Baldur's Gate 3 Director Names Balatro as His GOTY

Swen Vincke, the director behind the massive RPG hit Baldur's Gate 3, has picked the poker-inspired card game Balatro as his personal Game of the Year for 2024. This indie game keeps racking up impressive accolades across the gaming world.

Balatro, created by solo developer LocalThunk, has become a gaming sensation since launching in February 2024. This clever mix of poker strategy and roguelike elements has hooked players of all types with its addictive gameplay.

"Congratulations LocalThunk!!! You were my GOTY and I'm happy to see other devs agree. Well deserved!!!" Vincke wrote on social media after Balatro's latest win at the GDC 2025. His endorsement carries real weight since his own game Baldur's Gate 3 made history by sweeping Game of the Year at all five major gaming award ceremonies in 2023.

The card game has sold over 5 million copies as of January 2025, pretty amazing for an indie title. It's been on a hot streak with awards too, grabbing Best Indie Game at the 2024 Golden Joystick Awards and three wins at The Game Awards 2024 (Best Mobile Game, Debut Indie Game, and Best Independent Game).

Just recently, Balatro dominated the 2025 Game Developers Choice Awards on March 19 in San Francisco. The game didn't just win Game of the Year – it also snagged Best Design, Best Debut, and the Innovation Award, showing strong love from fellow game creators.

What makes Vincke's choice interesting is how different these games are. Baldur's Gate 3 is a massive, story-rich RPG with complex characters and branching narratives, while Balatro offers a focused, strategy-driven card experience built for quick sessions and smart decisions.

Fans looking for more content will need to be patient – Balatro's first major update is planned for 2025, but the developers are taking their time to make sure it's "good before it's fast."

Vincke choosing Balatro over heavy hitters like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Astro Bot, and the Elden Ring expansion shows how innovative gameplay can sometimes trump bigger productions with larger budgets.