Balatro, the indie card game that’s taken the gaming world by storm, has now surpassed an impressive three-and-a-half million units sold. The announcement rolled out on the game’s official Twitter account, where the achievement was celebrated with a lighthearted nod to its modest beginnings, courtesy of its creator, LocalThunk.
“LocalThunk: Just gonna make a game for myself and a few friends,” the developer cheekily posted, highlighting the unexpected reach the game has achieved far beyond their initial intentions.
In an interview with GQ, LocalThunk opened up about having mixed feelings regarding the massive success of Balatro. Interestingly, there’s a hint of nostalgia in the way the developer reminisces, wondering if life would be simpler had they never released the game at all.
“Don’t get me wrong – this has changed my life in a lot of amazing ways,” LocalThunk graciously acknowledged. The gratitude for the game’s success is undeniable, yet there’s a part of them that longs for the days when game creation was merely a personal passion project. “I miss that time before. It was just a hobby that recharged my batteries,” they reflected. “Sometimes I think, ‘Maybe I would’ve been happier if I had never released this game to the public.'”
The past year has been incredibly intense for LocalThunk. “This last year has been by far the most stressful year of my life,” they admitted honestly. The whirlwind success has ignited a desire to rediscover the joy in game development. “These days I try and think about what will get me back to where I was when I was making this – when it was relaxing as a hobby. I want to return there.”
Remarkably, just a month after its debut back in March, Balatro had already crossed the one-million-copy mark. The game’s trajectory since then has been nothing short of astounding, capturing the hearts of countless players worldwide.
