Balatro Dev Reveals Personal Favorite Game of 2024

Summary

• Balatro developer, LocalThunk, declares Animal Well his 2024 Game of the Year.
• He also highlights several other favorite indie games from 2024.
• Balatro, a massive success with 3.5 million copies sold, receives critical acclaim.

LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the critically acclaimed and commercially successful deck-building game Balatro, has bestowed the prestigious (and humorously named) "Golden Thunk" award upon Animal Well as his personal Game of the Year for 2024. Both Balatro, released in February 2024, and Animal Well are indie successes, achieving significant player and critical acclaim. Balatro, created on a small budget, exceeded expectations by selling over 3.5 million copies. 2024 also saw the release of other notable indie titles like Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50, with Animal Well rivaling Balatro's critical reception.

In a Twitter post, LocalThunk praised Animal Well's developer, Billy Basso of Shared Memory, for creating an "engrossing experience" full of style and secrets, calling it Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso responded, playfully calling LocalThunk the "Nicest Most Humble Dev of the Year." The post generated positive comments from fans celebrating the camaraderie within the indie development community.

Balatro Developer's Top Indie Games of 2024

Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk shared his other 2024 favorites: Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing, noting his appreciation for each. Interestingly, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers shares similarities with Balatro, being a pixel art deck-builder created by a solo developer.

Despite Balatro's success, LocalThunk continues to support the game with free updates. Three "Friends of Jimbo" updates have already introduced crossover content from popular IPs like Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. He's hinted at a potential collaboration with another popular 2024 title for a future crossover.