Although I am a creature of habit who always returns to old titles, I decided to try out a game that everyone has been raving about these days, especially streamers on Twitch, Kick, and YouTube. Megabonk is an indie roguelike survival game heavily inspired by titles like Vampire Survivors, developed by the mysterious vedinad, whose game sold a staggering 1 million copies within two weeks of its release on Steam!
Why is everyone obsessed with this seemingly survival game where you typically have to survive enemies and "mini bosses," ultimately leading to the "final boss" and the toughest waves of overpowered beings just waiting to ruin all your hard work and the "build" you've painstakingly crafted?
Because it's fun, dynamic, and as much as it makes sense to compare it to Vampire Survivors, the fact is that Megabonk is special in its own right. Of course, the core of the game is like the aforementioned survival hit - you enter an unknown world, armed with a special weapon to kill enemies and slowly progress to higher levels. You collect "items" and so-called "tomes" (books) that grant your character additional powers and bonuses to help you survive. When you fill all available "slots," those same items and tomes "level up" to their maximum.
There are also places you unlock to gain more bonuses, but what’s most important is that you must survive. It’s worth mentioning two very important currencies in the game - gold coins and silver coins. Gold coins are collected during gameplay and are used to open chests with "items," while silver coins are important outside the game - they unlock new characters, new "items," and of course new "tomes."
What truly sets Megabonk apart from the ever-present Vampire Survivors is the fact that the game gives you a special task - you must find a portal that leads you to the next world with even tougher enemies. As a player, you have an ultimate goal, which drives you even more to reach the end.
Of course, you need to discover the "formula" and combination of weapons, items, and bonuses to be able to complete the entire game and ultimately become the true "final boss" of the game, which makes this game even more enjoyable. There is also a global leaderboard for players with the best scores, and you will notice characters that are the most popular among players. Dice Man is currently the most popular because with each new level, he randomly receives some bonus. You can only imagine his power in the later levels of the game.
In my 30 hours of gameplay, I have reached the third map, and my favorite is the knight Sir Oofie and his sword with which you can pass through enemies like a hot knife through butter in the later parts of the game. As always, the most unconventional character is also the best for me, which is not good for the global leaderboard, but let's put that aside, fun is still the most important thing in gaming.
In the end, I would like to mention perhaps the most special part of the game, which is the blend of popular and internet culture within the game itself. Megabonk is full of memes or "haha's" that reference moments from the past that can only be recognized by those who grew up on the internet, but there’s something for everyone.
All in all, Megabonk has exceeded all expectations, and 2025 continues with the release of excellent, unconventional indie titles that squeeze out overpriced AAA titles. The game is fun, dynamic, funny, and available to everyone on Steam for a symbolic 8 euros. I recommend it to everyone.
