Summary
- Magic Survival offers a chilling reverse bullet hell experience with no energy system.
- Mages Survival provides a visually appealing Vampire Survivors-like game with 6 mages.
- Dark Survival is a solid option for fans seeking a Vampire Survivors alternative on mobile.
The reverse bullet hell or bullet heaven genre has been gaining traction recently, and much of the credit goes to Vampire Survivors. This gothic horror-inspired casual game, infused with roguelite elements, flips the classic bullet hell formula on its head, putting players in control of the chaos rather than dodging it. It's no wonder fans have embraced the thrill of becoming the bullet storm themselves.
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With its minimalist gameplay and straightforward objectives, Vampire Survivors stands out as a fun title to play, especially on mobile devices. Here, simple controls make it even more enjoyable. As is often the case with breakout hits, its success has inspired a wave of similar titles. This list highlights 10 of the best mobile games that follow in the footsteps of Vampire Survivors, offering a comparable thrill and addictive gameplay loop.
10 Magic Survival
Wipe Out The Infected Spirits
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Release Date |
31 October 2019 |
|
Platform(s) |
Android |
|
Genre(s) |
Action, Single Player, Roguelike, Battling |
|
Developer(s) |
Leme |
Magic Survival is one of the reverse bullet hell games for mobile devices that made this genre of games famous on mobile phones. Using a dark magical setting where too much use of death magic in the wizard war changed the nature of the spirits into demonic entities. As these corrupted spirits move to devour all living creatures, players are tasked with wiping them out as they appear from every direction with the help of different types of magical spells.
The game comes with no energy system, which means players can enjoy it as many times as they want to. There is no daily reward system in the game either, so it doesn’t force players to log in to the game daily, making it a chilling game for the players. The game keeps things simple as it comes with a single endless mode featuring a variety of spells and abilities that grow stronger with each passing level. The simplicity of Magic Survival is the most charming part of the game and while it might not be the best-looking game on this list, it still remains one of the most addictive Vampire Survivors-like games that can be played on a mobile phone.
9 Mages Survival
Escape The Void
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Release Date |
17 July 2022 |
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Platform(s) |
Android |
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Genre(s) |
Action, Roguelike, Casual |
|
Developer(s) |
Verdant Gremlin |
Much like Magic Survival on this list, Mages Survival uses the same theme of wizards and magic in the reverse bullet hell genre to deliver a similar experience. As players are summoned by the wizard king to clear out the invading enigma swarm from the void zone, players learn a variety of spells and find valuable treasure to fulfill the wizard king’s order.
The 2D pixel art of the game is quite beautiful, and it is pretty satisfying to see the magic spells popping off the enemies. The game offers 6 different mages, each coming with their own elemental spells that can be utilized in various ways in combat. The game consists of different modes that cater to the different demands of the players. With all being said, Mages Survival gives everything Vampire Survivors like on a mobile phone, and if players find the visuals appealing, it can be worth checking out.
8 Dark Survival
Fight Monsters Emerging From The Dark
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Release Date |
23 May 2022 |
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Platform(s) |
Android, Windows |
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Genre(s) |
Roguelike, Action, Role Playing, Casual |
|
Developer(s) |
LiberalDust |
In a reverse bullet hell-like fashion, Dark Survival comes with enemies storming at players from all sides as players move around dodging enemy attacks and killing them to survive for as long as possible. Changing the theme to dark fantasy, a level progression system where players get stronger with each kill and a variety of skills and weapons that are useful to surviving foes, Dark Survival does not add anything new to the Vampire Survivors concept.
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However, the game doesn’t try to present itself as something entirely new—it stays honest by openly embracing its identity as a Vampire Survivors-like experience. With its simple controls and accessible gameplay, Dark Survival is a great way to pass the time, be it on a subway, in the bathroom, or sitting through a boring class. For those looking for a Vampire Survivors alternative on mobile, this is definitely one of the solid options available.
7 Survivor.io
Find A Way To Survive
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Release Date |
October 31st, 2019 |
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Platform(s) |
Android, Windows, iOS |
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Genre(s) |
Zombie, Roguelike, Action, Casual |
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Developer(s) |
Habby |
.io games have exploded in popularity across mobile platforms, offering quick, accessible multiplayer experiences with simple graphics and gameplay. Riding the wave of this trend is Survivor.io—a game that takes heavy inspiration from Vampire Survivors while keeping the fast-paced, pick-up-and-play nature that defines the.io genre.
In Survivor.io, players rise as the city’s last line of defense against an endless swarm of zombies. Armed with a deep arsenal of evolving skills, the game throws players into a roguelite frenzy where each run feels fresh and unpredictable. With nonstop enemy waves and powerful bosses lurking in every corner, it’s a fast-paced survival challenge where one misstep can be your last. With easy one-hand controls, Survivor.io is a convenient pick-up-and-play game perfect for any time and place. Anyone looking for a Vampire Survivors-like experience on mobile should definitely give it a shot.
6 Grimnight Heroes: Survivors
Grimnight Heroes: Survivors
- Released
- June 15, 2022
- ESRB
- nr
The objective of Grimnight Heroes: Survivors is to defend the city till the last breath from a variety of enemies unleashed by an evil necromancer against the people of Grimnight. The retro soundtrack and 16-bit graphics of the game make the game charming and help it stand out from other Vampire Survivors clones on mobile stores.
The game features 7 different heroes, each coming with their own unique abilities and over 25 skills and 40 quests to complete. Featuring eight stages and boss enemies, the game throws players into different areas, each with different types of enemies to keep things similar throughout the gameplay. Grimnight Heroes comes with an ending. However, with multiple characters and difficulties, it ensures replayability despite not providing an endless mode. Where mobile games are infamous for a plethora of in-app purchases, Grimnight Heroes keeps it to a bare minimum, and while on paper, the game might not feel anything special, its real worth can only be found when played.
5 Pickle Pete: Survivor
Ultimate Survival Challenge
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Release Date |
24 January 2023 |
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Platform(s) |
Android, Windows |
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Genre(s) |
Role-Playing, Roguelike, Casual, Action, Cartoon |
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Developer(s) |
Frojo Apps |
Autofire, guns, more guns, and an endless supply of enemies is the formula for Pickle Pete: Survivor, a top-down arena shooter. The Vampire Survivors like game take place in a post-apocalyptic world where darkness has settled over, and players have to find a way to survive against hordes of evil forces.
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Much like other games in the genre, Pickle Pete features simple controls, making it a great way to pass the time. Its deep progression system encourages players to develop unique builds with each run, greatly enhancing replayability. With various game modes available, players can choose how they want to enjoy their experience. The game also includes plenty of intense boss fights that put players' skills to the test, making Pickle Pete a worthy title for anyone seeking games similar to Vampire Survivors.
4 Crimsonland
Survive The Onslaught
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Release Date |
10 November 2015 |
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Platform(s) |
Android, Windows |
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Genre(s) |
Monster, Roguelike, Casual, Action, Shooter, Multiplayer |
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Developer(s) |
10tons Ltd |
Crimsonland is a Vampire Survivors-like game, but with thousands of aliens, mutant lizards, and giant spiders moving towards the player with the intention of killing and devouring. The top-down shooter comes with a touch of RPG, featuring over 30 weapons and 50 perks that will help players with slaughter the abominations.
One of the key differences between Crimsonland and typical Vampire Survivors clones is that every kill in Crimsonland leaves a lasting mark, letting players witness the carnage they've unleashed as bodies pile up over time. Unlike many mobile reverse bullet hell games that rely on auto-attacks and dodging, Crimsonland emphasizes manual aiming, giving the player full control over their firepower.
The game features multiple modes, including a Quest mode with 60 missions to conquer, and various Survival modes where players fight to last as long as possible and climb the Google Play leaderboards. While Crimsonland may feel a bit slower-paced than other reverse bullet hell titles, it makes up for it with deeper strategic options and endless weapon-perk combinations. It stands out in the genre by offering a more deliberate, satisfying experience that does something fresh and unique compared to the usual Vampire Survivors-like games.
3 Brotato
The Only Potato Who Can Survive
Brotato
- Released
- June 23, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Blobfish
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
- Platform(s)
- PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
When thinking about playing as a character, a potato is one of the last things a player would have in their mind, but regardless of the absurdity, Brotato puts players in the role of a spud, capable of handling six deadly weapons waiting to be rescued by his tater mates while surviving the hostile environment.
The game is packed with action, an addictive gameplay loop, and a good soundtrack, all the while providing an amazing challenge that constantly pushes players past their limits. With dozens of characters featured in the game that come with their own unique features, along with an entire arsenal of weapons, the game allows a great deal of customization. In a genre where it is easy to produce Vampire Survivors clones, Brotato offers a genuinely fun experience, making it worth trying out.
2 20 minutes Till Dawn
For Fans Of Lovecraftian Horror
20 Minutes Till Dawn
- Released
- June 7, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- flanne
- Genre(s)
- Shooter, Indie Games, Adventure, Casual, Strategy
If anyone is a fan of roguelikes, bullet heaven or Lovecraftian horror, 20 Minutes till Dawn is a great mobile game to check out. The roguelike shoot 'em up mobile game throws players into a blank world mowed with Lovecraftian monsters ready to devour at the sight of life. The game thrives off its unique and mesmerizing art style and does a solid job at making a strong initial impression of the game.
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Just like Vampire Survivors, the concept of the game is to survive an infinite supply of enemies who get stronger with each coming wave. The game offers a wide range of weapons and upgrades that can be collected with the XP received from killing monsters. In addition, the game features different modes, like time-limited mode and endless mode, for all kinds of players. 20 minutes till dawn does a solid job at giving a good risk-to-reward ratio, keeping the gameplay cycle engaging and fun, making it a well-rounded game that’s not only great for newcomers, but also compelling enough to keep players invested for hours in this bullet heaven.
1 Hades
Battle Out Of Hell
Hades
- Released
- December 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, macOS, Nintendo Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Before Vampire Survivors existed, there were plenty of games in the reverse bullet hell genre and among those, Supergiant Game’s magnum opus, Hades, is one of the best options to play. While initially released for PC and consoles, there was no way to play the game on a mobile device, but recently, with Netflix diversifying their entertainment offerings to their subscribers, Hades is now playable on iOS devices.
Hades is only available on iOS devices. Additionally, players are required a Netflix subscription to enjoy the game on their iOS devices.
Hades is not exactly a reverse bullet hell game. However, the roguelike incorporates elements of reverse bullet hell and, with such a great game now available on mobile phones, it would be a shame not to mention it because of some nitpicks. The port of an excellent game works flawlessly on iOS devices. The mystical artstyle, great story, worthy challenge, beautiful soundtrack and excellent characters make up for a one-of-a-kind game to play on a mobile phone and a must-try for fans of Vampire Survivors if they own an iOS device.
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