The creator of Balatro did not expect such a grand success for his game

In 2024, the indie game Balatro, crafted by the solo developer known as LocalThunk, emerged as a phenomenal success, selling over 5 million copies and shaking the foundations of the gaming industry. This unexpected triumph not only garnered widespread popularity but also clinched multiple awards at The Game Awards 2024, leaving both the players and the creator in awe of its reception.

LocalThunk, anticipating only modest reviews due to the game's unconventional concept, was initially expecting scores around 6-7 points. The game defied these expectations when it received a stellar 91 from PC Gamer, followed by similarly high praise from other critics, propelling Balatro to an impressive 90 points on both Metacritic and OpenCritic. The developer himself admitted that he would have rated his own project no higher than 8 points, making the overwhelming success a complete surprise.

The publisher, Playstack, contributed significantly to this success through proactive engagement with the press leading up to the release. However, the true catalyst for the game's sales was the power of word of mouth, which propelled Balatro's performance far beyond initial projections by 10-20 times. In a testament to its immediate appeal, Balatro sold 119,000 copies within the first 24 hours of its Steam release, a moment LocalThunk described as the most surreal of his life.

Overwhelmed by the success, LocalThunk candidly shared that he has no universal recipe for other indie developers seeking similar achievements. This honesty underscores the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry and the unique journey of Balatro from a modest project to an indie sensation.