In 2024, the indie game Balatro, crafted by the solo developer known as LocalThunk, emerged as a phenomenal success, selling over 5 million copies and shaking the gaming industry to its core. This unexpected hit not only captured the hearts of gamers worldwide but also clinched multiple awards at The Game Awards 2024. Neither the players nor LocalThunk himself anticipated such a triumph.
LocalThunk had modest expectations for Balatro, predicting reviews around the 6-7 point range due to its unconventional gameplay. However, the game defied these expectations when PC Gamer awarded it a stellar 91, setting off a wave of high praise from other critics. Balatro quickly achieved an impressive 90 points on both Metacritic and OpenCritic, leaving LocalThunk astonished. He admitted he would have given his own game no more than an 8.
The publisher, Playstack, significantly contributed to Balatro's success by actively engaging with the press before the game's launch. Yet, it was the power of word of mouth that truly propelled the game's sales, surpassing initial forecasts by 10-20 times. Within the first 24 hours of its release on Steam, an astounding 119,000 copies were sold, a moment LocalThunk described as the most surreal of his life.
Overwhelmed by the game's success, LocalThunk confessed that he has no universal formula to share with other indie developers, emphasizing the unique and unpredictable nature of Balatro's journey to the top.
