Balatro is the best game of 2024 – its anonymous creator may never release another one

Now the cat is out of the bag…

If I played another game after that Balatrowhich I’m not really thinking about at the moment, it would be really cathartic to do it and not show it to anyone. Put it in a folder on my desktop and leave it there. Just for me.

Is there a part of you that regrets it? Balatross Success?

Honestly, yes. Don’t get me wrong – this has changed my life in many amazing ways. I’m so grateful. But I miss that time before. It was simply a hobby that recharged my batteries. Sometimes I think, “Maybe I would have been happier if I had never released this game to the public.”

Could you financially retire today? Make games for fun?

Yes. I could make the next game and it could just sit in my folder. I’m really lucky. Most of the industry is not in that boat, especially today.

So what draws you back to a second game?

I’ve learned a lot in the last year. I know what awaits me. I had no idea when Balatro started. It wasn’t until much later that I realized how crazy this situation was. I now know how much stress comes with starting a game. But I’m pulled in two directions.

There are currently 15 decks available Balatroeach with their own unique modifiers to change the way you play.

They tweeted about updates for 2025. How would you like to add or change the game?

Basically just more content. I have a lot of fun ideas for the direction I want to take Balatrodefinitely worth more than just a content update. I don’t know how many of these I can actually implement. It will surely change the game and the way you play it. But I don’t want to give too much away.

Always keep your cards close to your chest…

One thing I will definitely include is more Jokers. I haven’t added any since the game’s release and I have lots of fun ideas. I keep a notebook.

I wanted to ask if you were thinking about new Jokers in the shower…

I actually thought of two this morning!

Did you have a favorite that you couldn’t incorporate into the original game?

One was called The Toker. It was a 4 in 20 chance of giving you 420 chips. So cheesy.

When the game came out in February, I doubt you could have imagined being nominated for Game of the Year. How do you plan to celebrate if you win?

I still don’t believe it. It’s crazy. I’m not sure – I would go out to dinner with my partner. That’s how we celebrated it when the game first came out. I’m not a fan of fanfare.

Yes, I wanted to ask you about your boldest purchase since your life changed, but you seem to be the reserved type…

I drive the same car I drove before.

What is that?

A Ford Fusion. It’s a few years old now. I don’t know – it works.

Balatro is available for free with Apple Arcade’s one-month trial. On apple.com