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LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the hugely successful indie game Balatro (which sold over 3.5 million copies in 2024), has declared Animal Well his Game of the Year. Both games garnered significant critical acclaim last year.
Balatro, a pixel art deck-building game, launched in February 2024 to widespread praise from players and critics alike. 2024 also saw the release of other popular indie titles including Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50. However, Animal Well, a Metroidvania game, stood out, even rivaling Balatro's critical reception.
LocalThunk, on Twitter, bestowed his "Golden Thunk" award upon Animal Well, praising its "engrossing experience," "style," and "secrets," calling it Shared Memory developer Billy Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso responded by calling LocalThunk "The Nicest Most Humble Dev of the Year." The exchange highlighted the positive camaraderie within the indie game development community.
Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk also shared his appreciation for several other 2024 indie favorites: Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing. Interestingly, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, like Balatro, is a solo-developed pixel art deck-building game.
Despite Balatro's success, LocalThunk continues to support the game with free updates. Three "Friends of Jimbo" updates have already introduced crossover content from popular titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver, with more collaborations potentially on the horizon.
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