Megabonk
Megabonk is a 2025 roguelike survival game developed and published by solo developer Vedinad. Described as a 3D Vampire Survivors–like, it features procedurally-generated maps, automatic combat against hordes of enemies, and character progression through randomized upgrades. The game was released for Windows and Linux on September 18, 2025.
Megabonk
- Date
- 2025
- Language
- English · French
- Genre
- action game · casual game · roguelike · survival game
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q135072248
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Megabonk • Developer — vedinad • Publisher — vedinad • Engine — Unity • Platforms — Linux Windows • Released — September 18, 2025 • Genre — Roguelike Survival game Vampire Survivors–like • Modes — Single-player
Gameplay
Gameplay
• Illustration — Gameplay screenshot showcasing the character CL4NK in the Desert map in combat with enemies Megabonk is a third-person roguelike survival game in which the player navigates procedurally-generated 3D maps with verticality, fighting waves of enemies and bosses while automatically attacking. Experience gems collected from defeated enemies allows the player to level up and select from random upgrade offers, enabling synergistic builds. Movement mechanics include sliding, jumping, and speed boosts for enhanced mobility and combat depth. The game offers 20 unlockable characters with unique abilities, over 70 items, and more than 200 quests. Meta-progression is achieved through "Silver" currency, which lets the player permanently unlock content; it is not very common, being earned via challenges, "silvery-blue pots", and upgrading the Silver Tome.
Development
Development
Megabonk was developed by the independent designer known as Vedinad using the Unity engine, and began development in August 2024. Initially planned to release on September 4, 2025, it was delayed to September 18 due to the announcement that the anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong would release on the same day. Vedinad was urged to delay the game further, due to announcements of "other massive games" releasing near Megabonks planned launch, but they did not, stating in a video, "I don't care - boom! Megabonk is out right now".
Developer identity
Developer identity
The anonymity of Megabonk 's creator has spawned speculation from the game's fan base regarding their identity. Their alias, Vedinad, is an anadrome of DaniDev, the username of game developer and YouTuber Daniel William Sooman, who has created the games Crab Game and Muck. Similarities have been drawn between Megabonk and Sooman's games, as well as Vedinad and Sooman's voices as featured on each of their YouTube channels. Sooman has not published a video to his channel since January 2022, but was known to have been working on a new project. When asked by Eurogamer if they were DaniDev, Vedinad declined to respond.
Critical reception
Critical reception
Critics praised the game, and often favorably compared it to Vampire Survivors. TheGamer writer Harry Alston called it one of his favorite games of the year, praising it for its "added 3D terrain and verticality", being "properly challenging", and having "satisfying" build-crafting. Writing for Rogueliker, Mike Holmes called its gameplay loop "addictive", stating that the game is "excellent... and a true trend setter." GamesHub writer Joel Loynds awarded it 4/5, lauding the refreshing 3D take and overpowered builds while criticizing repetitive challenges, difficulty spikes, and "memey" humor. Lords of Gamings Randy Rhodes scored it 8.5/10, highlighting its tension, soundtrack, and character variety. IGNs Leana Hafer praised the "variety and... bombastic attitude" of the weapons, called the power-ups "fun", but criticized its shoddy humor, and its "lack of changing scenery" due to there only being two maps. Despite initial skepticism, Ali Jones of GamesRadar+ enjoyed the game, stating "[t]here's something about being a skateboard-riding skeleton flinging bones at hordes of incoming goblins while careening down a ramp that's just compelling no matter what". The game was recommended by Palworld developer John 'Bucky' Buckley; he later said Vedinad is "one of the game developers I respect the most".
Commercial reception
Commercial reception
Commercially, Megabonk was a success, selling over one million copies in two weeks and peaking at 117,336 concurrent players according to SteamDB. Megabonk also received "very positive" user reviews on Steam.
Awards and nominations
• Year — Award — Category — Result — Ref. Reference(s) • 2025 — The Game Awards 2025 — Best Debut Indie Game • The Steam Awards 2025 — Sit Back and Relax Award Megabonk was nominated for "Best Debut Indie Game" at The Game Awards 2025, but Vedinad withdrew (leading to the game not being listed as a nominee during the show), believing that it did not qualify for the award, as he has "made games in the past under different studio names"; Vedinad has not given further information. Megabonk was subsequently nominated in the 30-game first round for Players' Voice award.
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Megabonk, revision 1375079896 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Alston, Harry. Megabonk Just Cemented Itself As One Of My Favourite Games Of The Year. TheGamer. 2025-10-03.
- 2.Blum, Jeremy. Megabonk tier list: All 20 characters ranked. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2025-10-02.
- 3.Perez, Diego. Best Items Tier List. IGN. 4 November 2025.
- 4.Ali, Usama. All Quests in Megabonk. GameRant. October 16, 2025.
- 5.Cochran, Allyson. How To Earn Silver Fast In Megabonk. TheGamer. 2025-09-27.
- 6.Forbes-Calvin, Alex. Unity on AI, new tools, and recovering from the Runtime Fee. GamesIndustry.biz. 2025-11-19.
- 7.Purchese, Robert. Megabonk and the mystery of the missing YouTuber – is creator Vedinad actually Danidev?. Eurogamer. November 19, 2025.
- 8.Zwiezen, Zack. Every Game Delayed By Silksong. Kotaku. 26 August 2025.
- 9.Allsop, Ken. New indie roguelike Megabonk defies launch warnings, earns thousands of players. PCGamesN. 21 September 2025.
- 10.Holmes, Mike. Megabonk Review: it's mega tough and mega grindy, but it's also mega good. Rogueliker. 2025-10-02.
- 11.Loynds, Joel. Megabonk Review: Meme Gags Dampen Excellence. GamesHub.
- 12.Rhodes, Randy. Megabonk Review: A Bonk-tastic 3D Bullet Heaven. Lords of Gaming. 2025-10-30.
- 13.Hafer, Leana. Megabonk – Quick Review. IGN. 6 October 2025.
- 14.Jones, Ali. "I can't pry myself from the computer": New roguelike hailed as "a mix of Vampire Survivors and Risk of Rain 2," and I'm starting to see why it has 4,000 "Very Positive" Steam reviews after just one week. GamesRadar+. 25 September 2025.
- 15.Serin, Kaan. Palworld dev advises players to stop defending games online and play them instead: "Pop open Megabonk or something and just have fun". GamesRadar+. 25 October 2025.
- 16.McCrae, Scott. Palworld lead and Pocketpair founder says Megabonk dev is "one of the game developers I respect the most" as the solo indie creator withdraws his roguelike hit from The Game Awards. GamesRadar+. 19 November 2025.
- 17.McCrae, Scott. Out-of-nowhere roguelike hit Megabonk has sold 1 million copies in 2 weeks, solo creator says "I'll be eating spaghetti with EXTRA sauce tonight". GamesRadar+. 3 October 2025.
- 18.McCrae, Scott. Indie roguelike breakout Megabonk hit a new player record over the weekend, charting higher than Call of Duty, Borderlands 4 and Marvel Rivals. GamesRadar+. 6 October 2025.
- 19.Stewart, Marcus. Megabonk Developer Withdraws From The Game Awards. Game Informer. 18 September 2025.
- 20.McWhertor, Michael. Megabonk dev withdraws his game from The Game Awards. Polygon. 2025-11-18.
- 21.Blake, Vikki. Megabonk withdraws from The Game Awards: "It's an honour but I don't think it qualifies for Debut Indie Game". GamesIndustry.biz. 19 November 2025.
- 22.The Steam Awards. store.steampowered.com.
- 23.Blake, Vikki. Megabonk May Have Withdrawn Itself For Consideration At The Game Awards 2025, But Another Category Has Put It Back. ign.com. 2 December 2025.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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