In an unexpected turn for the new year, a video game titled Code Violet has sparked intense debate after being labelled the worst release of 2026. Yet, its commercial success, including becoming the most pre-ordered game on PlayStation Plus, tells a different story. One player has stepped forward to explain precisely why he decided to buy it.
Beyond the Bugs: The Appeal of an Ambitious Indie
The reader, who submitted a feature to GameCentral, acknowledges the widespread critical panning of Code Violet. Published on 18th January 2026, the original review and others highlight significant technical issues. However, the buyer argues that the volume of bugs is somewhat exaggerated. He points to the game's origins, developed by a core team of roughly four people, as a crucial context. For a project of that scale, he finds the graphical fidelity "incredible," admitting that while glitches exist, the experience is "amazing a lot of the time."
He was particularly shocked by the quality of some visuals and scenes, stating they surpassed what most indie titles achieve. This ambition, coupled with the developers' responsiveness—releasing a day-one patch and maintaining fan communication—fosters his confidence that problems will be addressed swiftly, especially compared to larger studio releases.
A Spiritual Successor to a Beloved Classic
The primary draw for this gamer was the subject matter. A self-professed fan of Dino Crisis and dinosaurs in general, he was immediately intrigued by Code Violet's pitch as a spiritual sequel with a presentation akin to the modern Resident Evil remakes. Drawing a parallel to how Dino Crisis was inspired by Jurassic Park, he hoped for a similar thrill from this new title.
He believes the game delivers on this front, praising the variety of settings and dinosaurs as impressive for the budget. While combat has "jank," it functions, and he highlights substantial replayability with New Game+, extra weapons, and costumes to unlock. He notes the game's length exceeds the original Dino Crisis's sub-seven-hour runtime, offering content comparable to a standard Resident Evil title.
Voting with Your Wallet for the Games You Want
The decision to purchase also stemmed from a desire to support specific creative visions. While many hope Capcom will eventually revive Dino Crisis, this reader advocates for backing indie developers who are filling that gap now. He states a belief in "putting my money where my mouth is" to support teams making the niche experiences he desires, a trend he sees as increasingly important in the modern gaming landscape.
He concedes Code Violet is not the best game he's ever played and acknowledges its premium price point, though it sits below typical AAA costs. Ultimately, he enjoyed the experience and is interested in its evolution. The strong pre-order figures prove he is not alone. His conclusion is a defence of imperfect passion projects: games don't have to be flawless to be enjoyable, they simply must offer a desired experience that nobody else is providing.
Code Violet may not be crowned the year's best, but in the eyes of this buyer, it is decidedly not the worst. He suggests some critics are too eager to condemn a game for the simple crime of not being perfect, overlooking the ambition and heart behind its creation.
