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 personal Game of the Year. Both games achieved significant critical acclaim and player popularity in 2024.

Balatro, a low-budget, solo-developed deck-building game, launched to phenomenal success in February 2024. Its popularity rivaled other notable indie hits of the year, including Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50. However, it was Animal Well, created by Billy Basso of Shared Memory, that captured LocalThunk's heart.

In a humorous Twitter post, LocalThunk bestowed the "Golden Thunk" award upon Animal Well, praising its "engrossing experience," "style," and numerous "secrets," calling it Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso responded, indirectly naming LocalThunk the "Nicest Most Humble Dev of the Year." The exchange highlighted the positive camaraderie within the indie game development community.

Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk also shared his appreciation for several other 2024 indie titles, including Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing, highlighting aspects he particularly enjoyed in each. Interestingly, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, like Balatro, is a pixel art deck-building game created by a solo developer.

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