X: LocalThunkLocalThunk, the anonymous developer of the Indie hit Balatro, sent a real-life Jimbo to accept the BAFTA award for Best Debut Game.
Balatro was released in February 2024 and almost immediately began taking over millions of players’ free time with its addictive gameplay.
The roguelike poker game gives players different jokers that modify the game, giving extra points multipliers and coins for each hand played. When you win or lose a run, however, you’re met with commentary from Balatro’s joker mascot – Jimbo.
Due to the fact its developer, LocalThunk, has remained faceless despite Balatro’s popularity, Jimbo has become the face of the game on social media, as well as its DLC packs featuring other game characters and designs, which are aptly called “Friends of Jimbo.”
On April 8, 2025, Balatro’s team brought Jimbo into the real world by sending him to receive an award at the BAFTAs.
Real-life Jimbo was actor Ben Starr
During the awards show, Ben Starr – known for being the voice of Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI – arrived in his joker outfit, complete with face makeup and matching hat.
After winning the award for Best Debut Game, Starr walked up to the stage to read a speech.
“This is weird, isn’t it?” he said. “Yes, it’s me, that weird live-action Jimbo from the Balatro commercial. For those of you who aren’t chronically online, this might be a rather confusing moment. ‘But wait, Ben didn’t make that game, why is he up here?’ I hear you say like a loser. Yeah, you may have a point, but also screw you a little bit, that hurts my feelings. So what if my only contribution to Balatro was that trailer and a bit of sucking on a banana for a few seconds, but I ask you this.
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“What is art in 2025 but a thinly veiled vessel of ruthless commercial self-interest through which rich people try to make even more money? I can say, having met him personally, LocalThunk is really rich now. He has shoes made of gold and he thanks you for making him that way.”
Jimbo went on to crack a few more jokes about Balatro’s success before telling people to play more indie games like Billy Basso’s Animal Well.
LocalThunk has spent a lot of his time in the limelight promoting other indie games since Balatro’s launch in 2024. Just after winning best indie game at The Game Awards, the dev took to X to award several other games with his own “Golden Thunk” title.
