When it comes to creating a successful game, sometimes it’s necessary to break away from the norm. Balatro, a poker-themed deckbuilder, has been finding massive success in the gaming community. Developer Localthunk recently discussed the influences behind the creation of Balatro in a Q&A session on Reddit. Surprisingly, Localthunk revealed that they actively avoided similar roguelikes in order to engineer the best game possible.
While many would assume that other card-based roguelikes played a role in the development of Balatro, Localthunk had a different story to tell. The biggest influence on Balatro was actually a deckbuilding roguelike called Luck Be A Landlord. After watching a few videos of YouTuber Northernlion playing the game, Localthunk fell in love with the concept of a non-fantasy themed score-attached roguelike. This unexpected influence led Localthunk to modify the card game they were already developing to fit within the roguelike structure.
A Conscious Decision
Despite the success of other card-based roguelikes in the genre, Localthunk made a conscious decision to avoid them during the development process of Balatro. In their own words, they “cut themselves off from the genre intentionally” in order to make their own mistakes and explore the design space naively. This decision was based on the belief that the process of discovery is essential to creating a truly unique and innovative game.
Avoiding Comparisons
Localthunk acknowledges that they hear comparisons to other popular card-based roguelikes, such as Slay the Spire, but astonishingly, they had never played or seen footage of these games until much later in the development process. This unconventional approach to research may have seemed risky, but it ultimately led to the creation of Balatro, a game that stands out in its own right.
Despite the unconventional research process and the conscious decision to avoid similar games in the genre, Balatro has achieved unbelievable results. The unique influences behind the game, combined with Localthunk’s creative approach to game development, have resulted in a deckbuilder that has captured the attention of gamers around the world. Balatro’s success serves as a testament to the power of thinking outside the box and daring to be different in an industry that is often dominated by trends and conventions.
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