sessions. Randomness can also occasionally disrupt a carefully planned sequence. However, players who enjoy experimenting with builds are likely to view these changing circumstances as part of the challenge rather than a serious flaw. Steam Deck compatibility should be approached with some caution. There is no firm basis here to describe Ultrapool as officially Steam Deck Verified. Its relatively straightforward aiming-focused gameplay and modest presentation appear naturally suited to handheld play, but actual compatibility can depend on controller support, interface readability, Proton behavior, and any changes made during development. Until an official Deck compatibility classification is available, it is more appropriate to consider its Steam Deck status unconfirmed rather than guaranteeing flawless portable operation. What makes Ultrapool particularly appealing is the escalation that happens during a good run. Early rounds can feel like an amusing variation on arcade pool, but a developed collection transforms later tables into elaborate puzzles filled with interconnected abilities. Progression consequently changes the behavior of the game instead of merely increasing statistics. Finding a combination that turns one carefully positioned shot into a spectacular sequence is the central reward. Ultrapool succeeds by taking an extremely understandable activity and surrounding it with enough strategic systems to create something distinctive. Its combination of billiards physics, roguelike progression, collection building, fusion mechanics, modifiers, challenges, difficulty options, and cosmetic unlocks gives the concept considerably more substance than its humorous premise initially suggests. It should especially appeal to players who enjoy physics games, unconventional roguelikes, synergy hunting, and the satisfaction of constructing increasingly absurd builds. Rating: 8/10

Cant start a new run. Even after abandoning and starting another, losing that one, and trying to start on a different mode, it still loads my first run. Cant change modes ever.

I've been waiting for this game to release for the last couple months, and it definitely hasn't disappointed! With clean controls and satisfying visuals, I immediately feel hooked on this game and can totally see myself going for the 100%. The extra gameplay mechanics with the snacks and mixers feel super awesome to play around with and see what works. If you enjoy this kind of quick roguelike game, I'd totally recommend it!!

Ultracool! Very fun and cosy game :)

If you enjoyed Balatro, you'll probably like this one too. Great fun and definitely worth the price.

Played too much of the demo. Finally I'm not burdened