Megabonk: A 3D Roguelike Packed with Fast Action and Meme-Filled Humor

Megabonk, the new 3D roguelike, delivers a combination of fast-paced combat and chaotic humor, bringing a fresh take to the survivors-style genre. Players navigate fully 3D environments, moving vertically and horizontally while managing waves of increasingly difficult enemies. The game currently features two biomes—a spooky forest and a hazardous desert—each offering three tiers of difficulty with unique bosses and progression elements. The gameplay loop emphasizes exploration, tactical path planning, and managing resources like gold to maximize power-ups and abilities during each run.

Leana Hafer of IGN highlighted Megabonk’s early gameplay, noting that the game adds an extra axis of movement that sets it apart from similar titles. He played approximately fifteen hours and explored more than half the unlockables and achievements, emphasizing the strategic challenge presented by the 3D levels. Hafer observed that players can locate boss gates to summon final encounters while managing waves of enemies and interact with shrines to summon elite packs, allowing difficulty adjustment on the fly.

Players control characters with automated weapons ranging from swords to rocket launchers, leaving movement as the primary active input. Each weapon has distinct mechanics and stacking potential, allowing players to create powerful synergies. Certain characters, such as Monke, have special mobility abilities like wall climbing, while power-ups can enhance airborne combat effectiveness. The level design encourages careful navigation and route optimization to collect chests, breakable containers, and shrines before time runs out. Gold management is critical, as chest costs increase with repeated openings, forcing strategic decision-making during runs.

The game’s humor is heavily inspired by internet and meme culture, referencing decades-old jokes, GigaChads, and playful boss names like "Scorpionussy." While some references may feel outdated or ironic, they generally do not interfere with gameplay and add a layer of character to the overall experience. Hafer described the humor as a mix of intentional absurdity and surface-level jokes, reflecting a style that may resonate differently depending on the player’s familiarity with meme culture.

Megabonk currently supports meta-progression through silver, a currency earned during runs. Silver allows players to unlock new characters, items, and power-ups after completing specific objectives or achievements. Additional upgrades, such as extra rerolls or weapon slots, can be purchased once and used indefinitely, giving players flexibility in optimizing their runs. The progression system balances accessibility with meaningful long-term investment, rewarding exploration and skill without overly punishing players for failure.

The game’s character roster includes simple yet mechanically distinct options. CL4NK, a robot cowboy, uses a revolver and gains increased critical chance each level. Other characters, such as a skeleton on a skateboard or the ninja, provide unique bonuses like faster movement-based damage or automatic counter kills. Characters are designed to support different playstyles, and their abilities interact with the 3D movement mechanics to create varied run experiences.

Megabonk’s levels emphasize verticality and route planning, challenging players to navigate ramps, cliffs, and uneven terrain while avoiding backtracking. Boss gates require strategic exploration, and players are encouraged to prioritize efficient paths through breakable objects and treasure points to maximize power gains. Each level’s tier system scales difficulty and adds additional bosses, allowing players to carry over power-ups between stages. The limited number of biomes has drawn some criticism for lack of scenery variety, but the three-tier system still provides a substantial challenge and keeps runs engaging.

Despite the chaotic combat and humor, the game’s systems reward careful planning and situational awareness. Power-ups, weapon synergies, and character abilities combine to create opportunities for creative strategies. Hafer highlighted that the vertical movement, including jumps and multi-jump enhancements, adds an extra tactical layer, making navigation as important as combat execution. The combination of frantic pacing and tactical depth creates a gameplay loop that encourages repeated runs while maintaining challenge and novelty.

Megabonk also incorporates procedural elements and randomness that influence item drops, enemy spawns, and boss encounters. While some aspects rely on luck, skilled players can offset randomness through optimized pathing, resource management, and timing decisions. Breakable containers and shrines provide additional opportunities to adjust difficulty dynamically and earn rewards, contributing to a layered gameplay experience that encourages experimentation and replayability.

The game’s early impressions highlight that Megabonk is more than a straight Vampire Survivors reskin. The addition of 3D environments, vertical movement, and tactical route planning differentiates it from similar titles. While the humor may feel niche or ironic at times, it complements the gameplay without overshadowing core mechanics. Players can focus on route optimization, weapon synergies, and progression while encountering occasional meme-inspired surprises.

Megabonk’s current progression system allows players to invest in characters, items, and power-ups through silver, which is collected in runs and spent outside of active gameplay. Achievements and objectives tied to unlockable content provide structured goals, while upgradeable elements like weapon slots and rerolls enhance the flexibility of each run. The design rewards planning and investment, letting players adapt their strategies for different characters and levels.

Level design, character abilities, and meta-progression all contribute to an engaging experience. Characters offer a mix of offensive and mobility advantages, enabling a variety of approaches to combat and exploration. The three-tier difficulty system encourages continued play by scaling encounters and adding bosses progressively. Players must weigh gold usage, prioritize route efficiency, and consider character strengths to achieve optimal outcomes.

The inclusion of fully 3D movement distinguishes Megabonk from other survivors-style games. Characters can jump, double-jump, or even triple-jump, and certain abilities amplify weapon damage while airborne. Combined with wall-climbing mechanics and environmental navigation, these options create tactical opportunities unavailable in standard 2D iterations of the genre. Boss encounters, mini-bosses, and elite enemy packs further challenge players to adapt and use verticality effectively.

Megabonk currently offers a focused but challenging experience across its two biomes. Players can encounter multiple enemy types, from basic goblins to ogres and giant scorpions. Shrines allow summoning of elite packs and bosses for greater rewards. Each level contains breakable objects, chests, and interactive elements that reward exploration and strategic planning. While the scenery is limited, gameplay depth stems from vertical movement, route planning, and character-specific abilities.

Meta-progression and unlockable content provide incentives for repeated playthroughs. Players earn silver to unlock characters, items, and power-ups tied to achievements, and upgrades like additional weapon slots or rerolls allow for persistent improvement. The system balances skill and investment, encouraging experimentation while giving experienced players tools to optimize runs efficiently.

Megabonk’s humor, while sometimes niche, aligns with its chaotic gameplay. Memes and pop-culture references punctuate the action, from GigaChad items to absurd bosses. While not universally resonant, the comedic tone blends with the gameplay without interfering with player focus.

"I'm regularly groaning at some of the uninspired image board humor, but I feel like I can sometimes appreciate it in an ironic way, and otherwise just ignore it." — Leana Hafer

Overall, Megabonk combines fast-paced roguelike combat, strategic 3D movement, and meta-progression in a unique way. Vertical exploration, tactical route planning, and diverse character abilities create a gameplay loop that encourages repeated runs. The humor adds a distinct flavor, and the progression systems reward careful investment and experimentation. Despite limited scenery variety, the game’s mechanics and design make it stand out among survivors-style titles, providing a challenging and dynamic experience that blends frantic action with tactical depth.