Hell is a special place reserved for the most heinous of people. Accordingly, if you’ve been good, or simply haven’t been an asshole, you shouldn’t expect to come face-to-face with a demon! However, Vampire Survivors challenges this logic in its cruel and often unfair action.

Developed and published by poncle, this is a rogue-lite, bullet hell, casual title. Furthermore, it has wonderfully dated pixel graphics, an incredibly aggressive soundtrack, and the easiest controls known to mankind. Yet, somehow, it is still annoyingly difficult. Subsequently, it’ll drive you mad, but you won’t be able to put it down. This indie sensation has taken the gaming world by storm, and I can see why. I thought it would be a casual game that I could play on my break, but hours later, I still wanted more. So, I decided to drag myself away from my Steam Deck to write this review for you.

Vampire Survivors has little to no story.

With no story at its core, Vampire Survivors had to do something special to grab my attention. Fortunately, it did just that with its awesome gameplay, the addictive action, and straightforward approach. You control a hero who is destined to be killed. However, it is your job to survive for as long as possible, and take down as many monsters as you can. For reasons unknown, the demons have left hell, and they now roam Earth. Armed with a weapon, the hero must annihilate everything that moves, collect XP, gold, and food, and progress through the stages. Upon death, you’ll lose your progress but retain your gold. Consequently, this can be spent on upgrades before jumping back into the action. 

So you can see, the idea isn’t that original, nor is it complex. Yet, it’s undeniably moreish, and it gets under your skin. What’s more, unlike many titles, this one has no demand for real-life money. Instead, every upgrade and improvement is earned and unlocked through your skills and determination. Subsequently, the more gold you earn, and the longer you survive, the better gear you buy and the more likely you’ll progress further. This makes Vampire Survivors particularly rewarding, and this added to its addictive nature.

Many minor elements. 

What was equally great about Vampire Survivors was the minor elements at play. With an array of weapons to pick from, magic to use, and skills to improve, each playthrough was unique. Moreover, the permanent upgrades and character skills added extra layers to keep things interesting. You can select a burly warrior, a nimble rogue, a weak but intelligent mage, and so forth. Each character has strengths and weaknesses, and as you complete each level, you pick a new skill to improve your chances. 

Do you add more firepower, magic, or strength to your attacks? Alternatively, will you focus on magic and projectiles to keep a distance from your foes? Or will you increase your speed, armour, and shield? Whatever you choose will dramatically alter the way you play. Understandably, you’ll find your favourites and these will be your go-to options. But occasionally, a little trial and error go a long way. 

Alongside this, if you combine certain elements, you’ll create special weapons that will heal you or decimate your opponents. This was a key component and one that forces you into experimenting. I adored this idea as it ensures players come out of their comfort zone and try new and unusual approaches. Furthermore, it was important to have the most powerful equipment possible as the swarms of enemies are never-ending.

Why won’t it stop?

Why won’t it stop? This is the question you’ll ask yourself around wave 20. The unrelenting, hellish creatures just keep coming. Moreover, they get bigger, tougher, and more aggressive. As such, tackling them becomes a challenge, especially when they surround you menacingly. When this happens, you must carve a path through your foes and run for safety. Yet, you can’t forget to collect the all-important gems that help you to progress. What’s more, special enemies drop food, power-ups, and treasure chests for you to gather. 

These additional items are paramount to your survival, and without them, you are destined to die pretty quickly. However, if you survive for long enough and you complete an array of challenges, you’ll unlock a new dungeon that has its quirks and unique moments. This was a wonderful twist from the developer, as it kept the action fresh. 

Vampire Survivors is a dated but fascinating pixel affair. 

Triple-A games have many plaudits for their stunning graphics. Accordingly, players lose themselves in these incredible worlds. Yet, I grew up playing pixelated Atari games on tiny monitors. Therefore, I have a soft spot for old-school games, and Vampire Survivors is as pixelated as they come. With vivid colours, basic sprites, and simple stage designs, it couldn’t be more stripped back. What’s more, the animations are rudimentary, and the spells look ghastly. But this matters not! Its rough style and garish colours enhance the gameplay and the sparse style stopped it from becoming too overwhelming.

What was also amazing was the aggressive soundtrack. Just like the monsters, the music never stops. On top of this, the shrill sound effects rip through your brain. Accordingly, it seems like it should be annoying, but somehow it isn’t. Instead, it adds to the dated style and complements the madness on screen.

Just keep moving. 

The simplicity of Vampire Survivors was, at first, disconcerting. You are chucked into the action with no explanation of what is happening, or what to do. Consequently, you’ll smash the buttons, nothing will happen, and you get frustrated. Yet, once you understand that the combat mechanics are automated, it’s a cinch to play. As such, you’ll focus on moving, gathering items, and surviving. 

Where this title excels is its longevity and straightforward approach. With many characters to unlock, upgrades to buy, and dungeons to visit, it’ll keep you busy. Alongside this, there are hundreds of item combinations to master, hordes of enemies to destroy, and countless treasures to find. 

Vampire Survivors shouldn’t have been this good. 

What makes Vampire Survivors so good is the fact that it shouldn’t be this good. Its straightforward approach and stripped-back ideas get under your skin. Subsequently, you’ll not be able to stop playing it. Furthermore, if you own a Steam Deck, or subscribe to PC Game Pass, you can play this on those platforms. Unsurprisingly, I loved this title and I recommend you buy it here! Can you survive the hellish hordes? Run, attack, and scavenge for as long as you can.