LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the hugely 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 "engrossing experience, style, and secrets" of Animal Well, calling it developer Billy Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso, in turn, praised LocalThunk's humility. This exchange exemplifies the positive camaraderie within the indie game development community.
Both Balatro and Animal Well were critically acclaimed indie hits of 2024. Balatro's success is particularly noteworthy, given its small budget and solo development.
![Image: Illustrative image of Balatro or Animal Well gameplay (replace with actual image if available)]
Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk also cited several other 2024 indie favorites: Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing. He highlighted specific aspects he enjoyed in each. Interestingly, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, like Balatro, is a pixel art deck-building game created by a single developer.
LocalThunk's continued commitment to Balatro is evident in the three "Friends of Jimbo" updates released since launch. These updates feature crossover content from popular titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. He's also hinted at a future collaboration with another top 2024 game.
