Screenshots
Watch trailer on Steam ↗No Vacation for an Executioner
JayO · Published by JayO · Official site ↗
Content notice: This Game may contain content not appropriate for all ages, or may not be appropriate for viewing at work: Frequent Violence or Gore, General Mature Content
Mostly Positive — 71% positive (80 reviews) · 10 achievements
Last updated 28 Sept 2026
It's a Retro PS2 style Horror ARPG about a frustrated executioner in late 17th century. He ran away from the gallows. It aroused a riot of monsters, he had to clean up this cruel mess, and find out the truth of this crazy world.
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Price history
Action, Indie, RPG · 2026 · More £5 - £15 games
Embark on a thrilling journey as a disgruntled executioner in No Vacation for an Executioner, a blend of action and RPG elements set in a dark, retro-horror universe.
About this game
Before Purchasing, IMPORTANT -----------------------------------------------------------
It's Retro Including The Control. You can imagine the control feeling is like Old Resident Evil 4 or Old Silent Hill at PS2. Intentionally back to PS2 feeling. Please TRY THE DEMO before purchasing to make sure you like this control style.
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Before Purchasing, IMPORTANT -----------------------------------------------------------
It's Retro Including The Control. You can imagine the control feeling is like Old Resident Evil 4 or Old Silent Hill at PS2. Intentionally back to PS2 feeling. Please TRY THE DEMO before purchasing to make sure you like this control style.
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About
It's a story about a frustrated executioner in late 17th century. He felt sick at his job and ran away from the gallows. It aroused a riot of monsters, he had to clean up this cruel mess, and find out the truth about the "Gloomy Oil" of this crazy world.
It's a Retro PS2 style Horror Action-RPG, you will use various skill to survive, beat your enemy and explore forward.
It's a solo-make indie game.
Inspired by the Book : The Hangman of Paris by Claude Cueni, and the Paintings of Zdzisław Beksiński. (But it's a story nothing about any Sanson family)
Recommended to use gamepad such as Xbox controler or PS DualShock. Keyboard players can also use Arrow Keys to control the camera. If using mouse, please trigger the "Use mouse" option at "Config" menu.
Unique art style
Special art style makes you immerse into the nightmare of executioner. Half sketch half real rendering a different kind of Baroque times.
Small Tips
The vibe and story-telling look quite souls-like, but actually the game mechanics is very different. It's more close to survival horror and you don't need to collect souls to level up. What you need to do is to survive by any means necessary, and explore forward.
Different battle system
This battle machanic encourages you to make critical STAB, back STAB, and keep PARRY to make the EXECUTION HIT, and use your GUN properly, not encourage to fight directly with normal melee attack.
Attire system
Various attires and hats can be changed, they also have different functions. Update your outfit and catch the fashion of early 18th century.
Item transfer system
Collect different items on the road and transfer them into valuable resource, like different kinds of bullets or herbs for example.
Multi-Endings
More than 4 defferent endings. The first time playing takes about 5-10 hours. If you trigger some special endings, it would be much shorter or much longer.
Before Purchasing, IMPORTANT -----------------------------------------------------------
It's Retro Including The Control. You can imagine the control feeling is like Old Resident Evil 4 or Old Silent Hill at PS2. Intentionally back to PS2 feeling. Please TRY THE DEMO before purchasing to make sure you like this control style.
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System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- OS: windows 10
- Processor: intel i3
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 1 GB available space
- Sound Card: Realtek Audio
Recommended
- OS: windows 10
- Processor: Intel i5
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GTX1050
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- Sound Card: Realtek Audio
Supported Languages
Latest news
Patch NotesOfficial
Update Release v1.22 and Demo
1, Big update for parry mechanicThis solution is trying to balance the old players and the new ones, I hope it works better.When you holding the 'Parry' button now, he will always keep the parry posture, won't turn back to idle until you release it. It's more like Dark Souls now rather than Silent Hill 3. You will immediately know what I mean when you try it.There is a range timing for 'Perfect Parry' (which is still not difficult to trigger, almost the same as previous version).When successful for 'perfect parry', HP won't drop, and his Tenacity Bar will be full immediately, which you can trigger the Execution (usually at the third slash). And you will hear a scary drum beat.Otherwise, parry but not in perfect timing, a small amount hp will be droped, and it also drops the Tenacity Bar.Normal melee attack can increase the Tenacity Bar. Even you haven't triggered the 'Perfect Parry', you can still tactically keep attacking to trigger the execution when the bar is full.When the tenacity bar drops to Near Zero, it's very dangerous, the parry action will be Invalid.The parry hint is canceled to make you focus on the hand of enemies.The melee battle will be a little bit easier for old players, but maybe it's good to have more options to fight and makes the game more interesting. 2, You can pick up items when in crouching now.3, The ending acheivements were added. It should be triggered at the beginning of the game if you already got some endings. 4, Some other bugs, like the door of the Dukes' room problem(Others are spoiling so that I don't list them here).Updated for both demo and release. The demo gameplay is exactly the same as release version.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PLEASE TRY THE DEMO before purchasing to make sure you really like it. There won't be any big mechanic change in the future, except debug issues.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thanks....Read full article on Community Announcements (498540469)Patch NotesOfficial
Demo update v1.099
Updated: -All BGM of the game-English correction-Russian translation-Spanish translation-Portuguese translation Thanks for my friends that gave me great help as below:Music by Hava Harpsicord compose and play byAngelika Ushakova@B&GG TeamRussian translation byStarkova Sofia@B&GG Team English translation by Desmond Eversong Void Spanish translation byFranco Gaete OsorioMaría José Cerda Peña Portuguese translation byMatheus ScaglioneRead full article on Community Announcements (498540469)Patch NotesOfficial
Demo update 1.097
(There are some problems at v1.097. I retrieved it back to v1.096. Please wait for the next update.)The new game trailer was covered by IGN's GT channel, and the traffic suddenly going crazy. Thank you all the players who keep following this game. It can make this because of you.I got a lot of new comments, so that it was updated again!Old players may feel that a little easier than before, that's because some values and combat detailes changed. I want more new players to go through the demo. I know I am not skillfull enough to make it very smooth to reach even a 2A game standard. The gameplay experiance now is 99% close to the release version. Sorry it will disappoint some action game players. It's still an old-school style game, including the control.I am planning the alpha test, if you are interest in joining the test, please add my discord and join the server, tell me that you want to join the alpha test, I will give you a key once it's well prepared. But absolutely TRY THE DEMO FIRST to confirm if you really like it.my discord: jayojayo_89773game server : discord.gg/RMUarnR68gThanks again for following this game, give you guys a big hug. Thanks for Hava composed for the game such amazing BGM.Read full article on Community Announcements (498540469)Patch NotesOfficial
Demo update v1.096
Improved the melee battle hit reactions of every enemy.Other very small details changed.Read full article on Community Announcements (498540469)Patch NotesOfficial
Demo v1.095 update
Finally I found the correct tool and correct way to fix all (almost) the camera problems! 1, Aiming mechanic changed. There are not dead angle any more when aiming left side, because the whole body will move.2, Smoother camera control, and the camera will not go through the wall. (Most situations. If too fast it will still go through) It will shrink the distance like many other 3rd person games.3, If you are using mouse keyboard, the mouse control is much better.4, Camera FOV increased a little.5，Critical stab mechanic changed, it will delay a little bit, makes more tense. Just follow the hint you will make it.6, Footstep sound added.Read full article on Community Announcements (498540469)
