A Game of the Year contender and super successful, Balatro came out of nowhere this year from an anonymous developer called LocalThunk. It sounds like the perfect feel-good story, but the creator of the poker-inspired roguelike title has second guessed releasing it.

Speaking with GQ, LocalThunk reflected on what a whirlwind 2024 has been since launching Balatro and whether the card game's supernova rise has led to any regrets. "Honestly, yeah," the Balatro creator said. "Don't get me wrong--this has changed my life in a lot of amazing ways. I'm so grateful. But I do miss that time before. It was just a hobby that recharged my batteries. Sometimes I think, 'Maybe I would've been happier if I had never released this game to the public.'"