Balatro Dev's Top Game Pick for 2024 Revealed

Summary

• Balatro developer lauds Animal Well as his favorite game of 2024.
• The developer named some of his other favorite games of 2024 as well.
• Balatro achieved massive success, selling 3.5 million copies, and receiving high acclaim from players and critics.

The developer behind the indie hit Balatro, LocalThunk, has declared Animal Well as his top game of 2024. Both Balatro and Animal Well, released last year, have garnered immense praise and success within the indie gaming community.

Balatro, a deck-building game crafted on a modest budget by solo developer LocalThunk, has taken the gaming world by storm since its February 2024 launch. The game not only received critical acclaim but also captured the hearts of players, resulting in sales of over 3.5 million copies. Despite Balatro's success, 2024 was a banner year for indie games, with titles like Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50 also making waves. Among these, Animal Well has stood out, earning accolades comparable to those of Balatro. In recognition of this, LocalThunk took to Twitter to praise Animal Well and its creator, Billy Basso of Shared Memory.

In his humorous style, LocalThunk awarded Animal Well the "Golden Thunk" award, citing its "engrossing experience" and describing it as a "true masterpiece" full of "style" and "secrets." Basso responded graciously, calling LocalThunk the "Nicest Most Humble Dev of the Year." Fans in the comments section appreciated the mutual respect and solidarity among indie developers. Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk shared his other favorite indie games of 2024, including Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing, highlighting what he admired about each.

Balatro Developer Picks His Favorite Games of 2024

In his Twitter thread, LocalThunk listed his other top picks for 2024, with Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers standing out due to its similarities with Balatro—both being pixel art-based deck-building games developed by solo creators.

Despite Balatro's success, LocalThunk hasn't rested on his laurels. He has continued to enhance the game with free updates, including three "Friends of Jimbo" updates featuring crossover content from popular IPs like Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. Recently, LocalThunk hinted at a potential collaboration with another top game of 2024 for a new Balatro crossover, keeping the community engaged and excited.