Developer Poncle has officially unveiled Vampire Crawlers, a new spinoff to the indie sensation Vampire Survivors. Announced during the recent Xbox Partner Preview event, the game is scheduled to launch in 2026 across most platforms, with confirmation that it will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one. Unlike the original game’s 2D top-down survival mechanics, Vampire Crawlers introduces a “more tangible, almost 3D world” that focuses on dungeon exploration, marking a significant stylistic shift for the series.
Deck-Building Gameplay and Familiar Faces
While the aesthetic has changed, the game retains the franchise’s core identity by bringing back familiar characters, enemies, and items. The primary twist lies in the gameplay: Vampire Crawlers adopts a deck-building format. Players will choose from a roster of “Crawlers” and construct powerful decks to navigate a world map, collecting chests and battling enemies along the way. This experimental approach allows players to create the series’ signature “busted builds” through card synergy rather than automated weapon upgrades.
Not a Sequel, But the First of Many
Poncle founder Luca Galante clarified that Vampire Crawlers is not a direct sequel to Vampire Survivors, but rather an experimental title that allows the team to try out new genres. Galante expressed hope that this will be the first in a series of spinoffs, while also teasing that a “proper” sequel is currently being worked on behind the scenes. For now, fans can look forward to seeing how the chaotic energy of the original translates into this new strategic format.
