Before I held a controller in my hand, and long before I had a video game console of my own, I remember seeing my Dad boot up Battlefield 1942 on his old work laptop for the first time. I must have been about six or seven at the time, but I distinctly remember hearing that bombastic Battlefield menu music and being instantly hooked.
A few years later – and with much more gaming experience under my belt – I gave Battlefield 2142 a go at my cousin's. I was blown away once again, now fully able to comprehend what was actually going on on-screen. Since that moment, I've been an avid Battlefield fan.
Naturally, I was incredibly excited for Battlefield 6. I had speculated about it endlessly here since its announcement, I pored over every leak and rumor before release, and I hopped into the Battlefield 6 Beta the second I could. That enthusiasm carried over to Battlefield 6's full release a few weeks ago. But while I'm loving my time with the military shooter, there's an entirely different genre of games that keeps pulling me away.
Vampire Survivors Was Tailor-Made For My Brain
I was a little late to the Vampire Survivors party. While a good portion of the gaming industry had been gushing about it since its February 2022 release, I didn't get the chance to play it until December of that year. But the second I touched it, I knew it was game over for just about everything and anything else I had going on.
Vampire Survivors was far from the first roguelike I had played back in December 2022, but it sunk its teeth into me more than any had before, including even juggernauts like Hades. What put Vampire Survivors above the rest for me was its constant sense of progression. Every slain enemy rewards gems, every gem moves you one step close to leveling up, and every level up rewards you with an assortment of unique weapons and upgrades that ensure no two runs are exactly the same.
Within days, I had become fully addicted to Vampire Survivors, largely because of that core loop. I'd spend every lunch break playing "just one more round," I'd play all night after work, I'd play it in bed until 2am. If I had a "spare" 30 minutes, there was a 99% chance I was booting up Vampire Survivors.
The constant sense of progression at the heart of Vampire Survivors gave me something my brain clearly craved back then. And while it admittedly disrupted my day-to-day schedule a little, it also brought me a sense of comfort that very few games have managed to.
A Full Moon Can't Last Forever
Flash forward a few years later, and I'm not nearly as obsessed with Vampire Survivors as I once was. I still hop in every now and then on flights or when a new crossover update drops, but it's rare for me to play several rounds in a row.
I've also kept a close eye on the rise of Vampire Survivors-likes over the last few years. For those unaware, these games usually take the core gameplay loop of Vampire Survivors (the element I was most obsessed with) and give it a fresh spin, and add some unique mechanics of their own.
But while there have been some very fun Vampire Survivors-likes over the years, like Brotato and Halls of Torment, none have hooked me like the original did. That is, until now.
2025 Is Officially The Year of Vampire Survivors-Likes
Over the last few months, there's been a dramatic uptick in acclaimed Vampire Survivors-likes. Developer Vedinad's Megabonk was the first that really caught my eye. A sort of 3D Vampire Survivors with a bit of Risk of Rain 2 mixed in for good measure, Megabonk released back in September and became an overnight sensation, one that I was fully captivated by.
I Fell for Megabonk, Hook, Line, and Sinker
After just a few minutes with Megabonk, I could feel that old itch in my brain resurface, and then immediately get scratched. Just like Vampire Survivors, Megabonk delivered that constant sense of progression I apparently still craved, not just in its moment-to-moment gameplay and leveling systems, but its meta progression as well, with a vast array of characters, weapons, and items all incentivizing continued play.
For a good week or so, my life was Megabonk's. But Megabonk's reign over my brain and time came to an abrupt end in October. It had to make way for one of my new favorite games of all time.
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor also released a few months ago, but I haven't had the chance to hop in just yet.
Now, Ball X Pit Really Is Tailor-Made For Me
Released just two days before my birthday, Ball X Pit felt like it was sent from above and delivered straight to my doorstep. Developed by Kenny Sun, Ball X Pit takes Vampire Survivors' gem-based level-up system and integrates it graciously into an incredibly addictive Breakout-like experience.
But what really sets Ball X Pit apart from the crowd, at least for me, is that there's a base-building component. During a run, players find blueprints, and once they're back up on the surface, they use those blueprints to construct buildings that provide new characters and permanent upgrades.
In the months leading up to Megabonk's release, I was hyperfixated on roguelike base-builders. The King Is Watching, Drop Duchy, and 9 Kings are all making my personal top 10 list this year. Ball X Pit essentially takes all of my favorite elements from my favorite indie games of the last few years and merges them into one very well-polished, content-rich experience that I cannot stop playing.
Battlefield 6: RedSec is begging for my attention right now, but I can't hear it over the sound of my Frozen Flame/Lightning Rod combo bouncing off the walls.
Battlefield 6
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- October 10, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-App Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Battlefield Studios
- Publisher(s)
- EA
