Uncover Balatro Dev's Game of the Year!

LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the hugely successful indie game Balatro (3.5 million copies sold!), has declared Animal Well his 2024 Game of the Year. This accolade, playfully dubbed the "Golden Thunk" award, highlights Animal Well's "engrossing experience, style, and secrets," praising its creator, Billy Basso, and his "true masterpiece." Basso responded with appreciation, calling LocalThunk a "Nicest Most Humble Dev of the Year." The exchange exemplifies the positive camaraderie within the indie game development community.

Both Balatro and Animal Well, released to critical acclaim in 2024, are indie triumphs. This mutual respect is evident in the online comments celebrating the "positivity and solidarity" between these developers.

Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk's 2024 favorites included Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing. He noted specific aspects he enjoyed about each, highlighting the shared pixel art deck-building style between Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers and his own Balatro.

LocalThunk's continued dedication to Balatro is evident in the three "Friends of Jimbo" updates released since launch. These updates feature crossover content from popular IPs like Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver, with further collaborations hinted at for the future.

Summary

• LocalThunk, Balatro's developer, awards Animal Well his "Game of the Year 2024" accolade.
• The positive interaction between LocalThunk and Animal Well's developer, Billy Basso, showcases the supportive indie game community.
• LocalThunk also shared his other favorite indie games of 2024.
• Balatro's continued success is underscored by its ongoing free updates and planned collaborations.