Vampire Survivors has received yet another post-launch content update, one that's billed as "The Tiny One," though the title does appear to be at least somewhat ironic. An indie smash hit produced by a single developer, Luca Galante, Vampire Survivors has proven time and again that top-tier production values aren't the most important feature of a successful video game, focusing instead on addictive gameplay systems and a rewarding content loop to keep players entertained.

Vampire Survivors recently launched from Early Access following a relatively short development stint, during which time Galante substantially upgraded much of its content and features to deliver a better gameplay experience. Post-launch updates haven't been small, either, delivering more of what the player base had come to know and love at a steady pace.

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Update 1.1.0 underlines the reason why Vampire Survivors is one of the best indies on Xbox Game Pass. Featuring one major new Power-Up item, a fresh Challenge Stage, and an undisclosed "Secret" that players are yet to fully uncover, the so-called Tiny update isn't all that tiny after all. The new Tiny Bridge Challenge Stage appears to be a claustrophobic combat arena, forcing players into a tightly enclosed playing field that doubles down on many of the same features that make the Library such a popular choice. Players can unlock Tiny Bridge by reaching level 80 in the Inverse Gallo Tower, making it a late progression option in most respects.

The new Seal Power-Up item may improve Vampire Survivors' replay value further still, on the other hand, by allowing players to completely banish an item from level-up choices, or to banish a pickup from the light sources' drop tables. The Seal can be obtained by banishing at least 10 items in a single run: a feat that won't be possible until investing into some of the game's rather expensive perma-upgrade choices in the first place.

While it's still not totally certain which game might win the Best Debut Indie title of this year's Game Awards ceremony, it's all but certain that Vampire Survivors is a serious contender for the position. Inexpensive, infinitely replayable, and remarkably fun, Vampire Survivors is easily one of the most popular games of 2022, and it helped popularize the reverse bullet hell genre, making it one of the most notable new gaming fads of 2022.

Even if it doesn't end up winning such an important TGA 2022 category, Vampire Survivors is a popular Steam Deck choice. Not only is the game lightweight and quick to download, but its low power draw also essentially ensures that Deck users can play it for hours on end without worrying about running out of juice on the go. Better yet, its gameplay loop makes it very easy to just pick up and play for a minute at a time, which works extremely well in tandem with the Deck's sleep mode functionality.

Vampire Survivors is available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

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