Balatro’s mobile release had generated nearly $4.4 million in estimated gross revenue by late November 2024, according to AppMagic data reported by PocketGamer.biz. The same report recorded a sharp revenue rebound after the game received five nominations at The Game Awards—but the timing supports an association, not proof that the nominations alone caused the increase.
What Balatro reportedly earned on mobile
On November 26, 2024, PocketGamer.biz reported that Balatro had made almost $4.4 million in gross mobile revenue about two months after its September 26 mobile release. The estimate came from AppMagic analytics; Shacknews summarized the figure the next day as just under $4.4 million. These are third-party estimates, not audited figures disclosed by Balatro developer LocalThunk or publisher Playstack. PocketGamer.biz · Shacknews
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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dV Giochi Bang | $39.10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dutch Blitz Card Game - Original Fast Paced Family Game with 160 Cards | $9.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Grandpa Beck's Games Skull King Trick-Taking Card Game | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Balatro: Special Edition - For Nintendo Switch | $34.20 | Buy on Amazon |
The figure is historical: it describes the approximate total reported in November 2024, not Balatro’s current lifetime mobile revenue. PocketGamer.biz did not provide AppMagic’s full methodology, geographic coverage, treatment of taxes or platform fees, or whether Apple Arcade revenue was included.
How revenue changed after launch
PocketGamer.biz’s AppMagic-based estimates charted a strong launch followed by a decline and then a November rebound:
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- WILD WEST SHOWDOWN: Experience a tense hidden-role battle as Outlaws target the Sheriff, the Sheriff fights for justice, and the Renegade maneuvers between both sides, creating fast, high-stakes decisions every round.
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- Launch day: $162,000 in reported mobile revenue on September 26, 2024.
- First week: $1 million in reported mobile revenue.
- September 29: Nearly $200,000 in reported revenue for the day.
- October: Revenue declined; the report noted a 33.5% daily drop on October 3, to $118,000, and an average of $71,000 per day for the rest of the month.
- After November 18: Revenue began climbing again. The following week brought in $727,000, which PocketGamer.biz described as Balatro’s second-most lucrative mobile week to that point. The publication also reported daily revenue above $100,000 from November 22.
All figures and the trend description above are AppMagic estimates as reported by PocketGamer.biz, rather than first-party accounting.
What The Game Awards nominations have to do with it
PocketGamer.biz said the revenue rebound began on November 18, 2024, when Balatro received five nominations at The Game Awards. The nominated categories were:
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- Fast-paced gameplay you love: Experience exciting competition as you speed to clear your Blitz pile. No turns taken; first to place cards in sequence wins!
- Perfect for family gatherings: Designed for 2 to 4 players, this game ensures fun-filled family nights and keeps both kids and adults entertained for hours.
- Easy rules for all ages: Simple yet challenging, Dutch Blitz offers effortless learning and engaging gameplay for children, teens, and adults, ages 8 and up.
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- Game of the Year
- Best Mobile Game
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- Best Debut Indie Game
Shacknews listed the same five categories. The $727,000 reported for the following week and the timing of the rebound are consistent with the nominations bringing Balatro renewed attention. PocketGamer.biz’s Aaron Astle interpreted the surge as evidence that nominations introduced the game to new audiences willing to pay for it. Neither report establishes that the nominations were the sole cause of the increase, so the accurate conclusion is that the surge coincided with the nominations and may have been helped by the added exposure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the mobile revenue figure includes—and what is unclear
PocketGamer.biz described Balatro’s mobile edition as an upfront paid download on the App Store and Google Play, with no in-app purchases or advertising. Apple Arcade also offered access to the game. That subscription route should not be treated as equivalent to a direct paid download, and the report does not say whether Apple Arcade revenue is included in the nearly $4.4 million estimate. It also does not specify how AppMagic handled store fees or taxes.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
