Balatro Creator Puzzled by Game’s Surprisingly High Review Scores

When Balatro hit the gaming scene in February 2024, its creator, LocalThunk, found himself completely taken aback by the rave reviews. Despite its humble beginnings as an indie project with just one developer at the helm, Balatro swiftly gained recognition, even earning a nomination for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. This poker-themed roguelike took players by storm, winning fans over with its simplicity that belied a deeply challenging mastery curve.

Released on February 20, 2024, Balatro proved to be an instant phenomenon. Critics and players alike applauded its straightforward yet addictive gameplay, which challenges players to assemble specific poker hands to achieve set point goals. The inclusion of diverse Joker cards that offer score multipliers and special powers adds layers of strategy, making for a compelling and competitive gaming experience. Fans have enthusiastically spent the last year crafting optimal strategies, evident by scores reaching into the hundreds of millions. Oddly enough, while players were quick to embrace Balatro, LocalThunk himself was unsure if the game would resonate with a broader audience.

In a candid blog post, LocalThunk opened up about the development journey of Balatro and the surprising reaction it garnered on launch day. The first major review hit from PC Gamer, awarding the game a whopping 91. As LocalThunk recalled, he was on a call with publisher Playstack at the time. “Their shock mirrored my own. I was utterly astonished. The score just didn’t add up,” he admitted. The glowing reception didn’t stop there—review after review praised the game, with Balatro hitting 92 on OpenCritic. This overwhelming reception even led to LocalThunk joking that he’d personally rate his creation an eight out of ten. He humorously noted how the launch far exceeded their expectations, both in scale and reception, by a whopping 10 to 20 times.

By the close of 2024, Balatro had sold over 3.5 million copies. Its nomination and success at The Game Awards 2024 further fueled interest, especially after clinching wins for Best Mobile Game, Best Independent Game, and Best Debut Indie Game. The mobile release alone raked in over $1 million within the first week, with the game maintaining strong sales momentum across platforms.

LocalThunk is also a vocal advocate for indie games, naming Animal Well, another indie gem developed by Billy Basso, as his personal favorite of 2024. This intriguing Metroidvania tasked players with exploring subterranean labyrinths occupied by eccentric creatures, and it garnered its share of accolades, including Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction at the D.I.C.E. Awards that year.

Balatro, categorized under strategy, digital card game, and roguelike genres, continues to thrive thanks in part to its unique blending of elements and commendable indie craftsmanship. Despite expecting moderate success, LocalThunk’s creation has undeniably marked its place in gaming history.