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(Image credit: Playstack / LocalThunk)
Balatro solo developer LocalThunk clearly takes his responsibility as the defacto champion of the indie genre seriously; his response to his own game receiving five nominations at The Game Awards is to simply point you toward other indies.
LocalThunk has in numerous instances used his considerable platform to prop up what he views as underappreciated indie games. When Balatro was nominated for three Golden Joystick awards,he used that moment to promote the indie RPG Arco, which has excellent Steam reviews but hasn’t reached anywhere near the success of Balatro. And during last month’sSteam Next Festdemo blitz,he spotlighted the indie roguelike Ballionaire and the deckbuilding tactics game StarVaders.
In a thoughtfulReddit postreacting to Balatro’s nominations at The Game Awards, LocalThunk took the time to thank his community of players and raise some awareness about the headwinds indie developers face simply trying to stand out from the crowd.
“I feel uncomfortable treating the nominations and awards for Balatro as ‘my’ awards or nominations because I feel like my game just happens to be the current face of this beautiful and passionate corner of the industry,” he said. “I just happen to be the lucky one to be propped up.”
Doing his part to help bring attention to his favorite indies and their developers, LocalThunk then listed out his favorite games of the year that have either launched or have demos out, and which have not been considered at The Game Awards. Those include the aforementioned Arco, Ballionaire, and StarVaders, as well as the roguelite space shooter Nova Drift, the Metroidvania Animal Well, the decidedly Balatro-like deckbuilder Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, and the roguelike dungeon crawler Rack and Slay.
I’ve never played Balatro mobile during a meeting – but if I had, I would love it almost as much as I love my job.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”