LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the indie sensation Balatro, saw their 2024 release become a phenomenal success, selling over 5 million copies. This unexpected triumph shook the gaming industry, earning Balatro multiple awards at The Game Awards 2024. The game's popularity far surpassed even the creator's—and players’—expectations.
Initially, LocalThunk anticipated modest reviews, predicting a 6-7 out of 10 score given the game's unconventional design. However, a glowing 91 from PC Gamer, followed by similarly positive reviews, propelled Balatro to a remarkable 90 on Metacritic and OpenCritic. This success came as a complete surprise to LocalThunk, who admitted they would have personally rated the game only an 8 out of 10.
Playstack, the publisher, contributed significantly to the game's success through proactive press engagement before launch. Yet, the real catalyst was overwhelmingly positive word-of-mouth marketing, boosting sales 10 to 20 times beyond initial projections. The first 24 hours on Steam alone saw 119,000 copies sold—a moment the developer described as utterly surreal.
The overwhelming success of Balatro has left its creator with a humble admission: there's no single formula for replicating this achievement for other indie developers.
