LocalThunk, the mind behind Balatro, has experienced a transformation of emotions through intense gameplay, stating, “I have no enemies.” This creator dedicated substantial hours to mastering his poker roguelike, which won PC Gamer’s Game of the Year for 2024. LocalThunk expressed excitement on Bluesky, mentioning:

“Beat every deck on every difficulty! I still want to 100% the game; I’m having a really great time and I think I know my game a lot better now. I also think all this time playing has killed any negative emotions I had toward it after all the stress from launch.”

Initially made out of boredom during a lack of internet access, Balatro has gained widespread acclaim, showering its creator with accolades. LocalThunk now aspires to simply create games without the excess stress.