Balatro Dev Reveals Personal Favorite Game of 2024

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. This accolade, humorously dubbed the "Golden Thunk" award, highlights the immersive experience, stylistic flair, and hidden secrets of Animal Well, praising its creator, Billy Basso, and calling it his "true masterpiece." Basso, in turn, lauded LocalThunk as a "nicest most humble dev."

The mutual respect between these indie developers underscores the positive community spirit within the gaming industry. Fans celebrated this show of solidarity, praising both Balatro and Animal Well.

Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk's 2024 favorites included Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing. He specifically noted similarities between Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers and his own Balatro, both being pixel art deck-builders created by solo developers.

Despite Balatro's phenomenal success, LocalThunk continues to support his creation with free updates. Three "Friends of Jimbo" updates have already introduced crossover content from Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver, with more collaborations potentially on the horizon.

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