Luck be a Landlord is a roguelike deckbuilder where the deck is a slot machine, and the whole game is about making rent.

Your landlord is at the door. You have one coin. You put it in the machine.

The facts: released 6 January 2023 by TrampolineTales at $9.99. Windows, macOS and Linux. The store page states plainly that it contains no real-money gambling and no microtransactions.

Key features

Symbols that interact, not just pay

You add symbols to the reels as you go, and each has effects and interactions with the others. A build is a set of symbols that multiply each other rather than a set of high-value icons.

That is what makes it a deckbuilder rather than a slot machine. A real slot machine pays out independently of your choices; here the payout is the consequence of a combination you assembled, and the randomness is in what you are offered rather than in whether you win.

Rent as an escalating timer

Rent rises on a schedule. The pressure is structural and it never stops, which is the mechanic the satire is built on.

No gambling, deliberately

The developer is explicit about the absence of real-money mechanics. For a game that looks like a slot machine, saying so on the store page is both an ethical position and a practical one — it is the first question anyone asks.

Why it still matters

Luck be a Landlord essentially defined the slot-machine roguelike, and nearly everything in the sub-genre since is responding to it. If you are starting anywhere, start here.

It is also genuinely accessible — screen reader support, adjustable text size, colour alternatives and contrast controls are all listed, which is rare at any budget.

Where to find Luck be a Landlord

• Buy on Steam — $9.99
• A free demo is on the store page
• Windows, macOS and Linux. Single-player, Steam Workshop

Frequently asked questions

Does Luck be a Landlord have real gambling?

No. The store page states it contains no real-world currency gambling and no microtransactions.

Is Luck be a Landlord a roguelike?

It is a roguelike deckbuilder — runs end, the symbols and items on offer differ each time, and you build a synergy engine across a run.

How much does Luck be a Landlord cost?

$9.99.

Does it run on Mac or Linux?

Yes, Windows, macOS and Linux.

Who made Luck be a Landlord?

TrampolineTales, who both developed and published it.