VectaGuard is a new retro shooter from developer RetroNinja Games, a studio headed up by legendary developer Tony Barnes. It’s out now on Steam, and has been described as “a fast-paced arcade shooter inspired by classics like Gravitar, Caverns of Mars and Defender”. VectaGuard “combines classic score-chasing gameplay with striking 2.5D vector visuals, explosive effects and modern gameplay systems”.
Over a career spanning more than 40 years and 100 shipped games, Barnes has contributed to titles for major publishers including Electronic Arts, Crystal Dynamics, Rockstar Games, The Collective and others. VectaGuard marks the beginning of a new chapter focused on independent hand-crafted arcade experiences.
“The games that inspired me as a kid were simple pure gameplay; easy to learn, hard to master, impossible to put down,” said Tony Barnes, Founder of RetroNinja Games. “After decades of working with incredible teams, creating solo again has been incredibly rewarding and VectaGuard is the product of that. It’s my tribute to the games that made me want to become a developer to begin with.”
Key features in VectaGuard:
Fast-paced arcade action focused on replayability and score-chasing
Vibrant 2.5D vector graphics with modern lighting, physics, and particle effects
Stackable weapon upgrades reward experimentation and mastery
Global cross-platform leaderboard
Dynamic electronic soundtrack
Full controller support (recommended)

