Best Indie Game – Vampire Survivors
Austin: hard to think of video games in 2023 without thinking about Vampire Survivors. The idle- single-stick shooter, reverse bullet hell style of gameplay kept me coming back for all sorts of settings. Playing casually on my Steam Deck, sitting on the couch while also watching TV, or taking things too seriously hunched over my keyboard with a grimoire/guide open on my second screen. Vampire Survivors
Nick: While Vampire Survivors wasn’t MY indie game of the year, it is an extremely good game. Contributing to a fun new genre, reverse bullet-hell, Vampire Survivors gives you everything you could ever want in a horde mode roguelike. Thanks to my Steam Deck, I’ve spent hours unlocking content and just trying to beat old high scores. Vampire Survivors is one of the best games to come out in 2022.
Spencer: 2022 was a year that got incredibly busy for me, as I graduated from school, moved out, and got a full-time writing job. I grabbed a Steam Deck at some point during these turbulent times, and if I wasn’t working or out, I was playing Vampire Survivors. Somehow it triggers every positive synapsis in my head to make me feel good and excited. I haven’t even tried the new DLC yet, because I know once I do, I won’t be seen for a good month, and I’ve got stuff I have to do.
