A sudden hit in 2022, Vampire Survivors grabbed attention with its sticky loop, dead-simple controls, one-dollar price tag. While plenty have copied pieces since then, those who like such things kept eyes peeled for what creator Poncle would do next. Last November brought whispers of something new: Vampire Crawlers, a twist on the original – this time swapping survival waves for card-driven runs through dark halls. Fresh details arrived today, peeling back part of the curtain at last.
Not what you’d expect from a turn-based fight – Vampire Crawlers keeps things moving. Instead of sitting through animation after animation, actions queue up behind the scenes. The team at Poncle built it so choices chain together, cutting idle moments between moves. Combat gains speed, yet stays sharp, swapping sluggish pauses for quick bursts. Cards evolve when touched by gem-powered upgrades, shifting how they play out. Some boost harm dealt. Others reshape weapons entirely. Each tweak changes rhythm, flow, outcome. A different pulse runs under every run.
A fresh video series kicks off by showing Vampire Crawlers in motion. Episode one pulls you straight into movement and behavior, no warnings needed. Each follow-up piece peels back layers on how they function inside the game world. Mechanics emerge slowly, frame by frame. The title? “Let’s Explore Vampire Crawlers.” Not a hint of exaggeration, just clear views. One segment leads to the next, building understanding without rushing. Seeing them crawl changes how you perceive their role
Vampire Crawlers shows up across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC, iOS, and Android by 2026. A free demo drops on Xbox and Steam during Steam Next Fest – February 23 marks that date.