The Game Awards nominations surfaced on the previous day, showcasing impressive indie titles. Yet, a standout entry in the lineup has chosen to step back from the competition.
Megabonk earned recognition in the Best Debut Indie Game section. Its developer, known online as vedinad, shared on X that they are pulling the game from consideration. The independent creator explained, 'I've developed games previously using various studio identities, meaning Megabonk isn't my first effort.'
This award category can be tricky, as many independent developers have prior roles at larger or smaller companies. Even those who learned through self-study often produce and release multiple works before achieving notable success or recognition. Still, vedinad's decision to withdraw aligns with their view that the game doesn't qualify, demonstrating respect for the process.
Megabonk draws inspiration from Vampire Survivors, the well-received bullet-hell roguelike recently adapted for virtual reality. This variation shifts the original 2D gameplay to a low-poly 3D style and incorporates eccentric characters. The developer noted that it achieved sales of 1 million units within two weeks, establishing it as a recent standout among Steam's independent releases.