12 Must-Play PC Indie Games Pushing Creative Boundaries This Year

3. Balatro (LocalThunk, Feb 2024)

Balatro takes the familiar thrill of poker and launches it deep into roguelike, brain-burning territory. Created by LocalThunk, this deck-building game turns royal flushes and full houses into wild, ever-evolving power combos. Every round tests your ability to predict, adapt, and take risks as you manipulate jokers, wild cards, and multipliers in a psychedelic, neon-lit setting. The creative hook? You’re never quite sure what’s going to happen next (even seasoned card sharks have found themselves surprised). Balatro hit Steam’s best-seller charts in record time and is already PCGamer’s “2024 indie obsession.” Whether you’re a strategy fiend or just enjoy the randomized chaos of a well-built roguelite, this is peak “just one more hand” gaming. Ever lost track of time chasing a royal flush—inside a roguelike?