LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the wildly successful indie game Balatro (3.5 million copies sold!), has declared Animal Well his 2024 Game of the Year. Both Balatro and Animal Well were critically acclaimed indie hits.
Balatro, a low-budget, solo-developed deck-building game, launched in February 2024 to phenomenal success with players and critics alike. 2024 also saw the release of other popular indie titles like Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50. However, Animal Well, with its equally impressive critical reception, stood out.
In a Twitter post, LocalThunk bestowed the "Golden Thunk" award upon Animal Well and its creator, Billy Basso of Shared Memory, praising the game's "engrossing experience," "style," and "secrets," calling it Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso responded by playfully calling LocalThunk "The Nicest Most Humble Dev of the Year." The interaction highlighted the positive camaraderie within the indie development community.
LocalThunk's Top Indie Games of 2024
Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk also shared his other favorite indie games of 2024, including Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing. He noted specific aspects he enjoyed about each. Notably, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, like Balatro, is a pixel art deck-builder created by a single developer.
Despite Balatro's remarkable success, LocalThunk continues to support the game with free updates. Three "Friends of Jimbo" updates have already introduced crossover content from popular games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. He's hinted at another collaboration with a prominent 2024 title in the works.
