GameDev's Pick: Uncovering the Top Game of '24

LocalThunk, the creator of the indie hit Balatro, has declared Animal Well his 2024 Game of the Year. This accolade, jokingly dubbed the "Golden Thunk" award, highlights the immersive gameplay, stylish design, and hidden secrets that impressed LocalThunk. Balatro, a deck-building game released in February 2024, achieved phenomenal success, selling over 3.5 million copies and earning critical acclaim. However, 2024 also saw the release of other noteworthy indie titles, including Neva, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and UFO 50, with Animal Well standing out as a particular favorite.

LocalThunk's Twitter announcement praised Animal Well's solo developer, Billy Basso of Shared Memory, calling the game a "true masterpiece." Basso responded with a gracious acknowledgment, highlighting LocalThunk's humility. The positive interaction between the developers sparked enthusiastic comments from fans, celebrating the 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. Notably, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, a pixel art deck-builder created by a solo developer, shares similarities with Balatro.

Despite Balatro's impressive success, LocalThunk continues to support the game with free updates. Three "Friends of Jimbo" updates have already introduced crossover content from popular games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. Further collaborations are hinted at, potentially featuring one of 2024's most popular titles.