Revision 10

benkimchi is the solo independent developer behind DREADNOUGHT TARTARUS. Both the Developer and Publisher fields on the Steam store page list benkimchi, so the project is a single-person indie effort that is also self-published. See the overview for a game summary, and the TARTARUS battleship page for the central vessel.

Project Profile

Public Channels

The developer maintains an active presence on X under the handle @NAP_benkimchi, where regular development posts are shared as the project advances. Updates have included short clips of in-engine footage, work-in-progress UI screens, and devlog summaries. The X account, the Steam page, and the released trailers and devlogs are the only public channels at this stage.

Stated Influences

benkimchi has cited specific anime sci-fi references for the aesthetic of DREADNOUGHT TARTARUS, drawing on capital-ship series rather than ground-level mech action. The reference points are Macross, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and Gundam, which inform the framing of large-scale aerospace combat and the hard-surface mechanical detailing of the ships. The first devlog also notes that the UI design language was inspired by PS3 and PSP interfaces, giving on-screen menus a chunky, tactile feel rather than a flat modern overlay.

Solo Project Scope

What makes the benkimchi credit unusual is the breadth of systems being delivered by a single developer:

• Modular battleship loadouts across hull, modules, main cannons, missiles, super weapons, carrier-based fighters, and support units.

• A continuous strategic-map campaign that advances in real time rather than resetting between missions.

• A reverse-engineering loop where intel from defeated enemies feeds new upgrades into the dreadnought.

• A deployable combat mech launched from the hangar bay, giving the game a second scale of engagement.

Reception of Announcement

DREADNOUGHT TARTARUS is benkimchi's first announcement to attract substantial English-language coverage. The Steam wishlist count crossed ten thousand within roughly two days of the reveal, an unusually strong response for a self-published solo project with no preceding hype cycle.

Unconfirmed Details

The following are not confirmed and should not be treated as fact:

• Real name behind the benkimchi handle.

• Country of residence, nationality, or specific location.

• Prior released projects credited to the same developer.

• Studio affiliations or employment history.

• Whether contractors or collaborators have contributed to assets.

• Educational or professional background prior to this project.