Vampire Survivors fans can soon read an official book that takes a closer look at the lore of the popular bullet-hell’s world and the characters who inhabit it. Vampire Survivors: The Grimoire will be published by Titan Books on October 21, and preorders for the budget-friendly hardcover book are available at Amazon for $30.
Dozens of new monsters and characters have been added to Vampire Survivors since it left early access in 2022, so this lore guidebook could help you parse the surprisingly deep stories that aren’t always easy to absorb due to the (delightful) chaos of the gameplay loop.
$30 | Releases October 21
Written by prolific author Paul Davies, this 176-page hardcover book is penned in an in-universe style. Designed to be a guidebook authored by the mysterious Merchant who appears at the start of each level, Vampire Survivors: The Grimoire covers locations and secrets from the award-winning game.
“Vampire survivors are on a relentless quest,” the official plot synopsis reads. “Stumbling through the Mad Forest, climbing the calamitous Gallo Tower, searching the far reaches of the Inlaid Library. The Belpaese family, the Ladonnas, assorted clerics and supernatural folk all join the search. Why is there roast chicken everywhere? How is that dog making flowers bloom? And who – or what – is Poe Ratcho?
And where are the vampires? That’s where I come in. I am the Merchant, and I can be your guide. If you have gold of course. Always gold. If you seek coffins, I may know where to find them–for a price. Though I cannot guarantee you’ll find the vampires you seek.”
In case you haven’t played it yet, Vampire Survivors is a fun game that feels deceptively simple to play. Unlike other bullet-hell adventures where you have to constantly dodge projectiles, the game flips that script on its head and turns you into a tornado of doom as you gradually increase your power through a 30-minute run. The catch here is that the longer you survive the more progressively difficult a level becomes, and even if you can last for 30 minutes, the Grim Reaper will always be ready to claim your life at the end. The game is very affordable, and if you have a Game Pass account, available to play on PC and Xbox through that subscription service.
It’s going to be a while before this book is available, but in the meantime, you can score a pretty great deal on a bunch of other video game lore and art books. Amazon is currently running a buy two, get one free sale, so you can stock up on these books and get a few freebies along the way. The sale runs through March 29.
Some of the standout titles here include a deep dive into the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and for Legend of Zelda fans, the Hyrule Historia books are essential reading. We’d also recommend the Final Fantasy 7 Ultimania books for a closer look at all the work that goes into those games, from the classic PlayStation era adventures through to modern titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake.