Overview

• Balatro, a poker-inspired roguelike, secured the Best Debut Indie Game award at the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards.
• Ben Starr, known for his role in Final Fantasy 16, delivered the acceptance speech dressed as Jimbo, Balatro's clown mascot, in a performance that has gone viral.
• Starr humorously acknowledged his limited involvement with the game, which was developed solely by creator LocalThunk.
• The speech included satirical commentary on art and commercialization, with playful jabs at the game's publisher, PlayStack.
• Balatro has achieved significant commercial success, selling over five million copies and cementing its status as a breakout indie hit.