A Complete Breakdown of All Major Updates From 2022 to 2025
Back in 2022, I reviewed Vampire Survivors during Early Access, and even back then it was already shaping up to be something special. But fast-forward to today, and the game has transformed into a full, feature-packed monster. From new DLCs to new characters, crossovers, mechanics, and entire new game systems — it’s almost unrecognizable from launch.
Today, we’re revisiting that review and looking at everything added since September 2022 in one ultimate mega-breakdown.
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Let’s jump into every major update from launch to today.
October 2022 – Full Release (Version 1.0)
When Vampire Survivors officially launched in October 2022, we received the complete 1.0 content package.
What Was Added
- Finalized character roster
- Final story stages
- New relics and secrets
- Arcana system completed
- Major UI and performance upgrades
This update took the game from a fun but simple Early Access experiment to a fully realized action roguelike.
December 2022 – DLC: Legacy of the Moonspell
Just two months after launch, the game dropped its first major DLC: Legacy of the Moonspell.
Content Added
- Massive new map: Mount Moonspell
- 8 new characters
- 13 new weapons
- New evolutions
- New bosses and secrets
For many players, this DLC was the moment they realized Vampire Survivors had serious long-term potential. Huge map, great theme, and tons of replay value.
January–March 2023 – Major Quality of Life Updates
Between January and March 2023, the developers rolled out foundational quality-of-life improvements.
New Features
- Endless Mode
- Inverse Mode
- New power-ups
- Updated relic interactions
- UI polish
- Better controller support
- Enemy balancing
These patches polished everything and prepared the game for bigger expansions.
April 2023 – DLC: Tides of Foscari
The second DLC, Tides of Foscari, expanded the fantasy side of the game.
What It Added
- New map: Lake Foscari
- 8 new characters
- 13 new weapons
- 7 new evolutions
- Forest bosses
- Fairy, knight, and mage archetypes
- New secret fights
This DLC leaned heavily into fantasy themes — almost a tribute to classic JRPGs — and remains one of the most stylish updates to date.
Late 2023 – Secrets Patch & Nintendo Switch Release
Nintendo Switch Release (August 2023)
- 2–4 player local co-op
- Optimized handheld UI
- Shared XP mechanics
Secrets Patch (Late 2023)
- New secret characters
- New achievements
- Updated Limit Break behavior
- More map variants
- Additional relic interactions
- Better performance, especially on mobile
This era refined the game and opened it up to a massive new audience.
October 2024 – DLC: Ode to Castlevania
One of the biggest indie gaming crossovers arrived in late 2024 with Ode to Castlevania.
Content Added
- Huge gothic stage
- 6+ Castlevania-inspired characters
- 8 new weapons
- 5 new evolutions
- Retro music tracks
- Vampire-slaying boss gauntlets
This update hit every nostalgia button — whips, bats, holy water, familiars — all paired with some of the best music in the game.
Late 2024 – Online Co-op Update
Online multiplayer was introduced, adding:
- 4-player online co-op
- Free-roam multiplayer (no more shared screen limits)
- XP batching
- Death → spectator mode
- Network improvements
- Start of cloud-save syncing
This update turned Vampire Survivors into a full multiplayer experience — and it works surprisingly well.
April 2025 – FREE DLC: Emerald Diorama (SaGa Crossover)
A surprise free crossover DLC with SaGa, titled Emerald Diorama, launched in 2025.
Content Added
- New stage: Emerald Field
- 4 new characters
- 3 new weapons
- New Style Gauge system
- Expanded worldbuilding
- Cross-save support for PC, Xbox, and Mobile
- (PlayStation had restrictions)
This DLC showed that poncle wasn’t slowing down — they were expanding into full-fledged collaborations.
August 2025 – PlayStation Release
Finally, PS4 and PS5 versions launched.
Features
- Trophies
- Haptic feedback
- Performance Mode
- Full DLC parity
Better late than never — but a great port.
November 2025 – Major Update: The Antichamber (Balatro Crossover)
The most recent major update brought a massive crossover with Balatro.
New Stages
- Westwoods
- Mazerella (Labyrinth)
New Mechanics
- Survarots — Balatro-style Arcana system
- New relic: Survarot Core
New Characters
- Balatro Guest Hero
- Mazerella Guardian
New Weapons & Evolutions
- Card Shooter → Card Storm
- Maze Whip → Minotaur Crusher
New Morph
- Labyrinth Titan (Guardian morph)
New Power-Up
- Shuffle Fate
Co-op Improvements
- Better netcode
- Free movement
- Faster revives
- More stable XP syncing
This update alone feels like an entire DLC — and it’s free.
The Big Picture: 2022 vs 2025
So what does Vampire Survivors look like today compared to Early Access?
Since 2022, the game has added:
- 5+ major new stages
- 3 paid DLCs
- 1 free DLC
- 30+ characters
- 40+ weapons
- 20+ evolutions
- Arcana expansions
- Survarot system
- Style Gauge system
- Endless Mode
- Inverse Mode
- Local and online co-op
- Cross-save (PC, Xbox, Mobile)
- New relics, secrets, and achievements
- Massive performance upgrades
- Multiple engine rewrites
- Switch and PlayStation releases
- Two crossover events
It’s gone from a tiny $5 roguelike to a giant, constantly evolving monster.
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t played Vampire Survivors since 2022, you’re missing out on one of the biggest turnarounds and content expansions in indie gaming.
If you want me to cover the best new builds, strongest evolutions, or a full Survarot guide, tell me in the comments below.
Thanks for reading Gman Reviews.