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

Balatro, a game developed by solo creator LocalThunk, unexpectedly became a 2024 indie sensation, selling over 5 million copies. This success shocked the gaming industry, earning Balatro accolades and awards at The Game Awards 2024. Neither the developer nor players anticipated such a phenomenal response.

LocalThunk initially projected modest reviews (6-7/10) given the game's unconventional design. However, a 91/100 score from PC Gamer, followed by similarly high praise from other critics, propelled Balatro to a 90/100 average on Metacritic and OpenCritic. This outcome surprised even the creator, who admitted to a self-assessment of only 8/10.

Publisher Playstack contributed significantly through pre-release press engagement. Yet, the game's explosive sales were primarily driven by word-of-mouth marketing, exceeding initial projections by a factor of 10 to 20. The first 24 hours on Steam saw 119,000 copies sold—an experience the developer described as surreal.

Overwhelmed by Balatro's success, LocalThunk acknowledges the lack of a universally applicable formula for other indie developers to replicate his achievement.