Vampire Crawlers Review: A Fresh Take on Vampire Survivors' Addictive Formula

First we survive, then we crawl. The latest game from poncle, the studio behind the genre-defining Vampire Survivors, introduces a spin-off in a completely different genre that scratches the same itches in new and exciting ways. Vampire Crawlers is a first-person dungeon crawler with roguelike and card-battler elements, offering both surface-level simplicity and hidden depth.

What Is Vampire Crawlers?

At its core, Vampire Crawlers is a turn-based, card-driven dungeon crawler where players explore procedurally generated dungeons, defeat enemies, and battle bosses—all while building and customizing their decks. The game retains the addictive progression loop of Vampire Survivors but shifts from real-time survival to strategic card combat.

The game’s core loop follows this structure:

• Exploration: Traverse a world map, enter dungeons, and open chests to uncover rewards.
• Combat: Engage in turn-based battles where players play cards to attack, defend, and buff their characters.
• Progression: Defeat bosses at the end of each dungeon, level up using blue gems, and return to your home base to unlock new characters, upgrade stats, and refine your deck.

Gameplay and Combat Mechanics

The combat system revolves around Mana management and card sequencing. Each ability, attack, or power-up is represented as a card, and players must strategically play them in the right order to overcome enemies. The game features familiar Vampire Survivors elements like:

• Characters: Pasqualina, Mortaccio, Antonio, and the rest of the Vampire Survivors cast return with their own unique cards.
• Weapons and Abilities: Classic attacks like Runetracer, Cherry Bomb, Lightning Ring, Eight the Sparrow, Phiera Der Tuphello, and Santa Water are all present in card form.
• Modifiers: Cards can be enhanced with mods to increase projectile count, attack duration, or strength levels.

Players can increase their hand size, reduce Mana costs, or duplicate cards through level-ups and upgrades. For those who prefer a more relaxed experience, the Play All button allows for automated turn resolution, similar to Vampire Survivors’ auto-attacks.

Deck-Building and Customization

The true depth of Vampire Crawlers lies in its deck-building mechanics. Players can mix and match cards to create powerful synergies, such as:

• Combining high-damage attack cards with buffs for sustained output.
• Using ability cards to enhance weapon effects, like increasing the duration of Lightning Ring or the spread of Cherry Bomb.
• Unlocking new characters, each with unique starting decks and playstyles.

While some encounters may feel repetitive, the satisfaction comes from progression and customization. Players are rewarded for experimenting with different card combinations, unlocking powerful upgrades, and refining their strategies over time.

Visuals and Atmosphere

Vampire Crawlers adopts a first-person perspective, immersing players in its dark, pixel-art world. The game retains the Vampire Survivors aesthetic but shifts to a more interactive, tactical combat style. Enemies and abilities are represented with vibrant sprites, creating a visually engaging experience that rewards players with constant action.

Who Should Play Vampire Crawlers?

This game is perfect for fans of:

• Roguelikes and deck-builders looking for a fresh twist.
• Vampire Survivors players eager to explore a new gameplay style while keeping familiar elements.
• Gamers who enjoy strategic, turn-based combat with deep customization options.

Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the genre, Vampire Crawlers offers an addictive and satisfying experience that’s easy to pick up but hard to put down.