Solo developer Bigosaur has officially announced the release date for Clutchtime: Basketball Deckbuilder, a uniquely sporty spin on the deckbuilding roguelike genre. The game launches July 24, 2025, for PC via Steam, and a free demo is available now.
Deckbuilding, with a Full-Court Press
Clutchtime plays like a buzzer-beater fusion of Balatro and NBA Jam, reimagining basketball’s best plays—passes, steals, blocks, dunks—as card actions in a deck you build over the course of your run. You’ll sub players, call timeouts, and even challenge ref calls with the same intensity as a real-life finals game.
“I’m very excited to bring Clutchtime to deckbuilding and basketball fans alike,” said solo developer Milan Babuškov, best known for Son of a Witch. “As a massive basketball fan, this was truly a passion project.”
Babuškov credits Serbian basketball stars like Nikola Jokić, Bogdan Bogdanović, and Boban Marjanović as major influences, and you can feel that national pride baked into the game’s core.
Two Modes, One Goal: Victory
Players can dive into two modes:
- Elimination, a pure roguelike-style tournament with no second chances
- Classic Season, where losses don’t end your run, just your playoff hopes
During each campaign, random events let you upgrade cards, trade players, or duplicate favorites, ensuring no two runs play the same. Whether you’re building a dunk-happy dream team or crafting the perfect full-court press, Clutchtime encourages creativity and tactical play.
Feel the Arena Energy
One of Clutchtime’s most surprising features is its dynamic audio. Babuškov personally recorded crowd noise at live basketball games, mixing it into the game so the crowd reacts to every big play—from monster blocks to high-flying dunks—just like a real stadium.
Suit Up This Summer
Clutchtime: Basketball Deckbuilder hits the court on July 24, 2025. The free Tournament Edition demo is live now on Steam, offering a taste of the action and a look at how basketball mechanics merge with deep deckbuilding strategy. It’s approachable for non-fans, but loaded with nods that’ll resonate with hoops heads.
