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Vampire Crawlers Launches to Strong Reviews, Lands on Game Pass

Early reviews credit a combo-driven redesign that captures Vampire Survivors’ power rush.

Overview

  • The spin-off, which launched Tuesday, is out on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and it arrived on Xbox Game Pass at release.
  • Poncle’s new entry turns the series into a first-person, turn-based deckbuilder where playing cards in rising mana order multiplies effects and classic weapon pairs evolve into stronger forms.
  • Critics largely praise the adaptation’s addictive loop and tactics, with early Metacritic averages in the 80s across platforms and outliers like PC Gamer’s 5/10 citing grind and pacing issues.
  • Some Switch players and reviewers report bugs, including enemies lingering on screen after defeat and one boss encounter that would not end until another enemy was summoned.
  • Mobile versions are planned later in 2026, and a $9.99 price and Game Pass access lower the barrier for newcomers who want to try the series’ familiar characters and permanent upgrades in a new format.