The Game Awards season is always a somewhat contentious time of the year. Gamers from around the world tend to take to the internet to lamentvarious TGA snubsor, in some cases, make an argument against the inclusion of other games which may be viewed as overrated or otherwise unworthy of such high praise.
This is what has been happening, in some corners of social media, regardingBalatro, 2024’s breakout, poker-based indie hit that managed to nab a coveted Game of the Year nod. Those unfamiliar withBalatrohave occasionally argued that it shouldn’t be treated with such reverence, as it is “just a card game,” lacking the gameplay variety, high-fidelity graphics, and production value of flashier titles likeStellar BladeorWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine. But these claims simply don’t reflectBalatro’s booming success, nor its undeniable impact on the world of indie gaming and the roguelike genre. Indeed,Balatrois a winner, regardless of how The Game Awards shake out.
Balatro Could Very Well Be 2024’s Indie Darling
Despite Stiff Competition, Balatro Rises Above the Crowd
2024 has been an incredible year for indie titles. Games likeNevaandAnimal Well(which are competing againstBalatroat The Game Awards), have stuck out as powerful, unique, and innovative experiences that remind audiences of the power of the indie scene, and there are many other independent games that have yet to receive their due success. ButBalatroisn’t one of them; the gaming world has been singing its praises for months now.
Balatro’s booming sales aloneindicate how great an impact it has left on the games industry: since its release on iOS (a wise decision, considering its simple and addictive gameplay), it has roped in a whopping $4.4 million USD, making it one of the most financially successful indies of the year. The fact thatBalatrocomes from a solo developer, lacks microtransactions despite its casino-themed premise, and has grown its popularity through grassroots means, makes it a major win for the games industry.
Balatrohas collaborated with several other IPvia free expansions, which has helped it remain consistently relevant throughout the year.
Balatro Is More Than Deserving of Its GOTY Nomination
As previously mentioned, there has been some discourse aboutBalatro’s nomination for the Game of the Year Awards at TGA, mostly from those unfamiliar with it. While it may not beat out otherGOTY nominees likeMetaphor RefantazioandFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which are far more ambitious, big-budget, and palatable to mainstream audiences, it can certainly hold its own, which is saying something. Moreover, its unmatched addictiveness and ingenious gameplay loop make it deserving of at least some recognition as a Game of the Year contender. Quite frankly, there are probably a lot of gamers who have spent more time withBalatrothan any of 2024’s other leading AAA games.
Thehours of collective productivity lost toBalatroare enough to lead to a wide-scale economic collapse, theoretically, anyway. But for those who have played the game, that might just be a worthwhile price to pay, asBalatrooffers the best price-to-enjoyment ratio of any game sinceVampire Survivors, while being surprisingly deep, nuanced, and engaging. Make no mistake,Balatrois no game to simply turn one’s brain off: it rewards strategy and forethought just as much as luck, and no two runs are the same. It puts a number of other, far more expensive, roguelike games to shame, and its booming success is indicative of that. Hopefully, its GOTY nomination continues to get it the attention it deserves.
Balatro
WHERE TO PLAY
Balatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big.The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. You’re going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory
