Vampire Survivors Developer Announces and Surprise-Launches Kill The Brickman
Poncle, the studio behind the award-winning hit Vampire Survivors, has announced and simultaneously launched its next published title, Kill The Brickman, during Gamescom 2025. Developed by Doonutsaur, the game is now available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
The announcement and release trailer revealed a quirky spin on the brick-breaker formula, surprising fans with an immediate release. The one-minute showcase ended with a flurry of Steam codes for lucky viewers fast enough to claim them during the livestream.
A Brick-Breaker With a Twist
While at first glance Kill The Brickman looks like a classic brick-breaker, the game is officially described as a “turn-based, rogue-like bullet builder from outer space.” The mix of genres adds layers of strategy and replayability, turning what could be a simple arcade-style experience into something more experimental.
At launch, the game is priced at $4.49 USD thanks to a 10% discount running until August 28, 2025, after which it will return to its standard price of $4.99 USD / €4.99 / £3.99.
From Email to Release
According to Poncle director Luca Galante, the collaboration with Doonutsaur began unexpectedly when the game was sent via email. Galante immediately took interest, explaining in a press release:
“Yes, this is true. I love Bricks. Kill the Brickman is not only a brilliant deckbuilder, it’s also one of the strangest ones I’ve ever played. And that’s a good thing.”
Available Now
For the cost of a cup of coffee, players can jump into Kill The Brickman today on PC and Xbox platforms. No PlayStation releases were announced, but Poncle has left the door open for possible future expansions.
With its bizarre yet charming blend of mechanics, Kill The Brickman continues Poncle’s trend of publishing unusual, addictive, and affordable indie games.
What do you think of Poncle’s surprise-launch strategy? Do you prefer waiting for big-budget reveals, or do you enjoy these “play it right now” moments?
