Night Swarm Review
Fend off hordes of monsters in by-the-numbers survivorslike Night Swarm.
Night Swarm. Credit: Fubu Games / Mad Mushroom / Gamersky Games
Night Swarm is a survivorslike from Fubu Games, Mad Mushroom, and Gamersky Games. This vampire-themed bullet heaven executes the genre formula decently, but doesn’t do much to distinguish itself.
You play as a fledgling vampire lord who must gather allies to stem the tide of werebeast hordes that threaten your kingdom. Returning to the castle hub between runs and interacting with the supporting cast of NPCs offering upgrades adds to the worldbuilding unobtrusively. Still, the narrative remains forgettable background dressing, and that’s fine. I don’t play survivorslikes for the story.
Night Swarm. Credit: Fubu Games / Mad Mushroom / Gamersky Games
Gameplay works like you’d expect for the genre. Auto-attacks trigger while you dodge encroaching enemies, managing positioning and build choices to survive escalating waves. Weapons level up and combine, buffs stack, and experience triggers upgrade choices. Companions you level between runs add minor variation, fighting alongside you and granting unique bonuses. The branching map structure introduces strategic route choices to aim for the rewards you prefer. I appreciated that the mini-map within levels reveals points of interest.
The art direction makes some odd choices. The cel-shaded 3D graphics look attractive, but characters and enemies appear as board game pieces with minimal animation. While memorable, this figurine aesthetic feels born from scope limitations rather than artistic vision. The game ran smoothly on my Steam Deck at default settings.
Night Swarm. Credit: Fubu Games / Mad Mushroom / Gamersky Games
The core loop remains addictive despite occasional grindiness. Meaningful upgrades make runs satisfying and the metaprogression rewarding, and the vampire theme provides sufficient flavor. Night Swarm won't set your world on fire, but if you’re looking for a new survivorslike, it’s worth checking out.
Night Swarm is available now on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One/Series X|S.
Overall Score: 6/10
Played on: Steam Deck
