Vampire Survivors

Some games hook you slowly, building immersion with lore, cutscenes, or world-building. Vampire Survivors doesn’t bother with any of that. It grabs you by the collar within seconds, drops you into chaos, and lets the screen fill with increasingly absurd hordes until you're cackling like a maniac as you demolish everything in sight. It’s pure gameplay crack – minimalistic, relentless, and impossible to put down.

At first glance, Vampire Survivors is deceptively simple. The retro pixel art looks ripped from a long-lost Castlevania clone, and your character auto-attacks, leaving you with only movement and the occasional upgrade choice. But that simplicity is the trap. Within minutes, you’re navigating tight spaces, dodging waves of enemies, and collecting experience gems like your life depends on it – because it does. And then, something clicks. You evolve your first weapon. You find a synergy between items. And suddenly, the screen explodes in particle effects, and you realize you’re no longer the hunted – you’re the hunter.

This is the game’s genius. Every run escalates to the point where, by the end, you truly feel like an overpowered god. What starts as a desperate fight for survival becomes an exercise in excess: your screen is a fireworks display of whirling axes, bibles, lightning strikes, garlic auras, and a dozen other weapons operating in perfect harmony. It’s not about twitch reflexes or precision; it’s about crafting the ultimate build and letting the chaos unfold.

And yet, no two runs ever feel quite the same. The staggering amount of unlockable content is what gives Vampire Survivors its staying power. Characters, weapons, passive items, stages, relics – each one introduces new strategies, synergies, and curveballs. The base game is packed, but the developer, Poncle, hasn’t rested on their laurels. With multiple DLC packs now available – each adding new characters, maps, enemies, and mechanics – there’s always something new to explore. It’s the kind of game where unlocking something isn’t just a checkbox; it often changes how you play entirely.

There’s also an infectious sense of humor that runs through Vampire Survivors. The absurd weapon names, ridiculous character designs, and over-the-top enemy swarms give the game a tongue-in-cheek charm. It never takes itself too seriously, and that playful energy makes it even more enjoyable. You’re not meant to ponder the story (though there is one, if you dig); you’re meant to dive into the action and enjoy the ride.

Where Vampire Survivors really shines, though, is on the Steam Deck. It’s the perfect pick-up-and-play experience for handheld gaming. Runs are short enough to squeeze in while commuting or unwinding in bed, but meaty enough to feel satisfying. It loads quickly, plays flawlessly, and its addictive nature means it’s almost always the game I end up launching “just for a quick run” – which, inevitably, turns into three or four. This is one of those rare games that earns a permanent spot in my library. No matter what else I’m playing, Vampire Survivors is always installed, ready to sink its fangs into me again.

Criticisms? They’re minor. The UI can feel a little clunky at times, especially when navigating unlock menus. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming for new players. But none of that matters once you’re in the zone, mowing down thousands of enemies and watching your kill count tick past five figures.

Vampire Survivors is a masterclass in game design economy. It does one thing extremely well and keeps refining it with updates, surprises, and creativity. It’s the definition of “just one more run” and a shining example of how small, focused games can deliver unforgettable experiences.