LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the hugely successful indie game Balatro (3.5 million copies sold!), has declared Animal Well his personal Game of the Year for 2024. This accolade, playfully dubbed the "Golden Thunk" award, highlights Animal Well's captivating gameplay, stylish design, and hidden secrets. LocalThunk specifically praised the game's creator, Billy Basso of Shared Memory, calling Animal Well a "true masterpiece." Basso responded with a gracious acknowledgment, complimenting LocalThunk in return.
This mutual admiration underscores the positive camaraderie within the indie game development community. Fans celebrated this display of support and the shared success of both Balatro and Animal Well, two critically acclaimed indie hits of 2024.
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, detailing his reasons for enjoying each. Interestingly, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, like Balatro, is a pixel art deck-building game created by a single developer, showcasing a shared aesthetic and development style.
Despite Balatro's phenomenal success, LocalThunk continues to support his creation with free updates. Three "Friends of Jimbo" updates have already introduced crossover content from popular games like Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver, with hints of further collaborations on the horizon.
