CloverPit Switch 2 Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
If you’ve followed What’s It Like? for a while now, you’ll know that I’m not much of a gambler, although I did sink a lot of time into Slots & Daggers. After enjoying that game so much, I thought I would switch to a new slot machine and try out CloverPit… a more demonic approach to slots with an old-school aesthetic. But was it worth the gamble of bringing this title to the Switch 2, or is it a bust? What’s It Like? Get your coins ready, pick your relics, and prepare to gamble your life away… quite literally… as we review CloverPit for Nintendo Switch 2.
CloverPit doesn’t give much away in its setup. You’re stuck in a room with various items, but the ones that matter most are the slot machine in front of you, an ATM, and a shelf filled with relics. Your objective is simple: deposit enough coins into the ATM to avoid the floor opening up at the end of a round and sending you to your doom. Each round consists of a few turns on the slot machine. Every turn gives you a ticket and interest on whatever you’ve deposited, and you can use those tickets to grab a relic, which offers various boons and bonuses. Once the round is complete, if you’ve survived, the phone will ring and offer you a number of options for your run. These can be both positive and negative, and the choices you make will ultimately shape your build. Now, that all sounds rather complex, and to be perfectly honest, when I first played CloverPit, I absolutely detested the game.
But the more I frustratingly failed, the more I started to learn. Much like gathering Jokers in Balatro, CloverPit relies heavily on your phone and relic choices to stack the deck, so to speak. I started choosing options that would make clovers appear more frequently, while reducing the chance of other icons appearing with every phone call. I then started stacking relics that gave me bonuses whenever clovers appeared. Eventually, I was getting at least one jackpot per round, bringing in huge amounts of money. That was, at least, until the ATM goal rose to 13 billion. I simply couldn’t get anywhere close, so I restarted again, trying to make the clover build work and relying heavily on pure luck to get me there. Twenty or so attempts later, I gave up, unable to hit that 13 billion dollar mark. My luck changed when I focused my build around cherries instead. I started obtaining relics that kept multiplying their value, while also having a chance to add token charms. When activated, these give you a percentage of your interest per activation. Suddenly, I was hitting big numbers, and the more my interest accrued, the higher my winnings were, sometimes hitting billion-dollar spins! I was blitzing through deadlines, skipping rounds and getting huge bonuses, easily exceeding the 13 billion dollar mark. I thought I was unstoppable. Then the game started adding letters into the amount of money required, and there was no way I was going to reach algebra levels of richness.
Now, despite all of this, the game can actually be finished, and it’s not simply about endlessly racking up increasingly ridiculous amounts of money. But I feel like giving too much away here would spoil the fun and frustrations of trying to get there yourself. Much like any good roguelike, each run, regardless of how well you do, usually unlocks something. There are plenty of relics to discover and, later in the game, memory packs to unlock and collect. For me, though, there was more frustration than fun at times. There were plenty of runs where I would have to tap out by the third deadline, only to restart at a snail’s pace, hoping I would get some decent relics or spins and eventually find the build I was chasing. If the heart of the cards… or slots in this case, aren’t in your favour, there’s not much you can do other than watch helplessly as you’re thrown into a pit for what feels like the hundredth time.
I think players should know that going in. A lot of the time, CloverPit doesn’t feel like it’s in your control. It feels like you’re at the whim of the spins. When everything goes your way, and you have a red-hot build, there’s an incredible amount of fun to be had. Mega jackpots start rolling in, coins are pouring out of the machine, and suddenly all those failed runs feel worthwhile. But for a lot of the time, things simply don’t go your way. There were moments where I felt like I was mindlessly staring at the screen, restarting another run and hoping that this time the slots would finally give me what I needed. Almost like the real thing, I suppose.
Visually, CloverPit has an almost PS1 aesthetic, with pixelated textures, low-poly models and wobbly polygons, and it absolutely nails the vibe. The room you’re trapped in feels dark and gritty, while the relics match the uncomfortable atmosphere the game is aiming for. CloverPit manages to do a lot with very little, turning what is essentially a claustrophobic room into an unsettling setting for the duration of your run. The real visual star, however, is the slot machine. It flashes away with coins, symbols and jackpot animations, adding to the spectacle whenever you land a big win. There’s something satisfying about watching the machine explode into activity after you’ve spent the last few minutes desperately trying to scrape together enough money to survive. I also really like the contrast between the dingy room and the slot machine itself. Most of the environment is deliberately grim and unpleasant, but the machine is constantly drawing your attention with lights, movement and colourful symbols. It’s almost as though the game is deliberately making you forget you’re trapped by distracting you with bright lights and sounds.
All of this runs without a hitch on the Switch 2, with CloverPit also supporting 120Hz for those with compatible screens. The Switch 2 version also includes mouse mode, as well as all of CloverPit’s post-launch updates, and if you’re keen for even more gambling, you can also pick up the Unholy Fusion DLC, which adds a unique fusion mechanic for relics, a new ending, and plenty of new items to collect.
For my gamblers looking into accessibility, I’m pleased to report that CloverPit has a few thoughtful inclusions to make your time at the slot machine more comfortable. These include options to reduce text effects and screen flashes, remove screen shake, and even turn off the game’s wobbly polygons. As always, I recommend further research to determine whether CloverPit suits your needs.
At $14.50 AUD, CloverPit feels priced perfectly. I managed to sink around 9 hours into the game during my time with it, enough to finish the game, and I still have a few relics and achievements left to unlock.
To me, CloverPit is a game that I equally love as much as I hate. When the slots and builds are in your favour, the lights are flashing, the money is going up, and it’s an exciting spectacle. But moments later, when you can’t make the deadline payment, everything slows down. It’s frustrating; nothing goes your way, and you’re left wondering why you started another run in the first place. Even then, a new relic or secret gameplay mechanic reveals itself, and suddenly there’s another reason to keep playing. Then, as I see my reflection in the dark stats screen of another failed attempt, there’s a small spark in my mind that says… “You know, the next run could be the one.” Then it’s time for another spin.
So, What’s it Like? CloverPit is like Baltro crossed with the Pokies.
In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by the publisher, but this doesn’t influence my score.
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