Last year was filled with stellar gaming releases, but one indie game that truly captivated both players and critics was the roguelike sensation, Balatro. Developed by the solo talent LocalThunk, this game not only garnered critical acclaim but also achieved stunning commercial success, with sales soaring past 5 million copies!
Just over a month ago, LocalThunk was celebrating the impressive milestone of 3.5 million copies sold. Astonishingly, within the subsequent 40 days, Balatro managed to sell an additional 1.5 million copies. This remarkable surge in sales can likely be attributed to the "The Game Awards effect," a phenomenon that LocalThunk hinted at in a tweet.
Harvey Elliott, the CEO of publisher Playstack, described this milestone as an incredible achievement deserving of celebration. He also expressed immense pride in both Balatro's developer and the dedicated team at Playstack.
Nearly a year after its initial release, Balatro continues to thrive. The card-based roguelike game keeps players engaged with ongoing updates and exciting collaborations. Recently, it even achieved a new personal record for peak concurrent players on Steam, underscoring its enduring popularity and appeal.