‘I do think Blow misunderstood what the game is about’: Derelict Star made Jonathan Blow rage quit, but it’s the most fascinating indie platformer I’ve played for years
The indie action-platformer Derelict Star has sparked debate in the gaming community after Braid and The Witness creator Jonathan Blow publicly criticized the game on X. Blow stated that the intro level caused him to rage quit, expressing disappointment with what he characterized as uninteresting platforming challenges paired with clunky controls that feel less polished than competitors. He argued that any compelling design elements shouldn’t be locked behind the opening stages.
Despite Blow’s harsh assessment, Derelict Star has quietly built a dedicated following among movement platformer enthusiasts since its early April release. The game appears to have resonated with players who appreciate challenging, precision-focused platforming mechanics, even as prominent industry figures like Blow dismiss its approach. The contrast between Blow’s visceral negative reaction and the positive reception from the platformer community highlights the subjective nature of game design criticism and the existence of different preferences within the player base regarding difficulty, control mechanics, and level design philosophy.