Why Vampire Survivors-Likes keep tearing me away from games like Battlefield 6

Before I held a controller in my hand, and long before I had my own game console, I remember watching my dad start up Battlefield 1942 on his old work laptop for the first time. I must have been about six or seven at the time, but I distinctly remember hearing the bombast Battlefield menu music and get hooked right away.

A few years later – and with a lot more gaming experience under my belt – I gave Battlefield 2142 go to my cousin I was blown away again, now fully able to understand what was actually going on on the screen. Since that moment I have been an avid Battlefield fan.

Naturally, I was incredibly excited Battlefield 6. I had speculated endlessly about this since the announcement, I watched every leak and rumor before the release, and I jumped into Battlefield 6 Bait the other one I could. That enthusiasm carried over to Battlefield 6s full release a few weeks ago. But while I love my time with the military shooter, there's a whole other genre of game that keeps pulling me away.

Vampire Survivor was tailor made for my brain

I was a little late Vampire Survivor party. While much of the gaming industry had been buzzing about it since its February 2022 release, I didn't get the chance to play it until December of that year. But the second I touched it, I knew it was the end of almost anything and everything else I had going on.

Vampire Survivor was far from the first roguelike I'd played in December 2022, but it sank its teeth into me more than anyone had before, including even the juggernauts that Hades. What to put Vampire Survivor above the rest for me was its constant sense of progression. Every enemy killed awards gems, every gem moves you one step closer to leveling up, and every level up rewards you with a selection of unique weapons and upgrades that ensure no two runs are exactly the same.

Within days I had become completely addicted Vampire Survivorlargely because of that core loop. I spent every lunch break playing “just one more round”, I played all night after work, I played it in bed until 2am. If I had the “top” 30 minutes, there was a 99% chance I booted up Vampire Survivor.

The constant sense of progression at the heart of Vampire Survivor gave me something my brain was obviously craving at the time. And while it did disrupt my daily schedule a bit, it also gave me a sense of comfort that very few games have managed.

A full moon can't last forever

Flash forward a few years later, and I'm not nearly as obsessed Vampire Survivor as I once was. I still jump in occasionally on flights or when a new crossover update is released, but it's rare that I play multiple rounds in a row.

I have also kept a close eye on the emergence of Vampire Survivor-likes in recent years. For the unaware, these games usually take the core of the gaming loop Vampire Survivor (the element I was most obsessed with) and give it a new spin and add some unique mechanics.

But while there have been some very fun ones Vampire Survivor-like over the years, sort of Bro tato and Halls of Tormentnone have stuck with me like the original did. That is, until now.

2025 is officially the year of survivors who like vampires

In recent months there has been a dramatic increase in tributes Vampire Survivor-likes. Developer Vedinad's Megabank was the first one that really caught my eye. A kind of 3D Vampire Survivor with a little off Risk of rain 2 mixed in for good measure, Megabank was released back in September and became an overnight sensation, one that I was totally blown away by.

I fell for Megabonk, Hook, Line and Sinker

After just a few minutes with MegabankI could feel the old itch in my brain re-emerge, then immediately become scratchy. Just like Vampire Survivor, Megabank delivered the constant sense of progression that I obviously still longed for, not only in its gameplay and moment-to-moment leveling system, but its meta-progression as well, with a vast array of characters, weapons and items all stimulating continued play.

For a good week or so my life was Megabankpp. But Megabanks reign over my brain and time came to an abrupt end in October. It had to make way for one of my new favorite games of all time.

Now the Ball X Pit is truly tailored for me

Released just two days before my birthday, Ball X Pit felt like it was sent from above and delivered right to my door. Developed by Kenny Sun, Ball X Pit takes Vampire Survivor' gem-based leveling system and graciously integrates it into an incredibly addictive experience Break-out-like experience.

But what really matters Ball X Pit apart from the amount, at least for me, is that there is a base building component. During a run, players find blueprints, and once back on the surface, they use those blueprints to construct buildings that grant new characters and permanent upgrades.

In the months leading up to Megabanks release, I was hyper-fixated on villainous base builders. The king watches, Release Duchyand 9 kings all make my personal top 10 list this year. Ball X Pit basically takes all of my favorite elements from my favorite indie games of the last few years and merges them into a very polished, content-rich experience that I can't stop playing.

Battlefield 6: RedSec begs for my attention right now, but I can't hear it over the sound of my Frozen Flame/Lightning Rod combo bouncing off the walls.

Released

10 October 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-App Purchases, User Interaction

Developer

Battlefield Studios