Known as Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors, Vampire Crawlers is the very first official spin-off of the Vampire Survivors phenomenon. Released on April 21, 2026, this new title marks a departure for the franchise. The frenetic top-down action of Bullet Heaven gives way to a roguelite based on a virtual card system. It is a turn-based, first-person deckbuilder that owes its existence to a collaboration between Poncle—whose real name is Luca Galante—and the British studio Nosebleed Interactive. This studio is best known for developing the 2014 game Stider and NeoGeo Pocket Color Selection.
In theory, it’s a complicated challenge—if not a complete gamble. How do you translate the chaos of Vampire Survivors into a game where action gives way to a deckbuilder? According to the studio, the answer lies in one word: Turbo Turn. In practice, it’s a turn-based combat system designed to eliminate any downtime during battles. The player discards cards at a breakneck pace, without waiting for any animations, to create a sense of dynamism and an exponential increase in power.
The adventure takes place in dungeons, which are displayed from a first-person perspective with grid-based, tile-by-tile movement. Thus, much like in Wizardry, Eye of the Beholder, or Legend of Grimrock, the player must navigate through infested crypts armed with their custom deck of cards. This is a chance to reconnect with the iconic characters of Vampire Survivors and the game’s much-loved universe. Each card represents a weapon, ability, or spell directly inherited from Vampire Survivors. You’ll find Antonio’s whip, garlic, the cross, and even the magic books. The entire arsenal is there.
Why Should I Download Vampire Crawlers?
Since its release in April 2026, Vampire Crawlers has received excellent reviews from the gaming press and fans of this genre. According to some, it might even be the best roguelike of 2026, though other reviews have called it a bit too repetitive. That hasn’t stopped Vampire Crawlers from building a steadily growing fan base. The game has extraordinary potential, and if you’re a fan of this genre, you definitely shouldn’t miss it. For others, as it’s deeply rooted in the conventions of roguelites and virtual card games, maybe it will be a bit harder to understand.
Even though Vampire Crawlers doesn't revolutionize the deck-building formula, it manages to infuse it with an atmosphere that sets it apart from other games in the genre. The flow of a match follows a pattern familiar to fans of the genre. You start in a village that serves as a central hub, select your character—each with a starting deck focused on a specific type of weapon or power—and then venture into the dungeons to explore. Exploration, in fact, takes place tile by tile: corridors, rooms, chests to smash open, monsters to slay, and relics to uncover—everything helps boost your card deck.
At the heart of the experience lies the Turbo Turn, which is based on a combo mechanic. On each turn, the player has cards associated with a mana cost—in other words, magic. The rule is simple but powerful: you must play the cards in ascending order of cost to trigger a chain reaction, with each card amplifying the effects of the previous one. In other words, the longer the sequence, the more spectacular the damage. At the same time, special cards—called Wilds—allow you to extend these chains. After a while, the combos on the screen become so intense that everything explodes in every direction.
XP accumulated through battles allows you to level up and—as you’ve probably guessed—unlock new cards. This mirrors the gameplay of Vampire Survivors, and the famous weapon upgrades—a direct nod to the original game—make a triumphant return. You’ll need to combine the right cards and relics to unleash super-powerful versions of your deck. This lets you wipe out entire floors in just a few turns. You can also summon iconic Survivors to trigger a whole cascade of effects and really impress your opponent.
Is Vampire Crawlers Free?
No, Vampire Crawlers is not free, even if it’s sold at a much lower price than the blockbusters typically released at the end of the year or during major holidays. That said, the game offers a demo version to download for free (Xbox and Windows), allowing players to discover this official spin-off of Vampire Survivors before deciding to buy it. The game is also included in the Xbox Game Pass subscription at no extra cost.
What Operating Systems Are Compatible with Vampire Crawlers?
You can download Vampire Crawlers on many platforms, whether you're playing on a computer or a console. On Windows PCs, the game runs on Microsoft's operating system via Steam and is fully compatible with the Steam Deck, Valve's popular handheld device. As for consoles, Vampire Crawlers is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and Nintendo Switch.
What Are the Alternatives to Vampire Crawlers?
For those who aren’t fans of roguelikes or roguelites, it’s fair to say that the indie gaming world is teeming with these titles, so it’s essential to sift through them to find something you’ll enjoy. Nevertheless, for fans of the genre, there are plenty of alternatives to Vampire Crawlers.
The first is called Slay the Spire. Developed by Mega Crit and released in 2019, it plunges the player into the heart of a hellish tower filled with monsters and devious bosses. The goal is to build your deck starting with a base character, then face these enemies and collect relics with devastating powers. Blending strategy and chance, Slay the Spire challenges players to discover the various synergies between their cards. There is now a sequel titled Slay the Spire 2, which refines the original’s formula with new slayers, branching paths, and even more bosses.
When it comes to virtual card games, it’s absolutely impossible to overlook Balatro. A true phenomenon, it has been the talk of social media and forums for months thanks to its extraordinary pace and progression curve. Having been named Game of the Year on multiple occasions, it transforms the battles of traditional deckbuilders into a poker game where card combinations influence the course of the game. Players gradually build a hand of modified cards to reach ever-higher target scores. The gameplay loop is simple, yet incredibly addictive. Some even say it’s more addictive than Tetris. That’s a bit of a bold claim, but it clearly shows just how much of an impact this game has had on the world of video games.
We’ll wrap up with Monster Train 2, a game that aims to be quite original in its concept. A direct sequel to the original Monster Train released in 2020, this deckbuilder builds on the formula that made its predecessor a hit. The basic premise remains the same: the player must protect the Pyre—which is aboard a train—by fending off waves of enemies trying to reach it. Whereas the first game took us to the Underworld, this sequel reverses the direction and propels the player toward Heaven to face a titanic threat. With its new clans, five decks, and brand-new mechanics, Monster Train 2 offers a more intense experience than its predecessor.
