Gamecraft Studios, a Brazilian indie team known for experimental titles like For Sparta and Rogue Summoner, set out to push the “auto-shooter” genre beyond its Vampire Survivors roots. After an early access phase that built a cult following, Vampire Hunters launched in late 2024 across PC and consoles.
The premise is simple but evocative: you are a lone hunter in gothic arenas overrun by endless waves of vampires, demons, and monstrosities. The twist? Instead of the top-down perspective that defined the subgenre, Gamecraft reimagined it as a first-person roguelike shooter, fusing the chaos of bullet-hell survival with the visceral immediacy of classic 90s FPS design.
This is where the DOOM comparison comes in. The game doesn’t just borrow aesthetics—it channels the boomer-shooter spirit of DOOM and Serious Sam: tight arenas, relentless hordes, and an arsenal that grows into absurdity.
Gameplay and Mechanics
- Weapon Stacking: The game’s signature mechanic lets you carry and fire up to 12–14 weapons simultaneously. Imagine a screen bristling with shotguns, miniguns, crucifix crossbows, garlic launchers, and even lightsabers—all firing at once. It’s chaotic, but in the best way.
- Progression Loop: Enemies drop XP tokens, letting you level up and choose new weapons, familiars, relics, or buffs. Each run feels like building your own apocalyptic arsenal.
- Arena Design: Maps range from gothic mansions to pyramids and medieval villages. Each has spawn points, chokepoints, and objectives like sealing coffins or slaying massive bosses (dragons, sandworms, hive clusters).
- Boss Fights: These punctuate the chaos with spectacle—towering monsters that force you to reposition and rethink your loadout.
- Survivor DNA: Like Vampire Survivors, survival is time-based. Last long enough, and you unlock new stages, characters, and permanent upgrades.
Aesthetic and Atmosphere
This is where your DOOM comparison shines.
- Visuals: Low-poly, PS1-style textures evoke the golden age of shooters, but with a modern roguelike twist.
- Tone: The game revels in over-the-top violence—thousands of enemies gibbing into pixelated gore, weapons firing in symphonic chaos.
- Soundtrack: Upbeat, randomized tracks keep the pace frantic, echoing DOOM’s industrial-metal energy.
- Feel: Like DOOM, it’s less about precision and more about momentum—never stop moving, never stop firing.
It’s not a one-to-one DOOM clone, but it captures that same arena-survival adrenaline, where the screen fills with enemies and your only answer is overwhelming firepower.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Unique first-person twist on the auto-shooter formula
- Weapon stacking mechanic feels fresh and absurdly fun
- Varied arenas and bosses keep runs dynamic
- Nostalgic low-poly visuals with modern performance polish
- Captures the chaotic energy of DOOM and Serious Sam
Weaknesses
- Some weapons and religious imagery (like crucifix weapons) may feel gimmicky or controversial
- Progression tied to time rather than skill can feel grindy
- Visual clutter can overwhelm, especially in late-game chaos
Vampire Hunters is more than a Vampire Survivors clone—it’s a genre-bending experiment that successfully merges roguelike survival with the DNA of 90s shooters. If DOOM was about ripping and tearing through hell, Vampire Hunters is about drowning the undead in an avalanche of absurd weaponry.
It’s not flawless, but it’s bold, chaotic, and unforgettable. For players who grew up on DOOM and Serious Sam but also love the addictive loop of Vampire Survivors, this is a perfect hybrid.
