If you've been keeping up with gaming news over the past few months, you won't be shocked to hear that LocalThunk's innovative blend of solitaire, roguelike, and deck-building, Balatro, has now surpassed five million sales across all platforms. Since its launch, Balatro has garnered widespread acclaim from both critics and players, securing numerous prestigious awards.

While it might be easy to note that this number pales in comparison to other games in terms of downloads and player counts, it's crucial to highlight two significant factors. Firstly, Balatro is a project developed by a single individual, and secondly, all these sales are premium, directly benefiting the developer and publisher Playstack.

This milestone is particularly impressive when considering these points. Unfortunately, the exact number of mobile sales remains unclear. The last reported figures in December showed 3.5 million sales, indicating an impressive additional 1.5 million sales since then, particularly on mobile platforms.

**Place your bets**

It wouldn't be fair to single out Balatro as the definitive indie breakthrough on mobile, given the plethora of other exceptional releases on the platform. However, it's undeniable that Balatro stands as one of the most high-profile successes, especially considering the journey it has taken to achieve such popularity. The long-term sales prospects remain to be seen, particularly as Balatro continues to receive crossover updates and further enhancements.

The critical question now is whether this success will boost confidence among both average mobile gamers and industry professionals in promoting indie games on mobile platforms. Here's hoping it does.

If you're interested in our take on Balatro, feel free to check out our review to understand why it earned a stellar five-star rating.