The developer behind the critically acclaimed indie hit Balatro, LocalThunk, has declared Animal Well as his top pick for "Game of the Year 2024." Both games, released in 2024, have garnered immense popularity and positive reviews within the gaming community.
Balatro, a deck-building game crafted by the solo developer LocalThunk on a modest budget, has taken the gaming world by storm since its launch in February 2024. It has not only captured the hearts of players but also sold over 3.5 million copies, reflecting its widespread appeal and success. 2024 has been a banner year for indie games, with titles such as Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50 also making significant impacts. Yet, Animal Well has stood out, even rivaling the acclaim garnered by Balatro.
In a humorous and heartfelt Twitter post, LocalThunk awarded Animal Well his "Golden Thunk" award, praising its solo developer, Billy Basso of Shared Memory, for creating an "engrossing experience" full of "style" and "secrets." He hailed it as Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso responded to the praise by affectionately naming LocalThunk the "(The) Nicest Most Humble Dev of the Year." The positive interaction between the developers resonated with fans, who celebrated the "positivity" and "solidarity" among the indie community. In addition to Animal Well, LocalThunk highlighted other indie titles that he enjoyed in 2024, including Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing.
Despite Balatro's overwhelming success, LocalThunk has continued to enhance the game with free updates, releasing three "Friends of Jimbo" updates that feature crossover content from popular games like Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. Recently, he teased the possibility of yet another exciting collaboration, keeping the community eagerly anticipating what's next for Balatro.
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