The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile (v2022.02.24)

Blood, rusted steel, and broken minds define this ferocious 2D action platformer. The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile follows two damaged antiheroes—Yuki, an escaped prisoner with a weaponized mechanical arm, and the undead samurai known as the Dishwasher—as they hunt the powerful figures responsible for a rotten society. Their targets are the Banker, the General, and the Judge, but the story’s real appeal lies in its relentless descent through prisons, battlefields, and nightmarish urban ruins. The mood is proudly excessive: grim comic-book imagery, savage executions, and a revenge plot that never pretends to be clean or noble.

Combat is the main event, built around fast movement, air juggling, counters, evasions, and lengthy weapon combos. Players slice through crowds with swords and improvised blades, launch enemies across the screen, and use special abilities to keep pressure on bosses and tougher encounters. Both protagonists have distinct tools and upgrades, encouraging repeat runs through the campaign to see how their approaches differ; Yuki’s mechanical arm gives her a particularly brutal identity in battle. Platforming and light environmental navigation break up the fighting, while demanding boss encounters test timing, positioning, and the ability to maintain a combo when the screen turns chaotic. The pace feels closer to a character-action brawler than a traditional beat-’em-up, even though it plays from a side-scrolling perspective.

What separates Vampire Smile from most indie action games is its hand-drawn ugliness and sheer commitment to momentum. Every stage looks like a violent sketchbook brought to life, with exaggerated gore and harsh monochrome backdrops making each finishing blow land harder. Its combat has enough depth for score-chasers and combo specialists, but the basic controls remain accessible enough for players who simply want to carve through a stylish revenge story. Fans of Castle Crashers’ side-scrolling structure, Metal Slug’s visual intensity, or Devil May Cry-style combo expression should find plenty to enjoy, especially if they prefer their action darker, faster, and far less forgiving.