Game Dev Indonesia

Bad Pad: When a Gamepad Button Becomes a Hero

Muhammad Aziz Alfajri

Nov 20, 2025 · 5 min read
Bad Pad
Bad Pad

Bad Pad is a metroidvania and metal platformer made by Headbang Games and Oray Studios. With fast paced gameplay, heavy metal music, and a world that’s absurd yet really fun, this game is a unique experience every challenge seekers should try. Curious? Let’s discuss it!

The Button’s Journey

What if the buttons on your game controller actually had their own lives? Bad Pad takes that already wild idea and turns it into something even wilder and surprisingly cool. The story follows a sentient button that breaks free and has to fight its way through a world of metal, electricity, and headbanging chaos.

What makes Bad Pad truly stand out is its storytelling approach. Every major scene is delivered through actual metal songs, not just dialogue! So instead of reading text boxes, you’re basically watching a rock musical inside a game.

The guitars roar, the drums pound, and your tiny button hero bounces around in a noisy, chaotic world that’s hilarious and strange. It’s weird, sure, but it’s that weirdness that makes Bad Pad shine brighter than most other platformers.

Mix of Genres

be more careful
be more careful

Bad Pad is basically a mix of metroidvania and clutch platformer, something like Super Meat Boy. You’ll constantly be threading your way through deadly traps, barely escaping buzzsaws, and catching ledge at the very last moment. That close call feeling never gets old.

Mixing metroidvania style exploration with the close call intensity of precision platformers is such a brilliant move. And it works perfectly here.

The gameplay feels tight, responsive, and fast. Every jump, wall, and trap demands perfect timing and focus. Sure, the game can be tough, but it’s never unfair like for example cat mario. And clearing a hard section afterward feels incredibly satisfying.

Some areas even have puzzles, switches that require precise timing, or hidden paths waiting to be discovered. It’s the kind of game that rewards both skill and curiosity.

Also read! Solar Serpent Squadron: Bullet Heaven Snake Xenzia Combination

Consistent Identity

that's metal asl
that’s metal asl

Visually, Bad Pad uses pixel art that may look simple at first glance, but it grows on you the more you play. Everything feels alive inside a gritty, metallic ecosystem that looks both harsh and stylish. The cold colors and industrial tones fit perfectly with its heavy metal theme.

What’s impressive is how consistent the style and tone are. Every character speaks in deep, growly metal vocals. Like heavy metal stars trying to hype up their fans.

It's not too late to change Evil Pen!
It’s not too late to change Evil Pen!

Even during cutscenes, they don’t just talk, they sing! That level of stylistic commitment is always nice to see in indie games. And here it gives Bad Pad a strong identity all its own.

The level design is also remarkably clean. Transitions between rooms feel natural. And you’ll often find multiple routes forward depending on your playstyle or rather curiosity.

Also read! Bad Run Turbo Edition: Metroidvania

Metal to the Core

Must be an australia stage
Must be an australia stage

You can’t talk about Bad Pad without mentioning its music, because the whole game is practically one big metal concert. Every major story beat is delivered through songs packed with roaring guitars, thundering drums, and passionate vocals. It’s like you’re playing a game and watching a live performance at the same time.

The soundtrack doesn’t just sound good, it actively drives the story! Each track narrates conflict, sarcasm, and humor with a metal flair that’s really wild. Bad Pad leans fully into its metal identity from start to finish, and that consistency makes it very unique.

The game’s dynamic sound system even adjusts based on what’s happening. The tempo rises during chases or boss fights and slows down when you clear a difficult section. It’s really giving that feeling that the entire world reacts to your actions.

For Challenge Seekers

If you’re looking for a chill game to play while sipping coffee, Bad Pad probably isn’t it. But if you crave challenge, uniqueness, and energy, this is absolutely worth your time!

Most importantly, Bad Pad has a soul. A wild, guitar-shredding soul that doesn’t care about mainstream standards. It does feel nostalgic like old platformers, but it comes with a modern vibes that’s louder, faster, and way more metal.

It’s easily guaranteed to be one of the most memorable indie experiences you will experience.

Download it now!

References:

Bad Pad – Steam

Bad Pad – itch.io

Headbang Games – itch.io

Headbang Games – Website

Oray Studios – Website

Game Trailer

#2D platformer #game buatan Indonesia #Game Indie Indonesia #Game Indonesia #Game Lokal #game metroidvania #Indonesia #Industri Game Indonesia #Karya Anak Bangsa #metal music game #Metroidvania #Pengembangan Game #platformer #runner

Muhammad Aziz Alfajri

Contributing Writer

This man right here is your typical guy that you might have seen on a regular tuesday morning that you will forget about in a couple of minutes. All jokes aside, i still make the best out of things despite my ordinariness.

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