In a recent Bloomberg interview, the developer behind Balatro, known as LocalThunk, discussed the game’s origins and its surprising success after beginning as a hobby project.

LocalThunk, with a background in IT and previously engaging in hobby game development without commercial release, shared how a friend’s enthusiastic feedback made him realize the game’s potential. “I had a friend play, and he said, ‘Yeah, I really liked that game you sent over. I played it for 20, 30, or 40 hours’. I was thinking, ‘What on earth? There must be something here if he was playing it for that long.’”
(Translation: LocalThunk highlighted how positive reactions from playtesters set a new tone for his project.)

Citing influences from the Cantonese card game Big Two and the roguelike Luck Be a Landlord, LocalThunk’s Balatro development started in late 2021, leading to a significant milestone—receiving a 91% review score and being awarded the overall game of the year by PC Gamer for 2024.

Despite achieving fame, LocalThunk remains committed to privacy, having left his IT position to focus fully on game development and purchased a home with his partner. Future updates for Balatro are in the works, ensuring continued engagement with the player community.