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 critically acclaimed deck-building game Balatro, LocalThunk, has hailed Animal Well as his favorite game of 2024. Both Balatro and Animal Well have garnered significant attention and praise as standout indie titles from last year.

Balatro, crafted by the solo developer LocalThunk on a modest budget, has seen phenomenal success since its launch in February 2024. The game not only received accolades from critics but also resonated deeply with players, leading to sales exceeding 3.5 million copies. Alongside Balatro, 2024 was a banner year for indie games, featuring other notable titles like Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50. Among these, Animal Well has matched Balatro's level of critical acclaim, prompting LocalThunk to publicly commend its developer.

In a Twitter post, LocalThunk crowned Animal Well as his "Game of the Year 2024," and playfully dubbed his praise the "Golden Thunk" award. He lauded the game's solo developer at Shared Memory, Billy Basso, for creating an "engrossing experience" full of "style" and "secrets," calling it Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso responded by humorously naming LocalThunk the "(The) Nicest Most Humble Dev of the Year." Fans in the comments section celebrated the mutual respect and support among indie developers, highlighting the positive community spirit. LocalThunk also shared his other top indie picks of 2024, including Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing, each praised for their unique qualities.

Balatro Developer Picks His Favorite Games of 2024

In a follow-up thread, LocalThunk listed his other favorites for 2024 after Animal Well. He highlighted Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing as his "runners up," providing insights into what he appreciated about each. Notably, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers shares similarities with Balatro, as both are pixel art-based deck-building games developed by solo creators.

Despite Balatro's overwhelming success, LocalThunk has continued to enhance the game with free updates. Over recent months, three "Friends of Jimbo" updates have introduced crossover content from popular IPs such as Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. LocalThunk has also teased a potential collaboration with another top game of 2024 for a future Balatro crossover, keeping the community engaged and excited about what's next.