The creator of Balatro did not expect such a grand success for his game

In 2024, the indie game Balatro, crafted by the solo developer known as LocalThunk, emerged as a phenomenal success, selling over 5 million copies and shaking the gaming industry to its core. This unexpected hit not only captured the hearts of gamers worldwide but also clinched several prestigious awards at The Game Awards 2024. Neither the players nor LocalThunk himself anticipated such a triumphant outcome.

LocalThunk had modest expectations for Balatro due to its unconventional gameplay. He initially predicted the game would receive scores around 6-7 out of 10. However, the game received a stunning 91 from PC Gamer, propelling it to an average of 90 on both Metacritic and OpenCritic. This critical acclaim came as a complete shock to LocalThunk, who admitted he would have rated his own creation no higher than 8 out of 10.

The publisher, Playstack, significantly contributed to Balatro's success through proactive engagement with the press prior to the game's launch. Yet, it was the powerful word-of-mouth from the gaming community that truly drove sales, exceeding initial projections by an astonishing 10-20 times. The game sold 119,000 copies within the first 24 hours on Steam, a moment LocalThunk described as the most surreal of his life.

Overwhelmed by the game's success, LocalThunk humbly admitted that he has no universal formula to share with other indie developers, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry.