LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the hugely successful indie game Balatro (3.5 million copies sold!), has declared Animal Well his 2024 Game of the Year. This accolade, humorously dubbed the "Golden Thunk" award, highlights Animal Well's "engrossing experience," "style," and "secrets," praising developer Billy Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso, in turn, acknowledged LocalThunk's generosity.
Both Balatro and Animal Well, released to critical acclaim in 2024, exemplify the year's indie game boom. Other notable 2024 indie hits included Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50.
LocalThunk's Twitter thread expanded on his top picks, listing Animal Well's "runners-up": Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers (a fellow pixel art deck-builder), Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing. He detailed his appreciation for each.
Despite Balatro's phenomenal success, LocalThunk continues to support it with free "Friends of Jimbo" updates. These updates have featured crossovers with popular IPs like Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver, with more collaborations hinted at.
