Balatro, the critically acclaimed blend of deck-building, solitaire, and roguelike mechanics from LocalThunk, has achieved a remarkable milestone: five million sales across all platforms. This includes a significant contribution from mobile, where it has garnered numerous awards.
While the overall sales figure might seem modest compared to some mobile gaming giants, it's crucial to remember that Balatro is a solo-developed title, and all five million sales represent premium revenue for developer LocalThunk and publisher Playstack. This makes the achievement even more noteworthy. Precise mobile-only sales figures aren't available, but the increase from 3.5 million in December to the current five million highlights substantial mobile market success.
While not definitively a singular indie breakthrough for mobile gaming, Balatro's success is undeniably significant. Its journey to popularity, particularly considering its unique genre blend and solo development, makes it a high-profile success story. Long-term sales performance remains to be seen, especially with ongoing updates and cross-platform features.
This achievement raises an important question: will Balatro's success inspire greater confidence in the mobile market for independent developers? We certainly hope so.
For a detailed look at why Balatro earned a five-star rating from us, check out our full review.