Balatro Dev Reveals Personal Favorite Game of 2024

LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the incredibly successful indie game Balatro (which sold over 3.5 million copies in 2024), has declared Animal Well his Game of the Year. This accolade, playfully dubbed the "Golden Thunk" award, highlights the immersive gameplay, stylish design, and hidden secrets of Animal Well, calling it Shared Memory developer Billy Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso responded with appreciation, praising LocalThunk's humility. The mutual respect between these successful indie developers resonated with fans, who celebrated the positive interaction.

Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk's 2024 favorites included Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing. He specifically noted shared elements between Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers and his own Balatro, both being pixel art deck-building games created by solo developers.

Balatro's continued success hasn't stopped LocalThunk from actively supporting the game. He's released three "Friends of Jimbo" updates featuring crossovers with popular titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver, and has hinted at another collaboration in the works.

Summary

• Balatro developer LocalThunk names Animal Well his favorite game of 2024, awarding it the "Golden Thunk" award.
• He also highlights several other favorite indie games from 2024.
• LocalThunk's Balatro achieved phenomenal success, selling 3.5 million copies and receiving critical acclaim. He continues to support the game with free updates and crossovers.