If you have been hooked on Vampire Survivors and want more games with that same addictive loop of mowing down endless waves of enemies, you are in the right place. I have spent hundreds of hours testing bullet heaven games to find the best games like Vampire Survivors available in 2026. Whether you play on PC, console, or mobile, this guide covers every worthy alternative.
The “survivors-like” genre has exploded since Vampire Survivors launched in 2022. Dozens of developers have put their own spin on the formula: auto-attacking, leveling up, building ridiculous weapon combos, and trying to survive as long as possible. Some stick close to the original template, while others add entirely new mechanics that make them feel fresh and distinct.
In this guide, I break down the top survivors-like games by category so you can find exactly what fits your playstyle. I cover platform availability for each game, whether it is free, and what makes each one stand out from the crowd. Every game on this list is one I have personally played, and I am not recommending anything I would not play myself.
Before we get to the full list, let me answer the question that brought you here: Brotato is the closest game to Vampire Survivors, featuring a similar fast-paced top-down arena experience where you slay hordes of enemies bullet heaven-style. For a more detailed breakdown with 12 total recommendations, keep reading.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Must-Play Games Like Vampire Survivors
Short on time? These three games are the ones our team keeps coming back to after testing dozens of survivors-like titles:
Brotato is the closest thing to Vampire Survivors with a twist. Instead of a vampire, you play as a potato armed with up to six weapons at once. The wave-based arena format, upgrade choices between rounds, and sheer chaos of enemies flooding the screen make it feel instantly familiar. Available on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and mobile.
Halls of Torment blends the auto-shooter formula with old-school Diablo aesthetics. The pixel-art dungeon crawling visuals, deep build variety, and permanent progression system have earned it a reputation as one of the best games in the entire bullet heaven genre. You can play it on PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile.
20 Minutes Till Dawn delivers the same horde survival gameplay in shorter, tighter runs. It is free to play on mobile and easy to pick up on PC, making it the best entry point if you want to try the genre without spending money. The Lovecraftian art style gives it a unique identity too.
Best Bullet Heaven Games Like Vampire Survivors in 2026
The games below are organized by what makes each one special. I have played every title on this list for at least 10 hours, and most of them for far longer. Each entry includes platform info, what makes it stand out, and who it is best for. All of these share the core auto-shooter DNA that makes the survivors-like genre so hard to put down.
Closest Alternatives to Vampire Survivors
These games stick closest to the original formula. If you want something that feels like more Vampire Survivors with a different coat of paint, start here.
Brotato
Brotato is the game most players recommend when someone asks for games like Vampire Survivors, and for good reason. You control a heavily armed potato in top-down arenas, automatically attacking waves of enemies while collecting experience and choosing upgrades between rounds.
The biggest difference from Vampire Survivors is the weapon system. You can equip up to six weapons simultaneously and combine them in wild ways. A run might see you wielding a nuclear launcher alongside a boxing glove and a handful of throwing knives. The build variety is massive, and each weapon type interacts differently with your stat upgrades.
Brotato uses a wave-based structure instead of continuous play. Each wave lasts about 60 seconds, and you get to shop for items and weapons between rounds. This gives you breathing room to plan your build, which some players prefer over the nonstop pace of Vampire Survivors. The community on r/survivorslikes consistently praises Brotato for hitting the sweet spot between accessibility and depth.
Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, Xbox, iOS, Android
Best for: Players who want the closest Vampire Survivors feel with more build variety
Death Must Die
If you have seen screenshots of Vampire Survivors and thought “I wish this looked more like a classic RPG,” Death Must Die was made for you. It uses a pixel-art dungeon crawler style that feels like a lost Super Nintendo game, but the gameplay is pure bullet heaven.
You descend through dungeon floors, slaying thousands of enemies while your character automatically attacks. The progression system runs deep, with a full skill tree that persists between runs. Each of the playable characters has distinct abilities and playstyles, which keeps the game feeling fresh after dozens of hours.
Where Death Must Die sets itself apart is the narrative layer. There is an actual story with gods, blessings, and character interactions woven into the runs. It is not just about surviving waves. There is a reason you are fighting through these dungeons, and the lore gives your runs a sense of purpose that most games in this genre lack. GameSpot specifically highlighted Death Must Die for having “probably the closest visual style to Vampire Survivors” while adding genuine RPG depth.
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Best for: Players who want RPG depth and story layered into their bullet heaven gameplay
Best Visual Style and Atmosphere
Visuals matter more than you might think in a genre where you stare at the screen for hours while hundreds of projectiles fill the display. These games deliver standout aesthetics alongside solid gameplay.
Halls of Torment
Halls of Torment takes the auto-shooter formula and wraps it in the dark, gothic pixel art of classic Diablo. The visuals are immediately striking. Fog rolls across dungeon floors, enemies shamble toward you in huge swarms, and the whole thing looks like a 1996 PC game in the best possible way.
The gameplay loop will feel natural to any Vampire Survivors player. You pick a character, enter a zone, and survive as long as possible while collecting experience gems and choosing upgrades. But Halls of Torment adds permanent progression through quests and a shop between runs, giving you clear long-term goals beyond surviving individual runs.
What really sold me is the build depth. Each character has unique traits, and the upgrade combinations create dramatically different playstyles. One run might focus on area-of-effect burn damage, while the next revolves around summoning minions to do your dirty work. The community on Reddit consistently ranks Halls of Torment as the best game in the survivors-like genre, and after 60-plus hours of playtime, I agree it deserves that reputation.
Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, iOS, Android
Best for: Players who want deep builds and retro Diablo aesthetics in their bullet heaven games
Soulstone Survivors
Soulstone Survivors goes for a darker, more polished 2D look compared to Vampire Survivors. The character art, enemy designs, and spell effects all feel more detailed and atmospheric. If Vampire Survivors is a Game Boy game, Soulstone Survivors is a Game Boy Advance game in terms of visual ambition.
The combat feels heavier and more impactful. Each swing of a sword or blast of magic has weight behind it, and the screen can get absolutely packed with enemies and projectile effects. The game leans into the RPG side of things with skill trees, passive abilities, and character-specific mechanics that make each playthrough feel meaningfully different.
One feature I appreciate is the sheer number of characters available. Each one genuinely plays differently, and unlocking new characters through achievements gives you a reason to keep experimenting long after you have beaten the final bosses. The game also features multiple difficulty modes and challenge runs that keep things interesting for veteran players.
Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
Best for: Players who want more polished visuals and a heavier combat feel in a survivors-like game
Free Games Like Vampire Survivors
Not everyone wants to spend money to try a new genre. These three games are completely free and still deliver a quality survivors-like experience. I have recommended these to friends who were curious about bullet heaven games, and every one of them came back hooked.
20 Minutes Till Dawn
20 Minutes Till Dawn condenses the Vampire Survivors formula into tight 10 to 20 minute runs. You pick a character, choose a weapon, and try to survive against waves of Lovecraftian monsters in a dark, moody arena. The game is free on mobile and available on Steam for PC.
The shorter run time is a genuine advantage. It makes 20 Minutes Till Dawn perfect for quick gaming sessions on a phone during a commute or a break. Each run feels complete and satisfying, even if you only have 15 minutes to play. This is the game I open when I am waiting for something and need a quick hit of that survivors-like dopamine.
The upgrade system is streamlined but still offers real choices. Do you boost your fire rate, increase your damage, or add elemental effects? The decisions feel meaningful within the shorter run format. Multiple characters with different starting weapons keep the game interesting over time, and the Lovecraftian monster designs are genuinely creepy.
Platforms: PC (Steam), iOS, Android (free on mobile)
Best for: Players who want a free, fast-paced survivors-like game for quick sessions
HoloCure – Save the Fans!
HoloCure is a free fan-made game based on Hololive VTubers, and it is shockingly good. The production quality rivals many paid games in the bullet heaven genre. Every character is a VTuber with unique weapons and abilities, the pixel art is excellent, and the gameplay loop is as addictive as anything else on this list.
What makes HoloCure special is the attention to detail. Each character has multiple weapon options, special abilities that reference their real-world streaming personas, and upgrade paths that feel thoughtfully designed rather than thrown together. The game receives regular updates with new characters and content, keeping it fresh months after your first run.
The fact that HoloCure is completely free makes it an easy recommendation. Even if you know nothing about Hololive, the gameplay stands on its own merits. It is one of the best free roguelite games available right now, period. The developer clearly poured real passion into this project, and it shows in every sprite and animation.
Platforms: PC (free on Steam and itch.io)
Best for: Players who want a high-quality free bullet heaven game with tons of content
Magic Survival
Magic Survival actually predates Vampire Survivors and is often credited as one of the inspirations for it. This mobile-only game has a minimalist visual style but delivers the same core loop: move around, auto-attack enemies, collect experience, choose upgrades, and survive as long as you can.
The magic system is where Magic Survival shines. You combine different spell types to create powerful synergies, and discovering which combinations work best is half the fun. The game is perfect for one-handed play on a phone, which makes it ideal for casual mobile gaming sessions when you do not want to think too hard.
While the visuals are simple, the gameplay depth is real. There are dozens of spells to unlock, multiple difficulty modes, and enough build variety to keep you experimenting for weeks. If you want a pure, no-frills survivors-like experience on your phone, Magic Survival is hard to beat.
Platforms: iOS, Android (free)
Best for: Mobile players who want a pure, lightweight bullet heaven game
Unique Twists on the Survivors-Like Formula
These games take the core survivors-like concept and add mechanics or settings that make them feel genuinely different. If you love Vampire Survivors but want something that breaks the mold, check these out.
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor takes the beloved co-op mining shooter and transforms it into a single-player auto-shooter. You play as one of four dwarf classes from the original game, mining resources and fighting off alien bug swarms in procedurally generated cave systems.
The mining mechanic adds a strategic layer that other bullet heaven games do not have. You need to balance fighting enemies with collecting enough minerals to complete objectives and extract before the swarm overwhelms you. The caves themselves become part of the strategy, as you can use narrow tunnels to funnel enemies into kill zones.
Fans of the original Deep Rock Galactic will appreciate the faithful translation of each class’s personality and abilities. The Gunner mows down waves, the Engineer sets up turrets, the Scout zips around with a grappling hook, and the Driller carves through terrain. Each class feels distinct and rewarding in ways that go beyond simple stat differences.
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Best for: Deep Rock Galactic fans and players who want strategic depth alongside horde survival
Tiny Rogues
Tiny Rogues combines the bullet heaven formula with dungeon crawling and room-by-room exploration. Instead of one open arena, you move through randomly generated rooms filled with enemies, treasure, shops, and bosses. This structure gives each run a sense of progression that feels more like a traditional roguelite.
The weapon system is deep and creative. There are dozens of weapons, each with unique firing patterns and upgrade paths. Finding a weapon that synergizes with your current build feels rewarding, and the game does a good job of presenting interesting choices at every upgrade screen.
Tiny Rogues also features proper boss fights, which is something many survivors-like games lack. Each floor ends with a boss that has attack patterns you need to learn and dodge. These encounters break up the horde survival gameplay and give you something to work toward in each run. If you enjoy the moment-to-moment combat of Vampire Survivors but want more structure, Tiny Rogues is a great fit.
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Best for: Players who want dungeon-crawling structure and boss fights alongside auto-shooter chaos
Nordic Ashes
Nordic Ashes draws on Norse mythology for its setting, characters, and abilities. You play as Viking-inspired warriors fighting through frozen landscapes and mythological realms. The art style is clean and distinctive, with a cool color palette that makes the fire and ice effects really pop on screen.
The game stands out with its constellation-based skill tree. Instead of a simple list of upgrades, your choices connect across a star map, and certain combinations unlock powerful bonus abilities. Planning your path through the constellation adds a layer of strategy that I really enjoy, and it makes each run feel purposeful.
Multiple difficulty tiers keep the challenge scaling as you improve. The early levels teach you the basics, but the later stages demand real build optimization and quick movement. If you want a survivors-like game that respects your time and your skill, Nordic Ashes delivers on both fronts.
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Best for: Players who enjoy Norse mythology themes and strategic skill tree planning
Ball x Pit
Ball x Pit is one of the newer entries in the survivors-like space, and it brings a physics-based twist to the formula that feels genuinely fresh. Instead of the standard top-down auto-shooter, you launch balls into a pit where they bounce off surfaces and smash through enemies in chaotic, satisfying ways.
The physics engine makes every run feel different. Balls ricochet unpredictably, chain reactions happen when you least expect them, and optimizing your launch angles becomes a skill you develop over time. It is the kind of game where you catch yourself saying “just one more run” at 2 AM.
Ball x Pit has been gaining popularity fast on r/survivorslikes, with players praising its unique take on the genre. If you have played all the standard recommendations and want something that genuinely plays differently, this is the one to try.
Platforms: PC (Steam)
Best for: Players who want a physics-based twist on the survivors-like formula
Yet Another Zombie Survivors
Yet Another Zombie Survivors does not pretend to be anything other than what it is: a straightforward zombie-themed bullet heaven game. And that honesty is refreshing. You pick a survivor, fight through zombie hordes in city environments, and unlock new characters and weapons as you play.
The game gets the basics right. Enemy density ramps up at a satisfying pace, weapon upgrades feel powerful, and the controls are tight. It does not reinvent the wheel, but the zombie apocalypse setting gives it a different flavor from the fantasy and sci-fi themes common in the genre.
Co-op multiplayer support is a big selling point. You can team up with friends to take on zombie waves together, which is something surprisingly few games like Vampire Survivors offer. If you have been looking for a co-op bullet heaven experience, this is one of the better options available right now.
Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
Best for: Players who want a simple, solid survivors-like game with co-op multiplayer
How to Choose the Right Survivors-Like Game for You
With so many bullet heaven games available in 2026, picking the right one comes down to a few key factors. Here is how I would approach the decision based on what matters most to you.
Platform Availability
This is the first filter. Not every game is on every platform, and playing on your preferred device matters. Here is a quick breakdown of where you can play the top recommendations:
PC (Steam): Every single game on this list is available on PC. If you game primarily on PC, you have access to the full catalog of survivors-like games. Steam also has the largest community and the most user reviews to help you decide.
Nintendo Switch: Brotato, Halls of Torment, Soulstone Survivors, and Yet Another Zombie Survivors are all playable on Switch. Halls of Torment runs particularly well on the portable screen, and the pick-up-and-play nature of the genre suits the Switch perfectly.
Mobile (iOS and Android): 20 Minutes Till Dawn, Brotato, Halls of Torment, and Magic Survival are your best mobile options. Magic Survival is mobile-exclusive and completely free, making it a must-have for phone gamers interested in the genre.
Xbox and PlayStation: Console support for this genre is growing. Brotato and Halls of Torment have made the jump to Xbox and PlayStation, and more ports are being released regularly. Check each game’s store page for the latest availability.
Free vs Paid Options
If you want to try the genre without spending money, start with 20 Minutes Till Dawn on mobile, HoloCure on PC, or Magic Survival on mobile. All three are free and deliver full gameplay experiences, not demos or time-limited trials.
The paid games on this list are generally inexpensive and frequently go on sale. If you enjoy the free options and want more depth, Brotato and Halls of Torment are the best paid picks. Both offer hundreds of hours of content for a reasonable entry fee.
Single-Player vs Co-op
Most survivors-like games are single-player experiences focused on personal progression and build optimization. If co-op multiplayer is important to you, Yet Another Zombie Survivors is the strongest option on this list with its built-in multiplayer support.
Vampire Survivors itself added co-op support, and a few other games in the genre are starting to follow suit. Check the community forums on Reddit for each game if multiplayer is a priority for you.
Session Length and Commitment
Some of these games are designed for quick bursts, while others demand longer runs. 20 Minutes Till Dawn caps runs at 20 minutes, making it perfect for short sessions between other activities. Brotato uses wave-based rounds that last about 30 to 45 minutes total.
Games like Halls of Torment and Soulstone Survivors can have runs that go 30 to 60 minutes depending on how long you survive. If you prefer shorter sessions, look for games with built-in time limits or wave structures rather than open-ended survival modes.
Difficulty and Progression Depth
If you want a deep progression system with lots to unlock, Halls of Torment and Death Must Die offer the most content. Both feature persistent upgrade trees that give you long-term goals beyond individual runs, and both can easily consume 100-plus hours if you want to see everything.
For a more casual experience, Brotato and 20 Minutes Till Dawn are easier to pick up and play. The difficulty curves are gentler, and you can make meaningful progress in a single session without feeling like you need to study build guides first.
If you want a real challenge, Nordic Ashes and Tiny Rogues scale up in difficulty more aggressively than the rest. Their higher difficulty modes will test your build optimization and movement skills in ways that even late-game Vampire Survivors does not.
FAQs
What games are like Vampire Survivors?
The best games like Vampire Survivors include Brotato (closest alternative with multi-weapon builds), Halls of Torment (retro Diablo visuals with deep progression), 20 Minutes Till Dawn (free Lovecraftian horde survival), Soulstone Survivors (polished 2D combat), Death Must Die (pixel-art RPG with story), HoloCure (free fan game with high production quality), and Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (mining and bug-slaying twist). All of these share the core bullet heaven formula of auto-attacking enemies, leveling up, and choosing upgrades to survive endless waves.
Which is the no. 1 survival game?
In the bullet heaven subgenre, Vampire Survivors is widely considered the number one game due to its influence in creating an entirely new genre. Among alternatives, Brotato and Halls of Torment are the most highly rated by both critics and players. Halls of Torment frequently wins community polls as the best survivors-like game overall, while Brotato is considered the most accessible entry point for new players.
What style of game is Vampire Survivors?
Vampire Survivors is a roguelite bullet heaven game, also called a survivors-like or reverse bullet hell. In this style, you control a character that automatically attacks enemies while you focus on movement and positioning. You collect experience from defeated enemies to level up, choose weapon upgrades and passive abilities, and try to survive endless waves that grow increasingly intense. Runs typically last 15 to 30 minutes.
What is the best vampire game ever?
Vampire Survivors is one of the most popular and influential vampire-themed games ever made, having won multiple awards including a BAFTA. For fans of traditional vampire games, the Castlevania series remains legendary. In the bullet heaven space specifically, Vampire Survivors and its best alternatives like Brotato and Halls of Torment define the genre.
Are there any free games like Vampire Survivors?
Yes, there are several excellent free alternatives. 20 Minutes Till Dawn is free on mobile with tight 20-minute runs and Lovecraftian themes. HoloCure is a completely free PC game with VTuber characters and surprisingly deep gameplay. Magic Survival is a free mobile game that actually predates Vampire Survivors and inspired parts of its design. All three deliver full experiences without requiring any payment.
What is the difference between roguelike and roguelite?
In the context of survivors-like games, the distinction matters. Roguelikes feature permadeath with no progression between runs, while roguelites allow you to carry over some upgrades or unlocks. Vampire Survivors and most games like it are roguelites since you unlock new characters, weapons, and permanent upgrades over time. This meta-progression is a big part of what makes the genre so addictive compared to pure roguelikes.
Final Thoughts on the Best Games Like Vampire Survivors
The bullet heaven genre keeps growing, and 2026 is shaping up to be another strong year for survivors-like games. Whether you start with the free options like 20 Minutes Till Dawn and HoloCure, or jump straight into the deep end with Halls of Torment and Brotato, you are going to find something that scratches that same itch.
My personal recommendation after playing all of these: if you only try one game from this list, make it Brotato. It is the closest to Vampire Survivors while still feeling fresh, and the six-weapon system creates builds that are absolutely wild. Pair it with Halls of Torment for a darker, more atmospheric experience, and you will have hundreds of hours of horde survival gameplay ahead of you.