LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the hugely successful indie game Balatro (3.5 million copies sold!), has declared Animal Well his 2024 Game of the Year. This accolade, playfully dubbed the "Golden Thunk" award, highlights Animal Well's "engrossing experience," unique style, and hidden secrets. LocalThunk lauded Animal Well's creator, Billy Basso of Shared Memory, calling the game Basso's "true masterpiece." Basso responded with a gracious acknowledgment of LocalThunk's "humble" nature. The exchange generated positive fan comments celebrating the camaraderie within the indie development community.

Beyond Animal Well, LocalThunk also highlighted several other 2024 indie favorites as "runners up," including Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, Arco, Nova Drift, Ballionaire, and Mouthwashing. He detailed his appreciation for each title's unique qualities. Interestingly, Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, like Balatro, is a pixel art deck-building game created by a single developer.

Despite Balatro's phenomenal success, LocalThunk continues to support the game with free updates. Three "Friends of Jimbo" updates have already introduced crossover content from popular titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Among Us, and Dave the Diver. He's even hinted at a future collaboration with another top 2024 game.

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