How Playstack bet on Balatro and won big

UK games publisher Playstack is no stranger to supporting indie games, and its journey with LocalThunk’s Balatro is no exception.

The game has become a breakout success. In just its first eight hours, Balatro gained over $1 million in revenue and became the fastest-selling game in the company’s history.

It then went on to surpass one million copies within its first month, and as of January 2025, the title has sold over five million copies across platforms. 

Playstack’s scouting team first spotted the game during its early playtest phase. Even at that stage it was evident that Balatro had potential to be something special.

“The gameplay loop was tight, the design was smart, and it had that ‘one more run’ appeal that makes games stick,” CEO Harvey Elliott tells PocketGamer.biz.

While the game has come a long way since those early days, it was clear to Playstack that the game had the right formula to go far. 

Signing the game

The indie game development scene is, of course, a highly competitive one in terms of securing funding and the daunting task of getting noticed in a busy market.

LocalThunk’s project caught the eye, though, and Playstack established a working relationship with the developer before other publishers began to take notice of the game.

“We met the developer quite early on in development, and we were able to talk to him about his game and what he hoped it could achieve before other publishers were knocking on his door,” says Elliott.

“By the time others got in touch, we already had a good working relationship with him, and it was just a process to get the contract finalised.” 

Elliott adds, however, that securing a title like Balatro is never as simple as just signing a contract.

“A publisher agreement is not just a contract, it is an agreement on how a game will be developed and brought to market,” Elliott explains.

“If we are going into an agreement, then Playstack needs to be aligned with the developer’s vision for the game, and the developer needs to be aligned on how Playstack will bring the game to market.” 

Surpassing expectations

In the early stages of a new partnership, Playstack looks at its publishing approach for each specific game to explore where it fits into the market and how it can find the right audience. In the case of Balatro, this approach and pairing of developer and publisher appeared to be a solid match.

While Playstack was certain of Balatro’s potential, even the team was surprised by the scale of its success.

“We knew Balatro had great potential, but it has blown past even our most optimistic expectations,” says Elliott.

“The demo’s reception gave us confidence, but the way it has kept growing, expanding to new platforms, and maintaining momentum, is rare.”

Milestones like the physical release, a mobile adaptation and a host of updates have contributed to keeping the game selling and existing players engaged.

Balatro has also won a string of awards, including Best Digital Board Game of the Year and Best Mobile Port at the Pocket Gamer Awards 2024, as well as Mobile Game of the Year, Best Debut Indie Game and Indie Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. Such recognition has also played a role in maintaining the game’s momentum.

Mobile fit

From the start, Playstack knew that Balatro was a fit for mobile. The game’s structure, which is suited to short game sessions, made it ideal for playing on the go.

“We knew we wanted the game on mobile right from the start, but having a solo developer, we had to focus on the best platform for him,” Elliott explains.

Once Balatro launched, the demand for a mobile version became prominent. “The game is perfect for short sessions, whether it’s on the train, on a lunch break or anywhere else. That demand became clear very quickly.” 

Elliott also shared how clones and copycats started appearing on the market, “which is inevitable for a game this successful,” but this was just another reason to bring Balatro to mobile as a top priority. 

However, making that happen wasn’t without its challenges. As mobile UI requires a different approach, LocalThunk was passionate about ensuring the game felt natural on a touchscreen. Playstack worked closely with the developer and a porting partner to ensure the adaptation remained faithful to the game’s original version.

“He wanted to make sure it felt right,” says Elliott. “He put a huge amount of care into preserving the experience, and it shows. Balatro on mobile isn’t just functional, it feels natural. That’s a testament to his skill as a developer.”

Despite the great heights Balatro has already reached, the journey is far from over.

“A 2025 update for Balatro is in the cards and something LocalThunk is currently working on,” Elliott reveals. While details remain under wraps for now, Elliott notes that “knowing LocalThunk, whatever he comes up with, won’t disappoint.”