Top Tech Expert Reveals 2024's Favorite Game

LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the incredibly successful indie game Balatro (which sold over 3.5 million copies in 2024), has declared Animal Well his Game of the Year. This accolade, humorously dubbed the "Golden Thunk" award, highlights the immersive gameplay, stylish design, and hidden secrets within Animal Well, calling it developer Billy Basso's "true masterpiece."

Both Balatro and Animal Well were critically acclaimed indie hits of 2024, a year brimming with other notable indie titles such as Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50. Basso, in response to LocalThunk's praise, affectionately referred to him as a remarkably humble and kind developer. This exchange exemplifies the positive camaraderie within the indie game development community.

Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk also shared his appreciation for several other 2024 indie games, including Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing, detailing his reasons for enjoying each. Interestingly, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, like Balatro, is a pixel art deck-building game created by a solo developer.

Despite Balatro's phenomenal success, LocalThunk continues to support the game with free updates. Three "Friends of Jimbo" updates have already introduced crossover content from popular titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. He's also hinted at a future collaboration with another prominent 2024 game.