Who Needs Vampire Survivors? (Long Review)

Written by @Kef If you’ve been around the gaming parts of the internet over the last six months or so, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard the growing buzz about a game called Vampire Survivors. From looking at it, you might not be able to tell what the buzz is about. It’s got old-school pixel graphics with NES Castlevania vibes, and it was made by a single developer in just a year and with less than $1,500 spent on assets. So what’s the big deal?

Of the regular cycle of breakout Steam hits this past year, there’s one that’s really stood the test of time for me: Vampire Survivors. This old-school pixel graphics title came out in late 2021 to virtually no fanfare, but it has steadily picked up more and more interest to the point where it has now sold millions of copies and is being heralded as the first breakout star of a new genre, the “horde game.”

The original “endless wave survival” style game was finally ported over to mobile… and it is insanely addicting! There was a trend going on in the app store where mobile titles (such as Survivor!.io, Wizard Hero, etc.) were trying to copy what Vampire Survivors had done on Steam. I don't think any game could’ve come close to how addicting Vampire Survivors is. For starters, the pixelated medieval art style gives a very nostalgic gaming experience. The art style isn’t the only thing that separates this game from others in it’s genre. There many different characters to unlock and choose from, all with different stats and starting weapons.