When it first started, there really wasn't that much to it. One "map", a couple characters, a handful of weapons/items some of which had interactions. Barely even a video game.

Since then, there's been systems added and fleshed out, more characters, more maps, more modes, more everything. Now it's a fucking video game.

Guy that made this game used to work making gambling games, he knows what activates monkey brains (like mine)

I thought the same thing, but now I've probably got over a hundred hours into this game. It has great progression, with tons of fun unlocks and different types of levels. For under $10, it's a great deal.

While your statement is correct, it is also irrelevant to the current subject.

I am a genre pedant, probably more of one than you are.

Vampire Survivors is not a bullet hell, nor is it a survival game. It is a "survivors" game, called as such because Vampire Survivors is the game that inspired the genre. There are some elements in common with bullet hell games, hence why survivors games can also be called "bullet heaven". It's not that confusing.

that's the thing though, these aren't bullet hell either. i agree that the "survivors" branding is confusing, but i don't think bullet hell is accurate either.

there's enough of these games now, they need a proper genre title. i legit have a hard time getting people on the same page when discussing these games (vampire survivors, magic survival, deep rock survivors, League of Legends swarm mode, etc...) it usually takes a good 5 minutes before they actually understand what kind of games I'm talking about unless they actively play them. I've just been calling them "vampire survivors like" even though i know it's not the first, it's the one most people are familiar with.

i think the "survival" part of it is that the only and exclusive goal is to stay alive. The way you choose to build toward that goal is where the gameplay comes in. bullet hell is similar in that regard, but the main goal of bullet hell is to dodge shit to stay alive. the main goal of these is to figure out a build path that makes you kill everything. it's more like a puzzle than a game of skill. once you get it right you shouldn't be dodging. i know many people that like bullet hell, but and not these, and vice versa. I'm one of them, i like these games, but not bullet hell. similar on the surface, but the appeal is way different.