Indie roguelike shooter Megabonk has voluntarily withdrawn from The Game Awards 2025’s “Best Debut Indie Game” category, after developer Vedinad (known online as John Mega Bonk) revealed the title does not meet the award’s eligibility criteria. The decision, announced via the game’s official social media channels on November 19, 2025, comes just days after the nominations were unveiled.
Vedinad explained that while being nominated was “an honor and a dream come true,” Megabonk cannot qualify as a debut work—he previously released games under different studio names earlier in his career. “It doesn’t feel right in this category,” he stated, encouraging fans to vote for other nominees: “You should vote for another one of the amazing debut titles; they are all amazing games!” The developer also teased an upcoming update for Megabonk to thank supporters for their backing.
TGA founder Geoff Keighley quickly confirmed the withdrawal, praising Vedinad’s transparency in a public response. “We’re grateful for his honesty,” Keighley wrote. “He didn’t want to take recognition away from other debut teams—even though the game itself is outstanding.” While Megabonk remained listed on TGA’s official website at the time of the announcement, Keighley clarified the title would be formally removed from the category.
Released on September 19, 2025, Megabonk has emerged as a surprise indie hit, with peak concurrent players exceeding 110,000. The 3D bullet-hell roguelike’s sudden withdrawal has sparked widespread respect within the indie gaming community for Vedinad’s commitment to fair competition. TGA has not yet announced whether another title will be added to the “Best Debut Indie Game” nominees to replace Megabonk, as the awards ceremony approaches on December 11, 2025.