LocalThunk, the creator of the wildly successful indie game Balatro, has declared Animal Well his personal Game of the Year for 2024. This accolade, playfully dubbed the "Golden Thunk" award, highlights the exceptional "engrossing experience," "style," and "secrets" found within Animal Well, calling it developer Billy Basso's "true masterpiece." Balatro itself enjoyed phenomenal success in 2024, selling over 3.5 million copies and earning critical acclaim.

The mutual respect between these two indie developers is evident. Basso, in response, lauded LocalThunk as a "Nicest Most Humble Dev of the Year," showcasing the positive camaraderie within the indie game development community. Fans echoed this sentiment, celebrating the evident support and shared success between these creators.

Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk also shared his appreciation for several other 2024 indie titles, including Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing, highlighting specific aspects he enjoyed in each. Interestingly, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, like Balatro, is a pixel art deck-building game created by a solo developer.

LocalThunk's continued dedication to Balatro is also noteworthy. Since its February 2024 launch, he's released three "Friends of Jimbo" updates, adding crossover content from popular games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. He's even hinted at a potential collaboration with another top 2024 title for a future update. This commitment to post-launch support further solidifies Balatro's success and LocalThunk's position as a respected figure in the indie game scene.