This article contains everything you need to know about Arkadium’s Saloon Showdown Game.
Use the list below to navigate specific topics about Saloon Showdown.
How to play
Saloon Showdown is a fun Poker/Roguelike combination game. A roguelike game is a type of game where each run is different because levels, items, and challenges are randomly generated. They usually feature permadeath (losing means starting over) but often let you unlock upgrades or knowledge that carry into future runs. The focus is on strategic decision-making, adapting to randomness, and replayability.
From the introduction screen, you can play by choosing your Red Deck and clicking "Play". You can see your current money and your best score on the right.
You can change your settings by clicking on the icon on the top left.
After starting the game, you'll see your main screen.
On top, is your level and objective. You'll need to score a specific amount of points to reach the next level.
You'll be able to see your score, money, and the stakes the table you're on plays by. Higher stakes will mean higher earnings but higher losses. Each table has low, medium and high stakes to get through.
On top, you'll see your Booster Cards. You can check more information about them down below.
On the left, is your deck. Your deck has the number of cards on the table, and the ones you've left to play. You have 8 cards to play with, and you can play up to 5 cards. You can use regular Poker hands, and most hands will give you a score multiplier.
The Play icon indicates the amount of rounds you have to play to make the points. You can Discard up to 5 different cards.
For ease of play, you're able to sort your cards by Suits or Rank.
From the cards you're given, you'll have to earn the objective's amount of points in the rounds given.
When choosing your cards, you'll be able to see how much you'll score.
After playing a round, the score will be taken and added to your total. You have the other rounds to make up the rest of the score.
If you win, you'll be taken to the winning screen.
In between rounds, there's several changes you can make. One of them is buying Booster Cards. These are modifying cards that will change up your score in different ways. You can check which cards you can buy each round. They produce effects such as building up your score with each combination, or multiplying it.
Use the arrows to switch menus. The next one will allow you to sell all Booster Cards you own. You can sell them for a smaller price.
The next menu will allow you to earn money by watching ads or buying it with Gems.
The final menu will allow you to buy card backs for your decks, by watching ads or using Gems.
If you lose, you'll have to go back to the beginning. If you start a new run, you'll start from the bottom. If you choose, you can keep things such as your card decks and boosters.
Tips
Here are some strategies on how to perform better at the game:
- Don’t always chase the highest-value hand. A steady stream of smaller wins often keeps you alive longer.
- Higher stakes mean bigger payouts — but they can sink you fast if you miss your objectives.
- Multipliers from Booster Cards usually outscale flat bonuses the deeper you go.
- Sell off Booster Cards that no longer fit your strategy — every bit of money counts.
- Folding a weak hand can be smarter than wasting a round on low points.
- Use your discards wisely — saving them for the right redraw can make or break a level.
- Booster effects stack in surprising ways. Look for synergies instead of grabbing random upgrades.
- Sorting your hand by rank makes spotting straights faster. Sorting by suits makes flushes easier to see.
- Remember: you only need to beat the objective, not make the flashiest hand every time.
- Aim for reliable hands when rounds are running low — consistency beats gambling in the late game.
- Chip multipliers are powerful early, but bonus-on-combo boosters can snowball in longer runs.
- Selling boosters is weaker than using them — but sometimes cash on hand is what you need most.
- Every round is a puzzle: balance your score, cards, and boosters to reach the target.
- Don’t forget to check the stakes before playing — a careless loss at high stakes can end a good run.
- Booster synergy often defines a run. Think long-term when choosing what to buy.
- If your draw looks bad, think ahead: which discard will open the door for the next round?
- A single round doesn’t decide the game. Plan for the full set of objectives.
- High-value poker hands are great, but building multipliers around consistent hands is often stronger.
- Manage your risk like your bankroll: play safe when ahead, gamble when behind.
- Every failed run teaches you which boosters, stakes, and hands fit your style — lean into that knowledge next time.
Scoring
Saloon Showdown has no scoring system. This game is meant to be a fun roguelike Poker game to play on successive runs, without a specific scoring system or leaderboard. The game is incompatible with the regular competitive Arkadium leaderboards, and it's meant for a fun ongoing challenge.