The game Balatro, crafted by the solo developer known as LocalThunk, emerged as a standout indie sensation in 2024, astonishingly selling over 5 million copies. This project not only shook the gaming industry but also captured hearts worldwide, ultimately clinching multiple awards at The Game Awards 2024. Neither the players nor LocalThunk himself anticipated such a monumental success.

LocalThunk confessed that due to the game's unconventional concept, he expected moderate reviews, perhaps in the range of 6-7 points. However, when PC Gamer awarded Balatro an impressive 91, and other critics echoed this sentiment, the game's Metacritic and OpenCritic scores soared to 90 points. This was a complete surprise for LocalThunk, who admitted he would have rated his own project no higher than 8 points.

The publisher, Playstack, significantly contributed to this triumph by actively engaging with the press before the game's launch. Yet, it was the power of word of mouth that truly propelled Balatro's sales, exceeding initial forecasts by 10-20 times. Within the first 24 hours of its release on Steam, an astonishing 119,000 copies were sold, a moment LocalThunk described as the most surreal of his life.

Overwhelmed by the game's success, LocalThunk admitted that he has no universal recipe to share with other indie developers, underscoring the unique and unpredictable nature of Balatro's journey to stardom.