The hit roguelike shoot-em-up, Vampire Survivors, has always worn its Castlevania inspiration on its sleeve. Now, developer Poncle is taking that homage to the next level with a substantial DLC, Ode to Castlevania, launching on October 31st.
This DLC is a love letter to the iconic franchise, introducing a plethora of new content. Players can expect over 20 playable characters pulled straight from the Castlevania universe, wielding a vast arsenal of over 40 new weapons. A brand-new stage steeped in Castlevania lore and approximately 30 reimagined tracks from the series’ classic soundtrack complete the package. The sheer volume of content is so significant that Poncle even advises players to pace themselves and avoid consuming it all at once.
The Ode to Castlevania DLC will be available for $4 on all platforms, including Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS. While this price point is only $1 less than the base game, the developers believe it’s a fair price considering the DLC’s extensive content. The character additions alone more than double the base game’s roster, excluding secret characters and those included in other DLCs. This reinforces Vampire Survivors‘ reputation as one of the most value-packed games on the market.
The connection between Vampire Survivors and Castlevania has been a topic of discussion since the game’s release in 2021. Early criticisms pointed to certain sprites bearing a strong resemblance to those from Castlevania, suggesting potential plagiarism. Developer Luca Galante clarified in an interview with PC Gamer that while he utilized assets from pre-made packs, he consciously avoided direct copying. Subsequently, he commissioned artists to recreate these sprites in a similar style, while still retaining some of the original elements.
“This is not a standard DLC pack. This is a celebration of this historical game series,” Poncle stated in a post announcing the DLC. The developers describe the collaboration as a “dream come true,” reflecting their deep admiration for the Castlevania series. They emphasize that the project represents a significant investment of effort and passion. This isn’t the first time Vampire Survivors has partnered with Konami. The previous Operation Guns DLC brought characters and weapons from the Contra series into the Vampire Survivors world.
You can wishlist Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania now on Steam, and get ready to dive into the gothic world of Castlevania within Vampire Survivors on October 31st.
