LocalThunk

LocalThunk is the developer alias of an anonymous solo developer based in Saskatchewan, Canada. He is the sole creator of Balatro, a poker-themed roguelike deckbuilder released February 20, 2024, published by Playstack. Balatro sold over one million copies in its first month, over five million by January 2025, and was nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024, the first game developed by a single individual to receive that nomination. LocalThunk keeps his real identity private.

LocalThunk Origin Story

Starting as a Hobby

LocalThunk had been making small games as a hobby for approximately ten years while working full-time in IT. He started Balatro in 2021 as a side project. The game was originally inspired by Big Two, a Cantonese card game that uses poker hands, and by Luck Be a Landlord, a slot-machine roguelike. He avoided playing deckbuilders during development to avoid unconsciously copying their mechanics.

The Developer Name

The name LocalThunk comes from the way variables are declared in Lua, the programming language used to build Balatro. The word local is a Lua keyword. He coined the handle when he was ready to create a developer presence online.

Quitting the Day Job

About a year before release, LocalThunk quit his IT job to finish Balatro, describing his goal as putting something polished on a resume rather than expecting a commercial hit. He signed a publishing contract with Playstack and developed a launch campaign around beta releases and promotion via streamers.

Balatro (2024)

A poker-themed roguelike where you score points by playing poker hands from a 52-card deck, using Joker cards as permanent modifiers and multipliers. Sold half a million copies in its first ten days. Won Best Indie and Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards. LocalThunk included a provision in his will that the Balatro IP may never be sold or licensed to any gambling company, despite making a game themed around poker. He develops updates as a hobby and has been explicit about not wanting to lose that relationship with the work by treating it as a job.