How One Indie Dev’s Bloody Beat-’Em-Up Stole the Show at Summer Game Fest
If you love brutal beat-’em-ups and action-packed indie stories, this one’s for you! Meet Fajrul Falakh Nurfitryansyah, better known as Fajrul FN – the one-man-army (with a little help from friends) behind Acts of Blood, an upcoming game inspired by The Raid and Sifu. After catching the eye of Geoff Keighley and landing a spot at Summer Game Fest 2025, this project is getting some serious attention. Want to know why? Read on!
- Solo developer’s journey from hobby to Summer Game Fest
- Brutal, cinematic combat inspired by action movies
- Indonesian setting rarely seen in games
- Plans for PC and console releases
- Behind-the-scenes insights from Fajrul FN himself
A Dream Project Born from Passion and Tutorials
Fajrul FN started making games back in 2010, mainly as a 3D artist. But after five years in the industry, he craved creative freedom and kicked off Acts of Blood in January 2024, mainly to brush up on Unreal Engine skills. What began as a side project soon snowballed into something much bigger. “Honestly, one of the weirdest things about Acts of Blood is that the whole game started as a personal learning project. I’m primarily a 3D artist, not a programmer, so in the beginning, most of the gameplay systems were literally cobbled together from random YouTube tutorials. If you looked at the early Blueprints, you’d probably see a Frankenstein mix of nodes from five different creators. It’s funny to think a game that made it to Summer Game Fest started off as a test project built out of tutorial scraps.”
From Bandung to the World
What sets Acts of Blood apart? Its setting! The game takes place in Bandung, Indonesia, Fajrul’s home for over a decade. “Bandung isn’t often represented in games, and I wanted to change that. It’s where I grew up, so this is my tribute. It’s not a 1:1 recreation, but the feel is there: the rainy streets, unique architecture, cooler climate.” Expect a unique blend of urban and natural spaces, making every level visually fresh.
Indie Spirit with a Team of Outcasts
While Fajrul leads the project solo, he’s got a small crew of friends helping out on music, animation, and voice work – most of them pitching in on weekends. He calls them Eksil Team (which means “exile” in English), a fitting name for a group of outcasts building something personal together.
Violence Turned Up to Eleven
Acts of Blood is not for the faint-hearted. “We’re going all-in on violence as a core part of the experience. Brutal takedowns, dismemberment, and yes, our own version of X-ray kills. Think of it as a grounded but raw homage to classic action games and films. We’ve been clear with our partners from the start: this isn’t going to hold back.” The influences are clear: The Raid, The Night Comes for Us, and anything by Gareth Evans or Timo Tjahjanto. Gameplay-wise, it’s a wild mix of Sleeping Dogs counters and Sifu combos, topped with gritty visuals reminiscent of Max Payne and Manhunt.
From Personal Project to Summer Game Fest Spotlight
The real turning point? A direct email from Geoff Keighley. “He said he saw the game and asked if there was anything he could do to help the project. I told him we were still a small team trying to gain visibility, and not long after, Acts of Blood was included in SGF 2025. Then he even mentioned it during the show. It was a surreal moment.” That’s how millions of players got their first look at this ambitious indie brawler.
PC First, but Consoles on the Horizon
Right now, Acts of Blood is being developed for PC, but thanks to support from the ID@Xbox program, an Xbox version is planned as well – with hopes for more platforms down the line. “The scope is manageable, so porting is definitely in our plans.”
What’s Fajrul Most Excited For?
“The combat. I’ve poured so much into making it feel tight, responsive, and satisfying. That moment when you dodge a strike, counter with a brutal finisher, and see the X-ray impact, it’s everything I love about action games. I also can’t wait for people to recognize parts of Bandung in the game. It’s both personal and cinematic, and I hope that comes through.”
