In 2024, the indie game Balatro, crafted by the solo developer known as LocalThunk, emerged as a groundbreaking success, selling over 5 million copies and shaking the foundations of the gaming industry. This unexpected triumph led to Balatro clinching multiple awards at The Game Awards 2024, much to the astonishment of both its creator and its players.
LocalThunk had initially braced for modest reviews, expecting scores in the 6-7 range due to the game's unconventional concept. However, the tides turned dramatically when PC Gamer awarded Balatro a stellar 91, setting off a wave of high praise from other critics. The game soon achieved an impressive 90 points on both Metacritic and OpenCritic. Even LocalThunk himself was taken aback, admitting he would have capped his own project at an 8.
The publisher, Playstack, significantly contributed to this success by actively engaging with the press prior to the release. Yet, the true catalyst for Balatro's sales surge was the power of word of mouth, propelling the game to exceed projections by an astounding 10-20 times. The game sold 119,000 copies within its first 24 hours on Steam, 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 offer other indie developers, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the gaming market.
