Balatro Agent vs Speedrun

A side-by-side look at the Balatro Agent and Speedrun MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.

Balatro Agent logoBalatro AgentGaming · Local subprocess (stdio)MCP server connecting AI agents to play Balatro65GreatAuth: no auth requiredSpeedrun logoSpeedrunGaming · Local subprocess (stdio)Speedrun.com MCP — wraps the Speedrun.com API v1 (speedrun.com/api/v1)53GoodAuth: not declared

Verdict: choose Balatro Agent for gaming work as a local process; choose Speedrun for gaming as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.

Which MCP server should you choose?

Balatro Agent logoChoose Balatro Agent when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Gaming domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
  • You want tools like connect, disconnect, balatro_select_blind.
Explore Balatro Agent

Speedrun logoChoose Speedrun when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Gaming domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • You want tools like search_games, get_categories, get_leaderboard.
Explore Speedrun

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecBalatro Agent logoBalatro AgentSpeedrun logoSpeedrun
CategoryGamingGaming
Quality signal65/100 · Great53/100 · Good
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthNo auth requiredNot declared
PricingFreeNot declared
Required env varsNone listedNone listed
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars210
Directory activity 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
Tools274

Tools & capabilities

Balatro Agent tools 27

  • connectConnect to a live Balatro instance and keep its bridge socket open. Read balatro://instances for the current indices and pass instance_index, or omit it when exactly one instance is running. Connecting changes no default: actions and live resources address instances by instance_index and open their own sockets on demand.
  • disconnectRelease the bridge socket held for a live Balatro instance. Read balatro://instances for the current indices and pass instance_index, or omit it when exactly one instance is running. Nothing else changes: later actions and resource reads reconnect on demand.
  • balatro_select_blindSelect the current blind to begin the round.
  • balatro_skip_blindSkip the current blind, forfeiting its cash reward in exchange for a tag reward.
  • balatro_play_handPlay the selected cards as a poker hand, scoring them against the blind's chip target.
  • balatro_discard_handDiscard the selected cards and draw replacements, consuming one discard for the round.
  • balatro_reroll_shopReroll the shop offerings, spending the current reroll cost.
  • balatro_reroll_bossReroll the upcoming Boss Blind for $10 during blind selection. Requires Director's Cut (once per Ante) or Retcon (unlimited rerolls), sufficient spendable money, and no reroll already in progress.
  • balatro_leave_shopLeave the shop to end the round.
  • balatro_cash_outCash out round-end rewards.
  • balatro_skip_boosterClose an open booster pack, forfeiting remaining picks.
  • balatro_restartRestart the current run with the same deck, stake, and seed.
  • +15 more on the listing page

Speedrun tools 4

  • search_gamesSearch the Speedrun.com database for games by name. Returns matching games with their ID (needed for get_categories and get_leaderboard), abbreviation, release year, and weblink. Example: search_games({ query: "super mario 64", max: 5 })
  • get_categoriesList the run categories for a game (e.g. "Any%", "100%", "Glitchless"). Use the game ID from search_games. Each category has an ID needed to fetch a leaderboard via get_leaderboard. Example: get_categories({ game_id: "o1y9wo6q" })
  • get_leaderboardFetch the world-record / top-N leaderboard for a specific game category. Returns ranked runs with finish times (ISO-8601 duration plus seconds), run date, players, and weblink. Get game_id from search_games and category_id from get_categories. Example: get_leaderboard({ game_id: "o1y9wo6q", categor…
  • find_userLook up a speedrunner by username. Returns matching users with their ID, display name, and profile weblink. Example: find_user({ name: "cheese05" })

Ready-to-paste client configs

Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.

Balatro Agent

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "balatro-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "balatro-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Speedrun

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "speedrun": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@pipeworx/mcp-speedrun"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Balatro Agent is categorized under Gaming and uses a local stdio subprocess. Speedrun belongs to Gaming and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Balatro Agent for gaming work and Speedrun for gaming.

Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.

Balatro Agent is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Speedrun has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.

Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add balatro-mcp and speedrun as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

On AllMCPs, Balatro Agent has a quality signal of 65/100 (Great) with 1 views, 0 installs and 21 GitHub stars. Speedrun has 53/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.