Comparison

Dead Cells+ vs Vampire Survivors+

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Dead Cells+

Embark on a challenging 2D action platformer adventure as a failed alchemic experiment. Explore a dynamic, interconnected world, master combat, and unlock new paths with each playthrough. This version includes extensive DLC content with new storylines, biomes, enemies, weapons, and bosses.

Highlights
  • Roguevania exploration
  • Frantic 2D combat
  • Nonlinear progression
  • Daily leaderboards
  • Return to Castlevania DLC
  • The Bad Seed DLC
  • Fatal Falls DLC
Features
Read full description

Play as a failed alchemic experiment and explore the sprawling, ever-changing castle to find out what happened on this gloomy island…! That is, assuming you’re able to fight your way past its keepers. Dead Cells+ is a roguevania action platformer that will require you to master frantic 2D combat with a wide variety of weapons and skills against merciless minions and boss. The indie hit Dead Cells+ is now slaying foes on Apple Arcade! Main Features • ONLY ON APPLE ARCADE - New daily leaderboards : Test your skills against players all over the world! • Roguevania: The progressive exploration of an interconnected world, with the replayability of a rogue-lite and the adrenaline pumping threat of permadeath • Frantic and Dynamic 2D Action: Learn your enemies’ patterns to stay alive, or prepare to be sent back to your cell before you can say “baguette” • Nonlinear Progression: Unlock new levels with every death, opt for the path that suits your current build, your playstyle or just your mood. Surely, the ramparts can’t be as bad the sewers, right? • Play at your own pace: Will you explore every nook and cranny of the castle, or rush to the end? [THIS VERSION ALSO INCLUDES ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONTENT] *Latest updates are available: Clean Cut & The End is Near* RETURN TO CASTLEVANIA DLC • New storyline - overcome the Ruler of Darkness alongside Alucard and Richter Belmont, • 2 new biomes - Explore Dracula's Castle and its outskirts • 9 new monsters - Werewolves, haunted armors, and medusas are waiting for you • 14 new weapons - wield the Vampire Killer or the Holy Water to defeat creatures of the night, • 3 new bosses - go fangs to fangs against Death and Dracula himself • 20 new outfits - dress as your favorite Castlevania characters such as Simon and Richter Belmont or Alucard • Alternative soundtracks - play along 51 Castlevania original tracks and 12 tunes reimagined in the style of Dead Cells THE BAD SEED DLC You reap what you sow • New levels to lose your head in: the not-so-peaceful Dilapidated Arboretum and the noxious Morass of the Banished • New monsters to rip to pieces: get to know the locals, such as the Jerkshroom and the Yeeter • New weapons to play with: trim sticking out heads with the Scythe Claw, or make them dance to the sound of the Rhythm n' Bouzouki • New boss to fight against: Mama Tick is dying to meet you FATAL FALLS DLC Ready for a leap of faith? • 3 new biomes - Get some fresh air at the Fractured Shrines, splash around at the Undying Shores and take a picture at the Mausoleum • 8 new monsters - The Cold Blooded Guardians and their friends would love to teach you about their culture. ... Wait, aren't those relatives of yours in the Undying Shores...? • 7 new weapons - lil' Serenade is perfect for breaking the ice with the locals, although the Snake Fangs would make for a perfect souvenir... • 1 new boss - The Scarecrow is very proud of his gardening skills and won't hesitate to show off QUEEN AND THE SEA DLC Take it to the sea! • 2 new biomes - Battle your way through a rotten shipwreck, or scale a burning lighthouse and confront your deadliest foe yet. • 9 new weapons, including a throwable shark, a trident and a pirate hook hand (eyepatch not included). • 2 new bosses - Don't lose your head before you meet the Queen! This DLC also gives you the usual extras: - A not-so-cute pet. - Loads of new outfits. - New enemies to bash. Carefully redesigned for Apple Arcade with a revamped interface • Two game modes available: Original & Auto-Hit • Custom controls & More touch controls options available: Change the buttons’ position and size to your liking, swipe to dodge… • MFi external controller support • Game Center achievements If you run into a problem, please contact us at support@playdigious.mail.helpshift.com u with as much information as possible on the issue.

About

Vampire Survivors+

Engage in a gothic horror survival RPG where you battle hordes of monsters. Make strategic choices to overcome overwhelming odds and gather gold for permanent upgrades. Survive as long as possible in this rogue-lite experience.

Highlights
  • Mow down thousands of night creatures
  • Rogue-lite elements with permanent upgrades
  • Gothic horror casual gameplay
  • Bullet hell combat
  • Includes Legacy of the Moonspell and Tides of the Foscari DLC
Features
Read full description

Mow down thousands of night creatures and survive until dawn! Vampire Survivors is a gothic horror casual game with rogue-lite elements, where your choices can allow you to quickly snowball against the hundreds of monsters that get thrown at you. Hell is empty, the devils are here, and there's no place to run or hide. All you can do is survive as long as you can until death inevitably puts an end to your struggles. Gather gold in each run to buy upgrades and help the next survivor. The supernatural indie phenomenon that lets you be the bullet hell! Vampire Survivors+ for Apple Arcade also includes Vampire Survivors: Legacy of the Moonspell and Vampire Survivors: Tides of the Foscari Starting Tips: - Take your time to grab gems and items, they won't disappear. - Get two or three offensive weapons at first, but focus on levelling them up one at a time. - Armour and Luck are good starting power-ups to spend money on. - Refund power-ups often, it's free, and try new upgrade paths.

Screenshots

Dead Cells+4 screens
Vampire Survivors+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Dead Cells+ at 4.9 against Vampire Survivors+'s 4.4. Dead Cells+ also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 65%) and ratings volume (14K vs 553). Vampire Survivors+'s advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dead Cells+ holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dead Cells+ has 14K ratings behind it against 553, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Dead Cells+'s written reviews are positive against 65% of Vampire Survivors+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dead Cells+ ships an update every 3 months, Vampire Survivors+ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Dead Cells+ versus Vampire Survivors+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDead Cells+Vampire Survivors+
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (14K ratings) — better4.4 (553 ratings)
Positive reviews89.9% of reviews — better64.9% of reviews
Number of ratings14K — better553
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.8 GB1.0 GB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperPlaydigiousPoncle

Customer experience

Dead Cells+

All ratings13,598 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews693 reviews
Positive89.9%
Neutral4.3%
Negative5.8%

Vampire Survivors+

All ratings553 ratings
Positive83.2%
Neutral6.3%
Negative10.5%
Written reviews353 reviews
Positive64.9%
Neutral15.6%
Negative19.5%

User reviews

Dead Cells+

From 14K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth gameplay
  • 👍 Excellent controls
  • 🎨 Beautiful pixel art
  • 🔍 Engaging exploration
  • 💡 Helpful accessibility options

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional audio issues
  • 🔋 Performance drops on some devices
  • 🤔 Lack of cloud save sync across devices
  • 🕹️ Touchscreen controls can be finicky

Vampire Survivors+

From 553 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Addictive and engaging gameplay
  • 🎨 Unique and enjoyable art style
  • 🎵 Excellent soundtrack
  • 👍 Smooth controls and intuitive mechanics
  • 💎 Tons of content and unlockables

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
  • 🔋 Progress loss when app is suspended
  • 🔍 Lack of clear objectives and direction
  • 🎮 Touch controls not as precise as controller

Bugs and requests

Dead Cells+

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game crashes or freezes during boss battles
  • Map not updating properly after teleporting
  • Controller buttons not working as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to listen to own music/podcasts while playing
  • More customization options for button layout
  • Multiplayer or co-op mode
  • Improved save/progress sync across devices

Vampire Survivors+

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Eudonium M level getting stuck in loading loop
  • Santa Water item not functioning as expected
  • Graphical issues and visual effects overload in late game

Requested features

4 requests
  • Mid-game save and resume functionality
  • Support for Apple TV and controllers
  • Addition of all DLC content from other platforms
  • Improved performance and stability for late-game runs

In-app purchases

None

Dead Cells+

No in-app purchases

None

Vampire Survivors+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dead Cells+ free?
Dead Cells+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Vampire Survivors+ free?
Vampire Survivors+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dead Cells+ or Vampire Survivors+?
Dead Cells+ is rated higher. Dead Cells+ averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Vampire Survivors+ averages 4.4 from 553 ratings.
Do Dead Cells+ or Vampire Survivors+ have ads?
Neither Dead Cells+ nor Vampire Survivors+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dead Cells+ or Vampire Survivors+?
Dead Cells+ ships an update every 3 months, and Vampire Survivors+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Dead Cells+ was updated on September 25, 2026 and Vampire Survivors+ on September 24, 2026.

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