Indie Game Developer Crowns Animal Well 2024's Best
LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the hugely successful card game Balatro (3.5 million copies sold!), has declared Animal Well his personal Game of the Year for 2024. Both Balatro and Animal Well were critically acclaimed indie hits, launched to widespread praise.
Balatro, a low-budget project, exceeded all expectations upon its February 2024 release. Its success, lauded by critics and players alike, is a testament to its innovative deck-building gameplay. 2024 saw a surge in popular indie titles, including Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50, yet Animal Well stood out, rivaling Balatro's critical acclaim. This led LocalThunk to publicly commend Animal Well's creator, Billy Basso of Shared Memory.
On Twitter, LocalThunk bestowed the "Golden Thunk" award (a humorous nod to his own game) upon Animal Well, praising its "engrossing experience," "style," and hidden "secrets," calling it Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso responded, playfully acknowledging LocalThunk as a "Nicest Most Humble Dev of the Year." The exchange highlighted the positive camaraderie within the indie development community.
Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk also shared his appreciation for several other 2024 indie favorites: Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing. He noted specific aspects he enjoyed about each, highlighting the shared pixel art and solo-developer aspects between Balatro and Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers.
Despite Balatro's remarkable success, LocalThunk continues to support his game with free updates. Three "Friends of Jimbo" updates have already introduced crossover content from Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver, with hints of another major collaboration on the horizon.
