LocalThunk, a solo developer working under the pseudonym, achieved a remarkable feat in 2024 with their indie game, Balatro. Selling over 5 million copies, Balatro unexpectedly shook the gaming industry, earning critical acclaim and multiple awards at The Game Awards 2024. This success far surpassed both the developer's and players' expectations.
Initially, LocalThunk anticipated modest reviews, predicting a score in the 6-7 range given the game's unconventional concept. However, a stunning 91/100 score from PC Gamer, followed by similarly positive reviews, propelled Balatro to an impressive 90 on Metacritic and OpenCritic. This was a complete surprise to LocalThunk, who admitted to self-rating their creation at only an 8/10.
Playstack, the publisher, contributed significantly to the game's success through proactive press engagement before launch. Yet, the real catalyst for Balatro's phenomenal sales was word-of-mouth marketing. This organic buzz resulted in sales exceeding initial projections by 10 to 20 times. The first 24 hours on Steam alone saw 119,000 copies sold—an experience the developer described as utterly surreal.
Overwhelmed by Balatro's success, LocalThunk humbly admits there's no single, guaranteed formula for replicating this achievement for other indie developers.
