Balatro, a game inspired by poker and designed by a secretive Canadian developer under the pseudonym LocalThunk, has taken the gaming world by storm. Released in February 2024, it has sold over 3.5 million copies and won multiple accolades, including ‘Best Independent Game’ at the Game Awards. Despite its fame, the creator remains anonymous, preferring to engage with the media discreetly. The game has developed a cult following and is praised for its tactile gameplay and strategic card building, with a dedicated Reddit community of over 158,000 members.