What is Vampire Survivors?
We live in an era of predatory practices when it comes to video games. Whether it’s free mobile games or full 60$ triple-A products, battle passes, loot boxes and microtransactions are a common sight. Then comes Vampire Survivors.
The game is available on PC, phones, and through the Xbox Game Pass, and it is addictive. So, so addictive. You may not see the appeal by just looking at screenshots and videos. Trust me, at first, I didn’t either. However, once you start playing, it’s very, very hard to put down.
It makes my ADHD feel real good. pic.twitter.com/hKHuH98b8n
— David (@Tyjet) January 21, 2023
The more you play, the more unlocks you’ll get. New characters, buffs and improvements… Like most addictive mobile games, you’ll unlock everything using coins. However, unlike other games, you cannot buy coins with real money. In fact, I haven’t found any way to spend money within the app. Not even a “donation” button.
The price of Vampire Survivors
If you want to play Vampire Survivors for free, there are a couple of options. You can download it on iOS or Android, and even play the web version on itch.io without having to spend a dime. It’s also on the Xbox Game Pass. There are no option to buy anything in game with real money.
However, even if you don’t mind spending money on the game, its price on Steam is less than the price of the coffee I bought to write this article. Expect to spend 4.99$ at full price.
The Appeal of Vampire Survivors
And here comes the main appeal of Vampire Survivors: the game respects its players. It’s made to look like a retro game, but also made to feel like one. Video games used to be simple: you buy it, you play it. No extra costs, no extra hassle, much like games such as Death Stranding and The Stanley Parable.
Vampire Survivors doesn’t only use the aesthetics of retro games to its advantage. Instead, it also offers you a complete experience. You can rest assured that what you paid for (or got for free) doesn’t come with strings attached.
I want more games like this to do well. I’m tired of microtransactions, battle passes, dark patterns and other practices meant to maximize gamers’ FOMO. For the sake of the gaming industry, if you are even a little bit interested in this game, at least download it for free on your phone. And if you love it, buy it on PC and Mac! You won’t regret it.
