Review: Vampire Survivors – An Addictive, Chaotic Roguelike You Can’t Put Down
An incredibly addictive roguelike that turns simple mechanics into an endlessly satisfying gameplay loop
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Genre: Roguelike, Action, Arcade, Battling
Developer: Poncle
Publisher: Poncle
How Cozy? ⭐⭐⭐ There is battling but nothing too gory or scary
Game Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
At first glance, Vampire Survivors looks simple and retro, and not the usual graphics I’m drawn to. But once you start playing, it becomes incredibly hard to stop.
I spent a large part of last year deep in roguelikes, and Vampire Survivors was one of my first introductions to the genre. It quickly became a game I kept coming back to. It’s chaotic, repetitive in the best way, and surprisingly zen once you fall into its rhythm.
While it may not rely on stunning visuals or complex storytelling, its addictive gameplay loop and satisfying progression make it a standout experience.
Story
Unfortunately storytelling is where Vampire Survivors feels the weakest, and also the most confusing. The game has a gothic theme, mysterious characters, and hints of lore scattered throughout unlocks and environments, but there’s never a clear sense of what you’re working toward, at least for me anyway. As I played, I often found myself unsure of what I was supposed to do to “complete” the game from a story perspective.
Rather than following a narrative, progression comes from unlocking new characters, stages, and mechanics. For some that’s more than enough but personally, I found myself wishing for clearer direction or a more defined end goal. If there are plans for a Vampire Survivors 2 (and it certainly feels likely), I’d love to see a more structured way to experience and complete the story alongside the excellent gameplay.
Related: Looking for more roguelike games?
Check out my list of top roguelikes that still feel cozy
Gameplay
This is where Vampire Survivors truly shines. At its core, the gameplay is incredibly simple: you move your character, and everything else happens automatically. But that simplicity is exactly what makes it so compelling.
Key gameplay features include:
Addictive Roguelike Loop: Short runs that constantly tempt you to play “just one more”
Automatic Combat: Focus entirely on movement and positioning while weapons trigger on their own
Upgrade Chests: One of the most satisfying elements, opening chests and watching upgrades stack never gets old
Character Variety: Each character feels distinct, encouraging experimentation
Escalating Chaos: What starts calm quickly becomes overwhelming in the most satisfying way
The real joy comes from watching your build come together. Seeing weapons evolve, stats stack, and the screen fill with effects is incredibly rewarding. Even though the visuals are fairly minimal overall, moments like opening chests and unlocking powerful upgrades are genuinely exciting.
It’s low-pressure, mechanically forgiving, and easy to sink hours into without even realising, perfect for cozy gamers who enjoy roguelikes without intense mechanical demands.
Graphics and Visuals
Visually, Vampire Survivors isn’t flashy, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be. The retro-inspired graphics are simple and functional, prioritising clarity over detail. While the environments themselves aren’t particularly striking, the visual feedback during gameplay more than makes up for it. Chests bursting open, upgrades appearing, and enemies flooding the screen all contribute to that constant sense of momentum and reward.
Longevity
Vampire Survivors offers a lot of replayability. With a huge roster of characters, weapons, stages, secrets, and unlocks, there’s always something new to work towards. Even when runs fail, they still feel productive thanks to permanent upgrades and discoveries.
It’s especially well-suited for players who enjoy:
Roguelike progression without heavy punishment
Short but endlessly repeatable sessions
Unlock driven gameplay
Despite my confusion around the story, the sheer amount of content kept me playing far longer than I expected.
Conclusion
Vampire Survivors is a deceptively simple game that delivers one of the most addictive gameplay loops I’ve experienced. While its visuals are understated and its story a little unclear, the moment to moment satisfaction of building powerful runs is hard to beat.
For cozy gamers who enjoy roguelikes, low-pressure action, and games that feel comforting through repetition and reward, Vampire Survivors is absolutely worth your time. With clearer narrative progression, it could be even stronger, but as it stands, it’s an easy recommendation and a game I’ll happily keep coming back to.
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