The bullet heaven genre, a term recently canonized by Valve as an official Steam tag in May 2026, was brought into the spotlight thanks to the release of Vampire Survivors. Yes, the Luca Galante’s studio poncle was responsible for showing the world how fun it would be if you were the one filling the whole screen in bullets. And while the studio is busy with its spin-off, the main game still has major attention from fans and critics.
However, while it is important to give credit where its’s due, it is also essential to note: Vampire Survivors wasn’t the first, and obviously won’t be the last. Many games came into existence before it, offering the same if not a deeper level of immersion and focus.
So, if you’re a fan of the genre and would like to know more, here are our picks for 10 games to play if you love Vampire Survivors.
Soulstone Survivors
Released in early access in 2022 by the developer Game Smithing Limited, Soulstone Survivors is frequently cited as a gold standard for build depth and visual polish.
The game moves away from pixel art toward a detailed 3D aesthetic, where the primary draw is an absurdly deep synergy system that allows players to stack dozens of active skills into screen-clearing combos.
Available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, it rewards those who love the power fantasy of evolving from a scrappy fighter into a literal god of destruction through satisfying power scaling and immense enemy variety.
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
A natural extension of the popular mining universe, Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor was developed by Funday Games and published by Ghost Ship Publishing, seeing its full release in late 2025.
This title differentiates itself from the crowd by adding a layer of spatial strategy; instead of fighting in a flat arena, players must actively mine through terrain to escape swarms or reach precious minerals. Available on PC and Xbox, it features four distinct dwarf classes and a mission-based structure that includes extracting through narrow maps and defending objectives like the Heartstone.
Brotato
Blobfish brought this one in 2023, releasing it on Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. And let me tell you, Brotato is the definitive choice for players who prefer a tighter, wave-based gameplay loop over large, open maps.
The game is played in short intervals, usually around 25 minutes, with frequent shop segments that allow for highly specific and eccentric builds using a massive roster of characters (or at least, as eccentric as a game centered around a potato that is armed to the teeth with sniper abilities and suddenly switching to a Red Mage-like fighter).
Its intuitive mechanics and the ability to pause or resume progress between waves have made it a favorite for handheld gaming.
20 Minutes Till Dawn
Released in 2023 by the developer flanne, 20 Minutes Till Dawn leans into a moody, Lovecraftian aesthetic with a striking dark pixel-art style. It sits in a unique mechanical spot within the genre because it often requires manual aiming and reloading, providing a more tactical experience than pure auto-shooters.
Available on PC and mobile, the game rewards intentional play and the discovery of synergies between specific heroes and their firearms across its signature 20-minute survival runs.
Halls of Torment
For those seeking a nostalgic return to the grit of 90s action-RPGs, Halls of Torment—developed by Chasing Carrots and released on PC in 2023 and mobile in 2026—is a love letter to the Diablo era.
This is not just a simple nod, either: Halls of Torment features pre-rendered sprites and a slower, more deliberate pace that emphasizes boss mechanics and persistent equipment systems over pure reaction speed, as well as an aesthetic that is reminiscent of Blizzard’s massively popular RPG.
The game focuses on deep equipment growth and a growing cast of 11 iconic classes, making it an ideal choice for players who want a “Diablo-style” bullet heaven with meaningful long-term progression.
Death Must Die
Death Must Die, a 2023 release from Realmzone Games, is often described by the community as a cross between Vampire Survivors and Hades (and you all know how much we love Hades).
Its core differentiation lies in a “God Blessing” system where different deities grant the player elemental powers, combined with high-quality loot drops that carry power between runs. The combat is more interactive than many of its peers, requiring manual aiming and the learning of boss patterns, all presented with some of the most praised pixel art in the genre.
Nordic Ashes: Survivors of Ragnarok
Developed and published by Noxfall Studios in 2024, Nordic Ashes: Survivors of Ragnarok, as the name implies, utilizes Norse mythology to create a distinct identity. The game’s standout feature is its Constellation Ability Trees, which allow players to navigate interconnected webs of non-linear upgrades for each of its 10+ characters.
Now available on PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, it offers five distinct game modes and a deep meta-progression system centered on Yggdrasil, the World Tree, ensuring a long-term grind that can exceed 50 hours of content.
Vital Shell
A breakout success from January 2026, Vital Shell was created by solo developer Marvin Wizard and captures a specific retro aesthetic inspired by the PSX and N64 era.
Starring customizable mechs, the game distinguishes itself through high production polish and a low poly jungle soundtrack that has earned it overwhelmingly positive reviews. Rather than reinventing the core formula, it focuses on perfecting the Brotato-style arena shooter with excellent execution and a unique thematic hook that appeals to fans of mecha and retro aesthetics.
Bio Prototype
Published by Emprom Games in 2023, Bio Prototype provides one of the most mechanically unique twists on the genre by casting the player as a lab experiment that evolves in real-time. Instead of traditional weapons, players collect organs and limbs and must “wire” them together to create functioning evolutionary paths; for instance, connecting a spine to a brain to trigger a specific attack.
It is a cerebral (pun intended) and strategic take on the formula that rewards deep experimentation and requires more brain power (again, pun intended) than the average horde-survival game.
Boneraiser Minions
Released in 2023 by Benis Games, Boneraiser Minions flips the script by putting the player in the role of a necromancer commanding an army. Instead of dealing damage directly, the focus is on dodging enemies while summoning and fusing a variety of minions that fight on the player’s behalf.
Its goofy, lo-fi aesthetic and chiptune soundtrack provide a charming atmosphere, while its low price point and deep unlock system make it one of the best value entries for players who enjoy “pet classes” and passive combat styles.
Final Thoughts
The Bullet Heaven genre has officially matured past its initial phase of simple imitations and is now entering an era defined by high fidelity and specific thematic pivots. The recent formalization of the genre on major platforms like Steam indicates that these games are no longer a passing trend but a permanent fixture of the indie landscape.
Moving forward, players can expect a shift toward greater polish and more innovative genre-blending, as developers realize that standing out in such a crowded field requires a strong creative voice and a commitment to distinct visual and mechanical identities.
