Nefarious

This is a hidden jem. I don't even remember a game that struck me quite like it, the writting, characters and world building are all phenomenal with only the gameplay being the weakest aspect and don't get me wrong its not a bad game in that regard its just that even though i rarely play side scroller platformers i can tell its generic in that way and it does break the staleness of it with some of those levels, but regarldess everything else rocks, i laughed hard at plenty of scenes in this game, the develops made the game they wanted and you could see it by playing it, i had this game on my wishlist for years i think and now that i played it im glad i did. If the game had gameplay similar to shovel knight it would have probably sold like warm bread. A must play in my opinion

Nefarious is a 2D action platformer that immediately distinguishes itself by turning a familiar formula inside out. Instead of stepping into the role of a hero rescuing royalty, you play as Crow, an ambitious and theatrical villain whose goal is to kidnap princesses from various kingdoms to fuel his ultimate weapon. This reversal is more than just a gimmick—it defines the tone, structure, and humor of the entire experience, giving the game a personality that sets it apart from many of its genre peers. The narrative leans heavily into satire and self-awareness, poking fun at classic video game tropes while still embracing them. Crow is not portrayed as a purely menacing antagonist, but rather as a charismatic and somewhat flawed character navigating a world that operates on exaggerated logic. Dialogue is filled with witty exchanges, meta commentary, and playful interactions between Crow, his assistant Becky, and the various princesses he encounters. This focus on humor and character gives the story a strong presence, often carrying the experience even when the gameplay itself becomes more routine. From a gameplay perspective, Nefarious follows a traditional side-scrolling structur…

honestly i hate how i die so much because of all the insta kills like can you just make it so i lose a heart and jump up high when i touch electric floors or lava cause it sucks to die that much and feels unfair wouldve been an a tier game but relegated to b tier instead due to all insta kills and all the occasinal blind jumps

it's a solid game, the ending's a bit of a mess but I'd still recommend it, soundtrack's great, the references and the game itself is funny. Plus being able to play as the villain is the selling point. 8/10 for me.

This game deserves an open world sequal in 3d. If you're reading this Mr. Hano, please make a sequal to Nefarious.

Plot twist after plot twist comes from both the game and the webcomic. I am in a constant state of tonal whiplash. 10/10