Vampire Survivors
News, coverage and analysis tracking Vampire Survivors across the outlets.
Latest coverage
It's official: Steam decrees 'bullet heaven' the name of the Vampire Survivors genre
Valve has officially added 'Bullet Heaven' as a Steam store tag to categorize games like Vampire Survivors, which focus on automatic attacks and upgrades. This new genre is described as the opposite of 'Bullet Hell.' The update also saw the addition and removal of various other tags, with 'Clicker' being renamed to 'Incremental' and subjective tags like 'masterpiece' being removed.
I'm tired of everything getting turned into a roguelite, but I'll make an exception for pinball
The author expresses fatigue with the oversaturation of the roguelite genre in game development, citing the rapid release of similar titles on Steam. However, an exception is made for the upcoming game Pin-Crawl, which blends dungeon crawling with pinball mechanics, appealing to the author's love for both genres.
3 weeks after Microsoft dropped the Game Pass price, Newegg has extra savings up for grabs
Tech retailer Newegg is offering a $16.50 discount on a $100 Xbox Gift Card with a promo code, available in May. This deal can be used towards Xbox Game Pass subscriptions or digital game purchases, including upcoming titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Vampire Crawlers.
Best Games to Play When You Only Have 10 Minutes
The article highlights the growing trend of short-session games that cater to players with limited time. Titles like Marvel Snap, Vampire Survivors, Rocket League, and Hades are praised for their fast startup, instant gameplay, and quick rewards. The piece also touches on the resurgence of browser games and the impact of the Steam Deck on portable gaming, emphasizing that games respecting players' time are becoming increasingly important.
7 Offline Games for Flight, Hotel, Waiting Room | TAG
This guide highlights seven games that function fully offline, ideal for travel situations with unreliable internet. Titles like Balatro, Vampire Survivors, Hades II, and Stardew Valley are recommended for their ability to run without account checks or sync requirements on devices such as the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2. The article also provides tips for preparing gaming devices for travel and avoiding common pitfalls like installing games at the airport or forgetting chargers.
The Best Android Multiplayer Games
This guide highlights top multiplayer games available on Android devices, catering to both competitive and cooperative play. Featured titles span various genres including battle royale, fighting, puzzle, MMORPG, and sandbox experiences, offering diverse ways for players to connect and engage.
Marvel Rivals Season 8 Says "To Me, My X-Men" With Cyclops Reveal
NetEase Games has revealed details for Season 8: Sins of Alchemax in Marvel Rivals, introducing Cyclops and teasing Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. The season, launching May 15, focuses on the Alchemax corporation and adds the Doom Match map, Alchemax Headquarters. A standalone High-Resolution Texture Pack DLC is also available for PC players.
Vampire Crawlers Review - Cards against the undead horde
Vampire Crawlers offers a strategic take on the roguelike genre by transforming weapons into cards with mana costs, differentiating it from its inspiration, Vampire Survivors. While the game provides a deeper strategic experience with its deckbuilding and combat planning, it suffers from a barebones tutorial and a heavy reliance on specific "Duplicator" cards for progression in higher difficulties. Despite these rough edges, it remains an enjoyable roguelike deckbuilder that rewards careful planning and experimentation.
Vampire Crawlers finds the perfect balance between strategy and automation, and it gives me that Survivors feeling all over again
Vampire Crawlers successfully blends strategy and automation, offering a similar satisfying experience to Vampire Survivors where the game can eventually play itself. While it shares DNA with deck-building titles like Slay the Spire, Vampire Crawlers streamlines combat, allowing players to focus on card collection and modification. The game is highly recommended, especially during the current Steam Deckbuilders Fest.
In the 33 months since Baldur's Gate 3 launched, it's hardly ever fallen out of the top 5 most-played games on…
Baldur's Gate 3 has maintained remarkable popularity on the Steam Deck, consistently ranking among the top five most-played games for nearly three years since its launch. Despite not being optimized for the handheld, its enduring appeal has kept it in the top ten, showcasing the game's widespread popularity and Larian Studios' success.
What We Played – Tides of Tomorrow, TerraTech Legion & Adorable Adventures
Several individuals share their recent gaming experiences, including Overwatch, Alien: Rogue Incursion, TerraTech Legion, Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrade, and Hitman 3's Freelancer Mode. Other titles mentioned include Adorable Adventures, Moomintroll Winter's Warmth, Tides of Tomorrow, Ghost Master, Starfield, and various games on the AYN Thor handheld like .hack//Infection and Super Alloy Crush.
Here's the top Steam Deck games for April 2026
The top games on Steam Deck for April 2026 include Slay the Spire 2 and Vampire Crawlers, alongside other popular titles like Stardew Valley and Baldur's Gate 3. Several newly released games also made the list, such as RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike and PRAGMATA. The article also notes that the Steam Deck continues to be frequently out of stock.
Vampire Survivors has already conquered the deckbuilding genre. So what’s next?
Vampire Crawlers, a spinoff of the genre-defining Vampire Survivors, has sold one million copies in its first week. The article discusses the success of the franchise and speculates on future genre expansions for poncle, highlighting the affordability and satisfying gameplay loops as key draws.
Vampire Crawlers sales surpass 1 million in one week
Vampire Crawlers has sold over 1 million copies worldwide in its first week since launching on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Developed by Poncle, the game is a turn-based deckbuilder with roguelite elements, serving as a spin-off of Vampire Survivors.
Vampire Crawlers Surpasses 1 Million Players as Update 1.4.1 Fixes Crashes, Endless Mode Coming
Developer poncle announced that Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard has surpassed one million players. The studio also released hotfix version 1.4.1 to address crashes and save data issues, confirmed that Endless Mode is coming soon, and teased a content roadmap. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Survivor Legion Brings The Horde To Xbox
Survivor Legion, an action roguelike with a squad-based twist on the survivor genre, has launched on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S for £8.39. Developed and published by Happy Player, the game features team management and formation switching as key tactical elements. It offers a familiar yet fresh experience within the crowded survivor genre, distinguishing itself from titles like Vampire Survivors by focusing on leading multiple allies.
A 'major studio' is in talks to adapt Aussie indie The Drifter
Story Kitchen co-founder Dmitri M. Johnson revealed that a major studio is in talks to adapt the Australian indie point-and-click adventure game, The Drifter. Johnson, who is also a BAFTA voter, was inspired by the game's story and initiated discussions for a potential adaptation. The Drifter has received critical acclaim, including Game of the Year at the Australian Game Developer Awards 2025.
"There was that period in time, pre-Sonic, where it was, 'You're so lucky that Hollywood is even looking at you'"
Story Kitchen, a production company specializing in video game adaptations, discusses the booming Hollywood interest in gaming IPs. Co-founder Dmitri M. Johnson highlights the intense bidding wars for titles like Split Fiction and the evolving relationship between game companies and studios, noting that game developers now have more leverage due to the success of major game-based films and shows. The company mediates between the two industries, ensuring deals are made while respecting both creative visions.
I love Slay the Spire 2, I hate Slay the Spire 2
This article discusses the dualistic nature of Slay the Spire 2, highlighting how its reliance on random card draws can lead to both exhilarating victories and heartbreaking unfairness, especially at higher difficulties. The author contrasts this with other roguelites like Balatro and Vampire Survivors, noting Slay the Spire 2's tendency to encourage perfectionism due to its sparse shop and reward systems. Despite the frustrations, the author concludes that Slay the Spire 2 is a fantastic example of the genre and will continue playing it.
The Spell Brigade Review – A co-op Survivors-like that’s all about the grind
The Spell Brigade is a co-op focused Survivors-like that shines when played with friends, offering unique weapon combinations and objectives. However, the game suffers from an excessively slow and grindy progression system, making solo play and unlocks a chore.