The card game Balatro is experiencing growing success on the mobile market, and we could have foreseen it: after obtaining several nominations, including Game of the Year, at The Game Awards, the smartphone version has seen a surge in sales, surpassing $4 million in revenue.
This achievement comes after a period of stagnation following the mobile launch in September, when the game earned $1 million in its first week. Sales then dropped for six consecutive weeks, before rebounding at the beginning of the month thanks to the buzz generated by nominations such as GOTY.
Available in app stores for 9.99 euros or su Instant Gaming per PC, Xbox e Nintendo SwitchBalatro will maintain its transparent monetization policy. Developer LocalThunk confirmed: “Once you purchase the app, it will have identical content to the Steam/console version for the duration of the game. No mobile version of Balatro will ever have in-game advertising.”
The team is also planning a free demo-like versionwithout microtransactions but with the possibility of purchasing the full game. This explains why some app stores report the presence of “in-app purchases” on their product pages.
In short, Balatro confirms itself as one of the most acclaimed games of the year, with well cinque nomination ai The Game Awards:
- Game of the Year
- Best Game Direction
- Best Indie Game
- Best Indie Debut
- Best Mobile Game
It is the favorite for the Best Mobile Game category and also has a good chance as Best Independent Game and Best Indie Debut, where however it will have to contend with the puzzle-platformer Animal Well.
Balatro has become a true gaming phenomenon, combining the appeal of classic card games with innovative mechanics. The title takes its name from a Latin term meaning “jester” or “jester”, recalling the playful and unpredictable aspect of the game.
An interesting tidbit concerns Balatro’s development process: developer LocalThunk has created the game myself, working for over two years to perfect the gameplay. This “artisanal” approach to game design is increasingly rare in the modern gaming industry, dominated by large studios and million-dollar productions.
The success of Balatro demonstrates, therefore, that there is still room for simple but profound games, capable of capturing the imagination of players without resorting to spectacular graphics or complex narrative.
The game is part of a long tradition of digital card games, which saw a boom with the advent of smartphones. However, Balatro stands out for its transparent monetization policy, in contrast to the free-to-play model with microtransactions that dominates the mobile market.
Source: www.tomshw.it
