LocalThunk, a solo developer working under the pseudonym, achieved a remarkable feat in 2024 with their indie game, Balatro. Selling over 5 million copies, Balatro unexpectedly became a major gaming industry success story, earning accolades at The Game Awards 2024. This level of success surprised both the developer and players alike.
Initially, LocalThunk anticipated modest reviews, estimating a 6-7 out of 10 score given the game's unconventional design. However, a glowing 91/100 review from PC Gamer, followed by similarly positive critical reception, propelled Balatro to a Metacritic and OpenCritic score of approximately 90. This was a complete shock to the developer, who admitted to a personal rating of only 8 out of 10.
Playstack, the game's publisher, contributed significantly to its success through pre-release press engagement. Nevertheless, the overwhelming sales were primarily driven by word-of-mouth marketing, exceeding initial projections by a factor of 10 to 20. The astonishing sale of 119,000 copies within the first 24 hours on Steam remains a surreal experience for LocalThunk.
The game's overwhelming success has left the creator unable to offer a definitive formula for other indie developers to replicate this achievement.
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