It's year-end, and my Game of the Year is Balatro – a surprising but well-deserved choice. While not necessarily my favorite, its numerous accolades (including Indie and Mobile Game of the Year at The Game Awards, and Best Mobile Port and Best Digital Board Game at the Pocket Gamer Awards) warrant discussion.

The game's success has, however, sparked confusion and even anger. Comparisons between its flashy marketing and relatively simple visuals have led some to question its award wins. I believe this highlights precisely why it's my GOTY pick.

Before diving into Balatro, here are some honorable mentions:

• Vampire Survivors' Castlevania expansion: A long-awaited and well-received addition.
• Squid Game: Unleashed's free-to-play model: A potentially groundbreaking move by Netflix Games.
• Watch Dogs: Truth's audio adventure release: An unexpected but intriguing release from Ubisoft.

My experience with Balatro has been mixed. While engaging, I haven't mastered its strategic depth, finding the optimization aspect frustrating. However, it's been excellent value for money – simple, enjoyable, and not overly demanding. It's not my perfect time-waster (that title belongs to Vampire Survivors), but it's a strong contender.

Balatro boasts attractive visuals and smooth gameplay. For a modest price, it offers an engaging roguelike deckbuilder suitable for public play. LocalThunk's ability to elevate a simple format is commendable, from its calming music to the satisfying sound design.

Why discuss it further? Because some find its success baffling. Balatro isn't the only game to face criticism this year (Astrobot's GOTY win at Big Geoff's awards also drew controversy), but Balatro's reaction is particularly revealing.

Balatro is unapologetically "gamey" in its design. It's colorful and appealing without being overly complex or flashy. It's not a cutting-edge tech demo; it began as a passion project. Its success confounds some because it's not a flashy gacha, a technically impressive title, or a popular battle royale. To them, it's "just a card game."

But it's a well-executed card game, offering a fresh take on the genre. Its quality should be judged on its gameplay, not its graphics.

Balatro's success teaches a valuable lesson: multiplatform success doesn't require massive budgets or cutting-edge technology. It can be simple, well-designed, and stylistically unique, appealing to mobile, console, and PC players alike. While not a massive financial success, its low development costs likely resulted in a significant return on investment for LocalThunk.

Balatro proves you don't need to be a technological marvel to succeed. Its accessibility and strategic depth cater to different play styles; some may optimize their decks meticulously, while others, like myself, enjoy a more relaxed approach.

Ultimately, Balatro's success underscores a simple truth: you don't need to be groundbreaking to be successful; sometimes, being a bit of a "joker" is enough.