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 became a genuine industry sensation, garnering critical acclaim and multiple awards at The Game Awards 2024. This level of success was unexpected, even for the creator.
Initially, LocalThunk anticipated modest reviews, predicting a score in the 6-7 range given the game's unconventional design. However, Balatro defied expectations. A glowing 91 from PC Gamer, followed by similarly positive reviews, propelled the game to a Metacritic and OpenCritic score of 90. This outcome surprised LocalThunk, who admitted they would have personally rated the game no higher than an 8.
Playstack, the publisher, contributed significantly to Balatro's success through proactive press engagement before launch. Yet, the game's phenomenal sales were primarily driven by word-of-mouth marketing, exceeding initial projections by a factor of 10 to 20. The first 24 hours on Steam alone saw 119,000 copies sold—an experience LocalThunk described as surreal.
Overwhelmed by Balatro's success, the creator humbly admits there's no single, replicable formula for other indie developers to follow.
