by K. Asante
It’s no secret—I’m a huge Vampire Survivor fan. I love seeing small indie teams push boundaries, and Vampire Survivor has not only succeeded but also created an entire genre of Survivor-like games. Lately, I’ve been exploring these roguelike bullet heaven titles and how developers are evolving the formula.
One game that stands out is Jotunn Slayer: Hordes of Hel. I first discovered it while preparing for Gamescom 2024, where I met the developers and got hands-on experience. The game impressed me so much that I later invited the team onto The Gaming Circle Podcast. During our conversation, Jakub from Games Farm teased more content in early 2025—now, Jotunn Slayer is in Steam Early Access
The game delivers everything fans of the Survivor-like genre expect—waves of enemies, XP pickups, and passive and auto-cast abilities. But it also introduces fresh mechanics. You play as one of four warriors battling the Hordes of Hel, using power-ups inspired by Norse mythology and Greek gods. The addition of a dash mechanic and special attacks adds fluidity to combat, while its vibrant AAA Diablo 4-like graphical style—what I call Vampire Survivor Plus—gives it a unique look.
Jotunn Slayer has become my go-to palette cleanser game between bigger titles. If you’re a fan of Vampire Survivor-like games, check out my latest livestream and try it in Early Access!
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