After being fired from his dream job at a AAA studio, a developer is now releasing his own game on Steam: This revenge trip is now receiving 91% positive reviews.
Which game is being talked about? The game is called Vindefiant and is a 2D jump’n’run with pixel graphics. You play as Alyx – a disgruntled ex-employee who becomes a supervillain after being fired and seeks revenge on his former boss.
The game is essentially based on a true event: Jordan Blake, the solo developer behind Vindefiant, was himself fired in February 2023. When a AAA studio offered him his dream job, he even dropped out of university – six months later, he was already let go (via PC Gamer).
After his dismissal, Blake worked on his own game, which has now been released on Steam.
You can see a trailer for Vindefiant here:
Revenge seems to be worth it after all
In Vindefiant, you are the villain: Therefore, Alyx is not exactly gentle when it comes to dealing with enemies. You get rid of them using supernatural tentacles, which you use to grab opponents and swing through the levels – similar to Carrion.
Most players seem to enjoy the revenge trip: The game currently has 91% positive reviews on Steam. However, only 12 people have left a review so far, so this number should be taken with a grain of caution.
- effira gives a thumbs up: “Vindefiant wears its inspirations on its sleeve – but that’s not a bad thing. I haven’t completed the last two levels yet (skill issue), but so far I have really enjoyed the game. […] A solid 7 [out of 10]” (via Steam)
- Gingerdabomb also recommends the game: “I highly recommend the game if you like Carrion, People Playground, ragdoll games, or just fun platformers. For me, the difficulty level is perfectly balanced. Definitely a lot of fun!” (via Steam)
Twilight has written the only negative review of the game so far and states: “I love playing Carrion, so I bought this game. Unfortunately, the level design is terrible, the puzzles are a complete waste of time, and there are almost no hints. The controls are awful, and you waste a lot of time avoiding disgusting traps.” (via Steam)
Whether Vindefiant is something for you or not depends on what you are looking for: Instead of a dark power fantasy like in Carrion, here you can expect over-the-top tentacle action and some tricky puzzles. If that sounds just right for you, you can get Vindefiant on Steam for only €12.41 currently.
While Jordan Blake is celebrating his indie debut with Vindefiant, another developer is closing its doors. The Berlin studio Fizbin has announced its closure despite a new game with very good reviews on Steam. Now the studio’s head is scolding gamers.
