Don’t let the name fool you. Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint might sound like a festive platformer about sweets and candy canes, but within seconds you’ll realise this is anything but family friendly. Instead, Xbox players are getting a brutal side-scrolling brawler steeped in revenge, bloodshed and the grim atmosphere of classic Korean crime dramas.
Now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, this hard-hitting beat ’em up comes from Hack The Publisher and indie.io, delivering a story where justice quickly gives way to vengeance.
At A Glance
- Game: Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint
- Developer: Hack The Publisher
- Publisher: indie.io
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
- Price: £16.74
- Genre: Side-scrolling Beat ’em Up
A Detective Driven Beyond The Edge
Mr. Peppermint isn’t out to save the city – he’s out to settle a score.
Twenty years after a serial killer shattered his family, the young boy who escaped has grown into a detective, following in his father’s footsteps. But years of grief have pushed him to breaking point, and his search for justice becomes something far darker as he hunts the people responsible.
The deeper he ventures into the city’s criminal underworld, the more violence becomes the only language anyone seems willing to speak.
Every Object Is A Weapon
Classic side-scrolling beat ’em ups have always encouraged creative combat, but Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint takes that philosophy to uncomfortable extremes.
Fists and combos are only the beginning. Almost anything in the environment can become a weapon, whether that’s industrial machinery, heavy hooks or blazing hot ovens. The goal isn’t simply to defeat enemies – it’s to dispatch them in spectacularly brutal fashion as you carve a path through gangs, cultists and anyone else unfortunate enough to stand in your way.
Behind the violence is a combat system built around precision, rewarding well-timed attacks, fluid combos and environmental awareness.
Revenge Comes At A Cost
And then, the further Mr. Peppermint descends into his quest for revenge, the less certain reality becomes.
As his body count rises, so too does the psychological toll. Strange inconsistencies begin to emerge, unanswered questions linger, and the line between detective and killer grows increasingly blurred. Rather than simply telling a revenge story, the game also asks whether vengeance can consume the very person seeking it.
Sweet Name, Bitter Business
If you’re expecting something light-hearted because of the title, think again. Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint delivers a grim, uncompromising beat ’em up that wears its Korean crime drama inspirations proudly, pairing stylish side-scrolling combat with a revenge tale that only becomes more unsettling as it unfolds.
It’s available now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, as usual, through the Xbox Store.
