Balatro, a remarkable poker-inspired roguelike created by the indie developer LocalThunk, took center stage at The Game Awards 2024 by snagging three accolades, including Best Mobile Game and Best Independent Game. Delighted with the wins, LocalThunk humorously tweeted about needing a more robust shelf to display these prestigious trophies. Fans can look forward to more updates and enhancements for Balatro in 2025.
At the festive December 12 event, The Game Awards celebrated a year brimming with outstanding games like Balatro. Marking its 10th anniversary, the show also featured tantalizing previews of major titles like CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 4, a surprising 2025 release date for Xbox’s The Outer Worlds 2, and a thrilling cinematic reveal for Naughty Dog’s new ’80s sci-fi adventure, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
Launched in early 2024, Balatro quickly made waves with its engrossing gameplay that captivated players across different platforms. The game’s continuous updates and exciting crossovers—with hits such as The Witcher 3, Among Us, Vampire Survivors, and even a cameo in a Cyberpunk 2077 mission—helped keep Balatro in the gaming spotlight. This lively engagement led Balatro to become a strong contender for Game of the Year at The Game Awards, earning its place alongside titans like Metaphor: ReFantazio, Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, and Black Myth: Wukong.
Although it was nominated for five awards, Balatro secured victories in three categories, despite losing the Game of the Year title to Sony’s Astro Bot. LocalThunk took to Twitter to joyfully celebrate these achievements while humorously lamenting the need for another shelf to display the cherished awards.
Even though the 2024 Game Awards have wrapped up, the gaming community eagerly awaits further recognition at upcoming events like the DICE Awards and the Game Developers Choice Awards. Publications are also yet to declare their Game of the Year winners, keeping the door ajar for more accolades for Balatro.
LocalThunk’s dedication to Balatro continues unabated into 2025, with a fresh burst of updates and collaborations, like the Friends of Jimbo card pack featuring games like Cult of the Lamb, Warframe, and Shovel Knight. The game’s future developments remain a tantalizing mystery, sure to keep its community engaged and excited.
