Vampire Survivors#Downloadable content

{{Infobox video game

| title = Vampire Survivors

| image = Vampire Survivors key art.jpg

| developer = Poncle

| publisher = Poncle

| programmer = {{ubl|Luca Galante|David Brown|Sam McGarry|Adam Goodchild|Duncan Stead|Mathew Smith|Lee Donovan}}

| artist = {{ubl|Alessio Greco|Glauber Kotaki|Lo Studio CiAbbatte}}

| writer = {{ubl|Luca Galante|Laurence Phillips|James Stephanie Sterling}}

| composer = {{ubl|Daniele Zandara|Filippo Vicarelli|William Davies|Lorenzo Floro}}

| platforms = {{ubl|macOS|Windows|Xbox One|Xbox Series X/S|Nintendo Switch|Android|iOS|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5}}

| released = {{ubl|Mac, Windows|October 20, 2022|Xbox One & Series X/S|November 10, 2022|Android, iOS|December 8, 2022|Switch|August 17, 2023|PS4, PS5|August 29, 2024}}

| genre = Roguelike, shoot 'em up

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| engine = {{ubl|Phaser (pre-Version 1.6)|Unity (Version 1.6 onwards)}}

}}

Vampire Survivors is a 2022 roguelike shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Luca Galante, also known as "poncle". Following an early access period that began in December 2021, it was released for macOS, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Android, and iOS in late 2022. A port for Nintendo Switch was released on August 17, 2023, and on August 29, 2024, a port was released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

In the game, players control an automatically attacking character while battling continuous waves of monsters, aiming to survive the onslaught for as long as possible and unlock additional characters, weapons, and relics for future sessions. The game was initially a small project Galante made while unemployed and released at a very low cost. It drew far greater sales than Galante expected, leading to him bringing on additional developers to improve the engine and expand the game. The game has since had several free and paid expansions, including an official pack based on Castlevania, a series Galante had used for inspiration.

Vampire Survivors received accolades at the Golden Joystick Awards, New York Game Awards, and D.I.C.E. Awards. The game was nominated in five categories at the British Academy Games Awards, winning two: Game Design and Best Game. The game is considered one of the first "bullet heaven" games and has led to numerous titles with similar auto-combat mechanics.

Gameplay

Players select one of multiple characters, each with different starting weapons and bonuses, and control them on an endless stage featuring an auto-generated, repeating layout. The player's weapons attack automatically, and the goal is to survive as long as possible against constant waves of monsters that inflict damage upon contact. Defeating monsters and exploring the stage allows players to collect experience gems, which are used to level up; "floor chicken", which restores the player's health; and other helpful items. Each level increase gives players the choice of three or four weapons and passive power-ups. Once players have collected six weapons and six power-ups and upgraded them fully, any further levels gained will offer only gold coins or floor chicken.

Another way to upgrade weapons and power-ups is by opening chests, which are dropped by particularly powerful monsters and may contain one, three, or five random items. Most weapons have an ultimate form that can be attained by opening a chest after fully upgrading them and meeting other specific conditions.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors is a pure hit of dopamine |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/vampire-survivors-is-a-pure-hit-of-dopamine |access-date=January 30, 2022 |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201204654/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/vampire-survivors-is-a-pure-hit-of-dopamine |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors is no thoughts, just spells |url=https://www.polygon.com/22905166/vampire-survivors-steam-indie-hit |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=Polygon |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331085102/https://www.polygon.com/22905166/vampire-survivors-steam-indie-hit |url-status=live }}

Sessions of Vampire Survivors have a soft time limit of 15, 20, or 30 minutes, depending on the selected stage. When the time limit is reached, all enemies are cleared from the stage, and a final, immensely powerful enemy named The Reaper spawns. One additional Reaper will appear every consecutive minute thereafter to ensure the player's eventual demise. A session that meets or exceeds the stage's time limit is considered a successful completion and rewards bonus gold coins. Between sessions, accumulated gold coins can be spent to unlock new characters and persistent power-ups. Additionally, by completing challenges, players can unlock new stages, weapons, and characters, as well as various game modifiers, such as an endless mode that removes the soft time limit, a hyper mode that increases player and enemy speed, and a limit break mode that allows players to continue enhancing weapon attributes even after fully leveling them. Players can obtain golden eggs by defeating certain enemies or purchasing them from an in-game vendor, which provide permanent attribute improvements to their currently selected character.

Plot

Vampire Survivors is nominally set in rural Italy in 2021. Hordes of monsters summoned by the evil Bisconte Draculó (a villain inspired by Count Dracula) ravage the land, prompting the Belpaese family and other heroic survivors to take it upon themselves to hunt down and defeat Draculó.{{Cite web |title=Vampire Survivors by poncle |url=https://poncle.itch.io/vampire-survivors |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=itch.io |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021010637/https://poncle.itch.io/vampire-survivors |url-status=live }} This quest takes them through monster-infested locales such as a cursed forest, a haunted library, an abandoned dairy plant, an ominous tower, and an otherworldly chapel, culminating in a battle against an Eldritch otherworldly being referred to as "The Directer". Despite the game's title, the characters do not fight any vampires in the story.{{cite web | last=Valentine | first=Rebekah | title=Will Vampire Survivors Ever Have an Actual Vampire? We Asked the Creator | website=IGN | date=2022-12-29 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/will-vampire-survivors-ever-have-an-actual-vampire-we-asked-the-creator | access-date=2025-04-14}}

Development

Italian developer Luca "poncle" Galante began developing Vampire Survivors in 2020 using the Phaser framework while he was unemployed.{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2022 |title=How Vampire Survivors became a hit when creator poncle was ready to give up |url=https://games.barclays/resource-hub/games/industry-insights/how-vampire-survivors-became-a-hit-when-creator-poncle-was-ready-to-give-up/ |access-date=January 4, 2023 |website=Barclays Games and Esports |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603070426/https://games.barclays/resource-hub/games/industry-insights/how-vampire-survivors-became-a-hit-when-creator-poncle-was-ready-to-give-up/ |url-status=live }} He aimed to create Vampire Survivors to manage a community, drawing from his past experience as an administrator for an Ultima Online server. The game was inspired by Magic Survival, a 2019 mobile game that also featured a character that automatically attacks enemies.{{Cite news |last=Stanton |first=Rich |date=March 30, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors creator 'didn't have a vision' when he started making the game that allowed him to quit his job |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/vampire-survivors-creator-didnt-have-a-vision-when-he-started-making-the-game-that-allowed-him-to-quit-his-job/ |access-date=April 12, 2024 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}

Development of the initial early access version took about a year, during which Galante spent around £1,100 on assets, art, and music.{{Cite web |last=Klepek |first=Patrick |date=January 27, 2022 |title=How 'Vampire Survivors' Went From Obscurity to 27,000 People Playing at Once |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-vampire-survivors-went-from-obscurity-to-27000-people-playing-at-once/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=Vice |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223023853/https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3nyze/how-vampire-survivors-went-from-obscurity-to-27000-people-playing-at-once |url-status=live }} Galante was inspired by the Castlevania games, and one of the art asset packs included sprites in a similar style to the characters in the early Castlevania games.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/please-try-not-to-binge-it-vampire-survivors-finally-releases-a-castlevania-dlc-with-20-new-characters-40-new-weapons-and-a-monstrously-large-stage |title='Please try not to binge it': Vampire Survivors finally releases a Castlevania DLC with 20 new characters, 40 new weapons, and 'a monstrously large stage' |first=Elie |last=Gould |work=PCGamer |date=October 21, 2024 |access-date=May 21, 2025}} Prior to developing Vampire Survivors, Galante worked in the gambling industry, using his knowledge of flashy graphics for slot machines as part of the appeal for the game's chest-opening animations.{{Cite web |last=Chung |first=Frank |date=February 23, 2022 |title=Creator of addictive $4 game Vampire Survivors was gambling industry programmer |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/gaming/creator-of-addictive-4-game-vampire-survivors-was-gambling-industry-programmer/news-story/3a58941869837cd1b03b73c07798f050 |access-date=December 10, 2022 |website=news.com.au}}

Galante released his initial version of Vampire Survivors on itch.io, but did not see much engagement. He then decided to release it on Steam before the end of 2021, keeping the cost low since the game had minimal art aesthetics. The low price meant that his game could reach a larger audience. However, on the same day, he contracted COVID-19 and focused his attention on his recovery rather than on how his game was selling. In early 2022, he learned that the game had caught the attention of some YouTube creators, which led to an increase in Steam sales.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQVdR8mJrds |title=The Making of Vampire Survivors - Documentary |date=July 17, 2023 |last=O'Dwyer |first=Danny |publisher=Noclip |via=YouTube}}

The success of the game exceeded Galante's expectations and allowed him to quit his job in February 2022 to focus entirely on its development. He was informally assisted by "a few friends" in their spare time. Planned content included additional weapons, characters, stages, and an "endless mode". Galante's intent was to bring Vampire Survivors out of early access by the end of 2022.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Andy |date=February 3, 2022 |title='Vampire Survivors' creator Luca Galante talks quitting his job to fulfil his promise |url=https://www.nme.com/features/gaming-features/vampire-survivors-creator-luca-galante-talks-quitting-his-job-to-fulfil-his-promise-3153107 |access-date=March 6, 2022 |website=NME |archive-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326101919/https://www.nme.com/features/gaming-features/vampire-survivors-creator-luca-galante-talks-quitting-his-job-to-fulfil-his-promise-3153107 |url-status=live }}

In March 2022, Galante hired multiple freelancers to expand the Vampire Survivors team and accelerate development. In addition to outlining the scope of the promised new content with a roadmap, he explained that a major milestone slated for mid-2022 would be porting Vampire Survivors to an "industry-standard" game engine to improve its overall performance.{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2022 |title=Development Roadmap Overview and updates on the plan for Early Access |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1794680/view/3131696199131643254 |access-date=March 29, 2022 |website=Steam |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005121816/https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1794680/view/3131696199131643254 |url-status=live }}

The full game was released for macOS and Windows on October 20, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=September 29, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors will hit 1.0 on October 20th, move to new engine by end of year |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/vampire-survivors-will-hit-10-on-october-20th-move-to-new-engine-by-end-of-year |access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328065123/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/vampire-survivors-will-hit-10-on-october-20th-move-to-new-engine-by-end-of-year |url-status=live }} The game was also ported to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on November 10, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Holt |first=Kris |date=November 1, 2022 |title='Vampire Survivors' is coming to Xbox consoles on November 10th |url=https://www.engadget.com/vampire-survivors-xbox-game-pass-return-to-monkey-island-football-manager-pentiment-somerville-143045534.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |website=Engadget |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145030/https://www.engadget.com/vampire-survivors-xbox-game-pass-return-to-monkey-island-football-manager-pentiment-somerville-143045534.html |url-status=live }} Ports for Android and iOS devices were released on December 8, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors Gets Surprise Mobile Release |url=https://kotaku.com/vampire-survivors-ios-android-play-store-app-free-drop-1849872386 |access-date=December 8, 2022 |website=Kotaku |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208235654/https://kotaku.com/vampire-survivors-ios-android-play-store-app-free-drop-1849872386 |url-status=live }} The mobile versions were fast-tracked for development in response to a number of clones that appeared on mobile app stores with stolen code and assets from the original game.{{Cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=January 6, 2023 |title=Crappy Mobile Games Accidentally Led To The Best Version Of Vampire Survivors |url=https://kotaku.com/vampire-survivors-free-iphone-steam-mobile-smartphone-1849955308 |access-date=January 6, 2023 |website=Kotaku |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105220536/https://kotaku.com/vampire-survivors-free-iphone-steam-mobile-smartphone-1849955308 |url-status=live }} While the game released on other platforms as an inexpensive but premium game, the mobile versions are free-to-play with optional ads.

The Nintendo Switch version of the game was released on August 17, 2023. This also included support for local co-op play for up to four people, a feature that was simultaneously released for all versions of the game.{{cite web |last=Holt |first=Kris |date=June 21, 2023 |title='Vampire Survivors' is getting four-player couch co-op |website=Engadget |url=https://www.engadget.com/vampire-survivors-is-getting-four-player-couch-co-op-150809332.html |access-date=June 21, 2023 |archive-date=June 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621160529/https://www.engadget.com/vampire-survivors-is-getting-four-player-couch-co-op-150809332.html |url-status=live }}

The Tesla Cars version was released in September 2023 with the 2023.26 firmware update for vehicles with the correct hardware.{{Cite web |title=2023.26 Official Tesla Release Notes - Software Updates |url=https://www.notateslaapp.com/software-updates/version/2023.26/release-notes |access-date=August 8, 2024 |website=Not a Tesla App |language=en}}

A free update, titled Whiteout, was released on October 19, 2023, adding a new snow-themed stage and additional characters and weapons.{{cite web |last=Koselke |first=Anna |date=October 19, 2023 |title=Vampire Survivors update defrosts snowy new stage, expands endgame |accessdate=October 19, 2023 |work=PCGamesN |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/vampire-survivors/update-whiteout }} In April 2024, poncle surprise released the free Laborratory update.{{cite web |title=Vampire Survivors surprise launches its biggest free update yet |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/vampire-survivors/laborratory-update |website=PCGamesN |first=Alex |last=McHugh |access-date=April 30, 2024}}

In April 2024, it was announced that the game would be coming to PlayStation systems, with PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions set for release on August 29, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=April 10, 2024 |title=Vampire Survivors coming to PS5 and PS4 this summer, DLC ‘Operation Guns feat. Contra’ announced |access-date=August 8, 2024 |website=Gematsu |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/04/vampire-survivors-coming-to-ps5-and-ps4-this-summer-dlc-operation-guns-feat-contra-announced |language=en-US}}

An update in April 2025 introduced the ability to use cross-saves between most of the games' supported platforms after linking with a free Poncle account. While this was also planned to be used for the PlayStation versions, legal issues blocked this feature.{{cite web | last=Peters | first=Jay | title=Vampire Survivors will let you share saves across platforms | website=The Verge | date=April 10, 2025 | url=https://www.theverge.com/news/646760/vampire-survivors-cross-saves-playstation-emerald-diorama | access-date=April 24, 2025}}

===Downloadable content===

The first paid DLC expansion for the game, titled Legacy of the Moonspell, was announced on December 6, 2022. Inspired by Japanese folklore and anime, it adds thirteen weapons, eight characters, and a new stage featuring enemies designed after yōkai and oni.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=December 6, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors is getting DLC inspired by Japanese folklore next week |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/vampire-survivors-is-getting-dlc-inspired-by-japanese-folklore-next-week |access-date=December 9, 2022 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316012648/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/vampire-survivors-is-getting-dlc-inspired-by-japanese-folklore-next-week |url-status=live }} The expansion was released on December 15, 2022, for macOS, Windows, and Xbox platforms, with a mobile release in early 2023.{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors' first DLC offers some enjoyable (but diminishing) returns |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/12/vampire-survivors-first-dlc-offers-some-enjoyable-but-diminishing-returns/ |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=Ars Technica |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328161059/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/12/vampire-survivors-first-dlc-offers-some-enjoyable-but-diminishing-returns/ |url-status=live }} A second paid DLC expansion, Tides of Foscari, was released in April 2023. It introduces new weapons and characters and features a new stage inspired by fairy tales.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Sean |date=March 31, 2023 |title=Vampire Survivors Reveals Second DLC With New Characters, Weapons, And Music |url=https://www.thegamer.com/vampire-survivors-dlc-tides-of-foscari/ |access-date=April 16, 2023 |website=The Gamer |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603211321/https://www.thegamer.com/vampire-survivors-dlc-tides-of-foscari/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Purchese |first=Robert |date=April 14, 2023 |title=Vampire Survivors is revived by new DLC Tides of the Foscari |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/vampire-survivors-is-revived-by-new-dlc-tides-of-the-foscari |access-date=April 16, 2023 |website=Eurogamer |archive-date=May 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516064710/https://www.eurogamer.net/vampire-survivors-is-revived-by-new-dlc-tides-of-the-foscari |url-status=live }}

The game has also released DLC expansions featuring elements from other video games. Emergency Meeting, based on Innersloth's Among Us, was released on December 18, 2023.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/vampire-survivors-emergency-meeting-dlc-feat-among-us-official-trailer |title=Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting DLC feat. Among Us - Official Trailer |date=December 6, 2023 |language=en |access-date=August 8, 2024 |via=IGN}} Operation Guns, based on Konami's Contra, was released on May 9, 2024. Ode to Castlevania, based on Konami's Castlevania series, was released on October 31, 2024, coinciding with Halloween. Galante said that Ode to Castlevania was a "full circle moment" for him with the game.{{cite web | last=Scullion | first=Chris | title=Vampire Survivors is getting Castlevania DLC later this month | website=VGC | date=October 21, 2024 | url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/vampire-survivors-is-getting-castlevania-dlc-later-this-month/ | access-date=October 21, 2024}} The Ode to Castlevania includes voicework from Neil Newbon as Dracula and SungWon Cho as Richter Belmont.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesradar.com/games/roguelike/after-3-years-and-over-30-updates-vampire-survivors-finally-has-vampires-and-even-baldurs-gate-3s-astarion-actor-is-here-as-dracula/ | title = After 3 years and over 30 updates, Vampire Survivors finally has vampires - and even Baldur's Gate 3's Astarion actor is here as Dracula | first = Kaar | last = Sarin | date = November 2, 2024 | accessdate = November 2, 2024 | work = GamesRadar+ }} Emerald Diorama, based on Square Enix's SaGa: Emerald Beyond, was released for free on April 10, 2025.{{cite web | last=Hagues | first=Alana | title=Vampire Survivors And Square Enix Team Up For Free DLC, But It's Not The Series You'd Expect | website=Nintendo Life | date=April 10, 2025 | url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/04/vampire-survivors-and-square-enix-team-up-for-free-dlc-but-its-not-the-series-youd-expect | access-date=April 10, 2025}}

===Film adaptation===

An animated Vampire Survivors television series was announced in April 2023, to be produced by Story Kitchen in partnership with Luca Galante.{{Cite web |last=Shanklin |first=Will |date=April 28, 2023 |title='Vampire Survivors' is getting an animated television series |url=https://www.engadget.com/vampire-survivors-is-getting-an-animated-television-series-165532824.html |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=Engadget |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625020659/https://www.engadget.com/vampire-survivors-is-getting-an-animated-television-series-165532824.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=April 30, 2023 |title='Vampire Survivors' Video Game In Works As Animated Television Series From Story Kitchen |url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/vampire-survivors-video-game-animated-television-series-story-kitchen-luca-galante-poncle-trailer-1235340337/ |access-date=April 30, 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=July 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731030319/https://deadline.com/2023/04/vampire-survivors-video-game-animated-television-series-story-kitchen-luca-galante-poncle-trailer-1235340337/ |url-status=live }} However, in January 2025, it was confirmed that the project was being reworked into a live-action film, with Story Kitchen still involved in the production.{{cite web | title=Vampire Survivors Dev Poncle Outlines Challenges of Film Adaptation: 'The Game Has No Plot' | website=IGN | date=January 20, 2025 |first=Ryan |last=Dinsdale | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/vampire-survivors-dev-poncle-outlines-challenges-of-film-adaptation-the-game-has-no-plot | access-date=April 14, 2025}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = PC: 87/100{{Cite web |title=Vampire Survivors for PC Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/vampire-survivors/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=Metacritic |archive-date=December 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229162704/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/vampire-survivors |url-status=live }}
XSXS: 95/100{{Cite web |title=Vampire Survivors for Xbox Series X Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/vampire-survivors/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x |access-date=November 30, 2022 |website=Metacritic |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112031733/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-series-x/vampire-survivors |url-status=live }}
iOS: 91/100{{Cite web |title=Vampire Survivors for iPhone/iPad Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/vampire-survivors/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |access-date=February 15, 2023 |website=Metacritic |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109105840/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/vampire-survivors |url-status=live }}

| Edge = 7/10{{Cite magazine |date=November 5, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors |magazine=EDGE Magazine, Issue 378 |page=121}}

| EuroG = Recommended{{Cite web |last=Donlan |first=Christian |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors review - near-endless RPG popcorn |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/vampire-survivors-review-near-endless-rpg-popcorn |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=Eurogamer |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206223658/https://www.eurogamer.net/vampire-survivors-review-near-endless-rpg-popcorn |url-status=live }}

| GI = 9.75/10{{Cite magazine |last=Vore |first=Bryan |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors Review - Single-Stick Masterpiece |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/review/vampire-survivors/single-stick-masterpiece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122212902/https://www.gameinformer.com/review/vampire-survivors/single-stick-masterpiece |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |access-date=November 23, 2022 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en}}

| HCG = 4.5/5{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=James |date=October 20, 2022 |title=Review: Vampire Survivors |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-vampire-survivors/428995/ |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=Hardcore Gamer |archive-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222203838/https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-vampire-survivors/428995/ |url-status=live }}{{efn|name=earlyaccess|Early access version}}

| IGN = 7/10{{Cite web |last=Stapleton |first=Dan |date=February 11, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors Early Access Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/vampire-survivors-review |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=IGN |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216030119/https://www.ign.com/articles/vampire-survivors-review |url-status=live }}{{efn|name=earlyaccess}}
8/10{{Cite web |last=Stapleton |first=Dan |date=November 11, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors 1.0 Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/vampire-survivors-1-review |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=IGN |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130191519/https://www.ign.com/articles/vampire-survivors-1-review |url-status=live }}

| JXV = 15/20{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Test du jeu Vampire Survivors sur PC |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1519372/vampire-survivors-que-vaut-le-rogue-lite-addictif-qui-cartonne-sur-twitch.htm |first=Nicolas |last=Dixmier |access-date=December 5, 2022 |website=Jeuxvideo.com |language=fr |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205154858/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1519372/vampire-survivors-que-vaut-le-rogue-lite-addictif-qui-cartonne-sur-twitch.htm |url-status=live }}

| NLife = {{rating|9|10}}{{Cite web |last=Wacholz|first=Charlie|date=August 16, 2023|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/vampire-survivors|title=Vampire Survivors Review (Switch eShop)|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=August 22, 2023|archive-date=August 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824214315/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/vampire-survivors|url-status=live}}

| NME = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Tucker |first=Jake |date=October 20, 2022 |title='Vampire Survivors' review: the most compulsive game of the year |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/vampire-survivors-review-3332668 |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=November 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123170630/https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/vampire-survivors-review-3332668 |url-status=live }}

| PCGUS = 87/100{{Cite web |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=October 27, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors review |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/vampire-survivors-review/ |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208213127/https://www.pcgamer.com/vampire-survivors-review/ |url-status=live }}

| PCM = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Greenwald |first=Will |date=May 24, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors (for PC) Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/vampire-survivors-for-pc |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=PCMag |archive-date=January 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114175231/https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/vampire-survivors-for-pc |url-status=live }}{{efn|name=earlyaccess}}

| TA = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Madnani |first=Mikhail |date=December 9, 2022 |title='Vampire Survivors' Mobile Review – Nearly Perfect |url=https://toucharcade.com/2022/12/09/vampire-survivors-mobile-review-controller-cloud-save-sync-dlc-unlock-iphone-ipad-pro/ |access-date=January 2, 2023 |website=TouchArcade |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109233840/https://toucharcade.com/2022/12/09/vampire-survivors-mobile-review-controller-cloud-save-sync-dlc-unlock-iphone-ipad-pro |url-status=live }}

}}

While Vampire Survivors was initially obscure upon its release, it became a hit by late January 2022, reaching over 30,000 concurrent players on Steam.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Jared |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors Is a Beautiful $3 Nightmare Taking Over Steam |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/vampire-survivors-beautiful-3-nightmare-taking-over-steam |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=IGN |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204000946/https://www.ign.com/articles/vampire-survivors-beautiful-3-nightmare-taking-over-steam |url-status=live }} This number continued to rise, with the game surpassing 70,000 concurrent players the following month.{{Cite web |last=Just |first=Christian |date=February 19, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors: Steam-Phänomen mausert sich zum Schwergewicht |url=https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/vampire-survivors-steam-phaenomen,3378046.html |access-date=June 5, 2022 |website=GameStar |publisher=Webedia |language=de |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014160921/https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/vampire-survivors-steam-phaenomen,3378046.html |url-status=live }} Due to the success of Vampire Survivors, Galante was estimated by The Sunday Times in August 2024 to have accumulated {{GBP|40 million}}, making him one of the wealthiest game developers in the United Kingdom.{{cite web | url = https://www.thetimes.com/culture/gaming/article/rich-gamers-list-uk-2024-0zxb9l9bk | title = The UK’s top 30 richest gamers and creators in 2024 | first1 = Robert | last1 = Watts | first2 = Joshua | last2 = Lamb | date = August 17, 2024 | accessdate = August 17, 2024 | work = The Sunday Times }}

While not the first game in its genre, Vampire Survivors inspired several other titles referred to as bullet heavens or reverse bullet hells, characterized by automatic gameplay and roguelike progression, which were released in the following year, mostly at a low price and in early access.{{Cite web |last=Zimmerman |first=Aaron |date=October 20, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors—a cheap, minimalistic indie game—is my game of the year |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/10/vampire-survivors-a-cheap-minimalistic-indie-game-is-my-game-of-the-year/ |access-date=October 27, 2022 |website=Ars Technica |archive-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818153627/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/10/vampire-survivors-a-cheap-minimalistic-indie-game-is-my-game-of-the-year/ |url-status=live }} Some of these include Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor{{Cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Cass |title=Deep Rock Galactic spinoff adds mining to Vampire Survivors, and it works |work=Polygon |date=June 22, 2023 |url=https://www.polygon.com/23762638/deep-rock-galactic-survivor-playtest-impressions |language=en-US |access-date=September 5, 2023 |archive-date=September 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905010746/https://www.polygon.com/23762638/deep-rock-galactic-survivor-playtest-impressions |url-status=live }} and HoloCure – Save the Fans!.{{cite web|last1=Colp|first1=Tyler|title=This free Vampire Survivors clone has one thing nobody knew it needed: Vtubers|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/this-free-vampire-survivors-clone-has-one-thing-nobody-knew-it-needed-vtubers/|publisher=PC Gamer|date=August 17, 2023|access-date=August 21, 2023|archive-date=August 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821155652/https://www.pcgamer.com/this-free-vampire-survivors-clone-has-one-thing-nobody-knew-it-needed-vtubers/|url-status=live}}

Vampire Survivors received "generally favorable" reviews for Windows according to review aggregator Metacritic; the Xbox Series X/S and iOS versions received "universal acclaim".

Ian Walker of Kotaku and Graham Smith of Rock Paper Shotgun praised the game, both comparing it to dopamine.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Ian |date=January 21, 2022 |title=Castlevania-Inspired Roguelike Is Pure Dopamine |url=https://kotaku.com/castlevania-roguelike-vampire-survivors-steam-itch-io-1848402308 |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=Kotaku |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324022345/https://kotaku.com/castlevania-roguelike-vampire-survivors-steam-itch-io-1848402308 |url-status=live }} Polygon's Nicole Carpenter noted the game's depth, stating, "no one streamer I've watched played entirely the same." Aaron Zimmerman of Ars Technica named Vampire Survivors as his pick for game of the year. Marie Dealessandri of GamesIndustry.biz also selected Vampire Survivors as her game of the year, highlighting its excellent performance on the handheld Steam Deck, which also released in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Dealessandri |first=Marie |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/vampire-survivors-games-of-the-year-2022 |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215131341/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/vampire-survivors-games-of-the-year-2022 |url-status=live }}

= Accolades =

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Award

! Category

! Result

! {{abbr|Ref(s).|References}}

style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4" | 2022

| rowspan="2" | Golden Joystick Awards

| Best Early Access Launch

| {{Nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | {{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Ali |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Vampire Survivors claims the Breakthrough Award at the Golden Joystick Awards 2022 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/vampire-survivors-claims-the-breakthrough-award-at-the-golden-joystick-awards-2022/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122204823/https://www.gamesradar.com/vampire-survivors-claims-the-breakthrough-award-at-the-golden-joystick-awards-2022/ |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |access-date=November 22, 2022 |website=GamesRadar+}}{{Cite web |last=Loveridge |first=Sam |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Here are all the Golden Joystick Awards 2022 winners |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/golden-joystick-awards-2022-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123165836/https://www.gamesradar.com/golden-joystick-awards-2022-winners/ |archive-date=November 23, 2022 |access-date=November 26, 2022 |website=GamesRadar+}}

Breakthrough Award

| {{Won}}

The Game Awards

| Best Debut Indie Game

| {{Nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite magazine |last=Harte |first=Charles |date=November 14, 2022 |title=The Full List of the 2022 Game Awards Nominees |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/11/14/the-full-list-of-the-2022-game-awards-nominees |magazine=Game Informer |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114175047/https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/11/14/the-full-list-of-the-2022-game-awards-nominees |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=November 14, 2022}}

The Steam Awards

| Best Game on the Go

| {{Nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" | {{Cite web |title=The Steam Awards |url=https://store.steampowered.com/steamawards/2022 |access-date=January 8, 2023 |website=Steam |archive-date=January 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103185057/https://store.steampowered.com/steamawards/2022 |url-status=live }}

style="text-align:center;" rowspan="14" | 2023

| rowspan="2" | New York Game Awards

| Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year

| {{Nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | {{Cite web |last=Bankhurst |first=Adam |date=January 19, 2023 |title=New York Game Awards 2023: Elden Ring Wins Two Awards as Phil Spencer Is Honored |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/new-york-game-awards-2023-elden-ring-wins-two-awards-as-phil-spencer-is-honored |access-date=January 19, 2023 |website=IGN |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118033959/https://www.ign.com/articles/new-york-game-awards-2023-elden-ring-wins-two-awards-as-phil-spencer-is-honored |url-status=live }}

Off Broadway Award for Best Indie Game

| {{Won}}

rowspan="4" | D.I.C.E. Awards

| Game of the Year

| {{Nom}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4" | {{Cite web |last=Bankhurst |first=Adam |date=February 23, 2023 |title=DICE Awards 2023 Winners: The Full List |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dice-awards-2023-winners-the-full-list |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224062310/https://www.ign.com/articles/dice-awards-2023-winners-the-full-list |archive-date=February 24, 2023 |access-date=February 23, 2023 |website=IGN}}

Action Game of the Year

| {{Won}}

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

| {{Nom}}

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

| {{Nom}}

rowspan="3" | Game Developers Choice Awards

| Game of the Year

| {{Sho|Honorable mention}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3" | {{Cite web |last=Mejia |first=Ozzie |date=January 26, 2023 |title=Elden Ring & Stray lead Game Developers Choice Awards 2023 nominees |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/133863/gdc-2023-award-nominees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127040625/https://www.shacknews.com/article/133863/gdc-2023-award-nominees |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=Shacknews}}{{Cite web |last=Beth Elderkin |date=March 22, 2023 |title='Elden Ring' Wins Game Of The Year At The 2023 Game Developers Choice Awards |url=https://gdconf.com/news/elden-ring-wins-game-year-2023-game-developers-choice-awards |website=Game Developers Choice Conference |access-date=March 25, 2023 |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324133846/https://gdconf.com/news/elden-ring-wins-game-year-2023-game-developers-choice-awards |url-status=live }}

Best Debut

| {{Nom}}

Best Design

| {{Sho|Honorable mention}}

rowspan=5 | British Academy Games Awards

| Best Game

| {{Won}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=5 | {{Cite web |date=March 30, 2023 |title=2023 BAFTA Games Awards: The Winners |url=https://www.bafta.org/games/awards/2023-nominations-winners |access-date=March 30, 2023 |publisher=BAFTA |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331014639/https://www.bafta.org/games/awards/2023-nominations-winners |url-status=live }}

| {{Nom}}

| {{Nom}}

| {{Won}}

| {{Nom}}

style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1" | 2025

| rowspan=1 | British Academy Games Awards

| Evolving Game

| {{Won}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=5 | {{Cite web |date=April 8, 2023 |title=LIVE: BAFTA Games Awards 2025 - The Winners |url=https://www.mediamole.co.uk/entertainment/gaming/news/in-full-bafta-games-awards-2025-the-winners_569792.html |access-date=April 8, 2025}}