Poker roguelike Balatro is nominated in 5 classes on the 2024 Sport Awards, together with the highest spot — Sport of the Yr. Solo developer LocalThunk stands as the one indie developer within the Sport of the Yr and Greatest Sport Route classes, which have the identical lineup: Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Fable: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Balatro can also be nominated for Greatest Unbiased Sport, Greatest Debut Indie Sport, and Greatest Cellular Sport. Balatro was launched in February on Nintendo Change, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Sequence X. It got here to cell in September.
Balatro developer LocalThunk (who makes use of a pseudonym on-line) instructed epicgamejourney it’s “utterly surreal” to be nominated among the many likes of heavy hitters Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdree, Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and the others. “The extra time goes on the extra I really feel like I simply occurred to stumble into successful the sport developer lottery. I’d wish to suppose the sport has attraction however I really feel that attraction pales compared to the unbelievable different nominees.”
LocalThunk added that he was “completely blindsided” by the Sport of the Yr nomination, however plans to have a good time with a pleasant dinner together with his accomplice.
“I’ve been fortunate sufficient to share this journey with plenty of fellow indie builders and the outpouring of affection and assist from them and my family and friends has been overwhelming,” LocalThunk added.
