A single card can shake up the market. Naiive, a solo developer who has been developing games solo between New York and Suwon, South Korea, officially released his first title , Insider Trading , on Steam on February 18th. Within two days of its release, the game had garnered a positive rating of 96% out of 33 user reviews, and the demo version also received 97% positive reviews out of 344, demonstrating the game’s immense anticipation among genre fans.
“A game that brought Balatro to the stock market”
Insider Trading inherits the core structure of Balatro, a game that recently gained immense popularity in the indie game scene, to the point that PC Gamer described it as “a game that transports Balatro straight to the stock market.” However, instead of completing a poker hand, players construct a deck of cards that can manipulate the stock market, a key difference.
The gameplay is intuitive. Each turn, ten cards are randomly drawn from the deck, and players manipulate the order of the cards to influence the market. Green cards increase stock prices, while red cards decrease them. Placing five or more cards of the same color in a row triggers a combo, doubling the effect.
The structure is such that when the stock price is judged to rise sufficiently, you press the “Trade” button to invest all your funds, and then observe the market reaction. If you fail to reach your target balance by the closing price every Friday, you will be terminated.
While seemingly simple, the game harbors a wealth of strategic depth. One user commented, “It’s not simply about increasing combo numbers; the key is designing your deck to raise or lower your stock price at precisely the right moment.” Some users also report that the game’s enjoyment skyrockets once they understand the mechanics of the system.
120 cards and over 50 perks
The content is also robust. Over 120 cards span 12 card types, and over 50 perks, including the “Cursed Perk,” offer powerful effects but also risk.
Each character has a unique starting deck and special mechanics, allowing you to experiment with new strategies each time. Difficulty levels are divided into six, catering to a wide range of players, from casual gamers to strategy-oriented players.
The game was developed using the Godot engine and supports Windows, Mac, and Linux. Accessibility is enhanced with support for ten languages: English, Korean, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian.
A game completed with user feedback
The road to Insider Trading’s launch wasn’t smooth. Initially targeted for a 2025 release, Naiive announced the delay on the Steam blog in November 2025. “Based on feedback from playtesters, we realized there were still areas that needed improvement,” he said.
Since then, the game has gone beyond simple schedule adjustments and undergone major improvements. The demo has been significantly updated, the number of playable characters has increased to three, the number of cards has more than doubled, and a new Hard difficulty mode and connection system have been introduced.
On launch day, the developers told the Steam Community, “This project has been incomplete and constantly evolving for a long time. Demos, playtests, and countless iterations have made the game what it is today. Many of the elements you enjoy today would not exist without that process.”
A one-man development studio connecting New York and Suwon
Naiive Studio is a one-man development studio based in New York and Suwon, South Korea. Insider Trading is the studio’s first commercial project. From the demo stage, the studio actively solicited feedback via Discord and worked closely with the community to improve the game’s quality.
Additionally, we are striving for a creator-friendly environment by clearly stating the principle of not using copyrighted music or AI-generated content.
The game will launch at $12.89, but will be available for $10.95 with a 15% introductory discount until March 4th. A demo version is available for free on Steam.
Differentiating Yourself in a Saturated Deckbuilder Market
The roguelike deckbuilder genre has become saturated with countless titles since the success of Slay the Spire and Balatro. Insider Trading stands out in this environment because it boldly replaces the traditional “combat”-centric structure with a theme of “market manipulation.”
GamingOnLinux praised the game’s “refreshing approach to success through trading rather than combat,” and the 97% positive demo review rating suggests this differentiation is resonating with real-world users.
Insider Trading isn’t just a simple stock simulator. A single card can shake the charts, creating a thrilling rollercoaster ride that can determine the difference between ruin and success. This is a must-play for gamers who enjoy the thrill of strategic decision-making and risk management.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3166810/Insider_Trading/
