Balatro, a game developed by solo creator LocalThunk, unexpectedly became a 2024 indie sensation, selling over 5 million copies. This achievement sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, garnering widespread popularity and multiple awards at The Game Awards 2024. The success far surpassed the expectations of both the developer and players.
LocalThunk initially anticipated modest reviews, predicting a score of 6-7 out of 10, 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 remarkable 90 on both Metacritic and OpenCritic. This outcome stunned LocalThunk, who admitted he would have personally rated his own creation no higher than 8/10.
Playstack, the publisher, contributed significantly to Balatro's success through proactive press engagement before launch. Yet, the game's explosive sales were primarily driven by word-of-mouth marketing, exceeding initial projections by a factor of 10 to 20. The sale of 119,000 copies within the first 24 hours on Steam remains a surreal highlight for LocalThunk.
The overwhelming success of Balatro has left its creator without a definitive formula for other indie developers to replicate his achievement.
