LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the indie sensation Balatro, saw their 2024 release become a phenomenal success, selling over 5 million copies. This unexpected triumph shook the gaming industry, culminating in multiple awards at The Game Awards 2024. Even LocalThunk, the creator, was completely unprepared for such widespread acclaim.
Initially, given Balatro’s unconventional design, LocalThunk anticipated modest reviews, perhaps in the 6-7 point range. However, a stunning 91/100 score from PC Gamer, followed by similarly high praise from other critics, propelled Balatro to a Metacritic and OpenCritic average of 90. This success surprised even the developer, who admitted to a personal rating of only 8/10 for their own creation.
Playstack, the publisher, contributed significantly to Balatro’s success through proactive press engagement before launch. But the true catalyst was overwhelmingly positive word-of-mouth marketing, resulting in sales exceeding initial projections by 10 to 20 times. The first 24 hours on Steam alone saw 119,000 copies sold—an experience LocalThunk described as utterly surreal.
The game's overwhelming success has left the creator with a humbling admission: there's no single, guaranteed formula for other indie developers to replicate Balatro’s achievement.
