LocalThunk Shares The Most Important Inspiration For Balatro

Taking inspiration from classics or popular titles while adding creative thinking to the genre or gameplay could be what's in the minds of many game developers. A combination of familiarity and something new works as a perfect combo that will both attract users and make them stay. Balatro is undeniably one such game.

Recently, Balatro developer LocalThunk opened a blog. The very first chapter talks about solitaire, a classic solo card game that "arguably is the most important" inspiration for the hit title.

"Solitaire is almost viewed as a positive pastime more than a game. That feeling interests me greatly as a game designer," he wrote. The vibe of Solitaire is what LocalThunk would like to have in his own game. "Essentially I wanted to play Balatro like people play solitaire."

As the game development of the 1.0 version came to an end at the beginning of 2024, the indie developer took some time to think about the type of players and how a play session would be. Personally, he "wanted it to feel evergreen, comforting, and enjoyable in a very low-stakes way." 

Although getting inspiration from solitaire, a vibe differentiates Balatro, which is the "meta-game Balatro has that solitaire does not." He named a few, like achievements, stake levels, unlocks, and challenges, all contributed to the inflated playtime. 

The past year has been remarkable for LocalThunk, who called it "a surreal chapter" of this life. Remembering how he has been inspired by his favorite artists, musicians, game developers, and creatives, he decided to share his own experiences, like what happened and how, on the blog. If you're interested in learning more about his thoughts, don't hesitate to visit it.