Free-to-play fan project combines Vampire Survivors with Halo – 91% positive reviews shortly after release
Spartan Survivors clearly draws inspiration from the indie hit Vampire Survivors, but reimagines the roguelite, bullet heaven formula with the distinctive look and feel of the Halo universe. Players take on the roles of iconic characters such as Master Chief or the Arbiter, battling endless waves of Covenant enemies. As the fight progresses, they collect upgrades, level up their skills, and struggle to survive against increasingly relentless hordes. Each run offers new combinations of weapons, perks, and abilities, keeping the gameplay fast-paced and highly replayable.
The game features ten playable levels, eight characters with unique weapons, and five difficulty settings. Players can choose from 21 weapons, 14 perks, and 56 upgrades, allowing for countless build combinations. For added variety, an unlockable “Custom Game” mode lets players fine-tune the gameplay to their liking.
Spartan Survivors was developed by solo creator Bathrobe and released on Steam on October 28. Since launch, the game has received 71 user reviews, with 91% rating it positively. What stands out is the clever blend of nostalgic Halo atmosphere – complete with original sound effects – and the addictive gameplay loop of Vampire Survivors. As Steam user Tenoshii puts it in their review: “The Halo-themed survivor-like we didn’t know we needed.”
The community’s main criticisms focus on technical aspects. Missing basic features such as a full-screen mode or an exit button in the menu, along with some unbalanced character tuning, can cause frustration. The level design also feels fairly repetitive, and the meta-progression typical of roguelites is less developed than many had hoped. Steam Deck compatibility (available for around $440 on Amazon) is currently listed as “Unknown,” but given the game’s low system requirements, it should run smoothly on most handheld consoles. Still, it’s definitely worth checking out – Spartan Survivors is completely free to download on Steam.
By the way: Despite its strong Halo influence, Spartan Survivors is not an official Microsoft project. It’s a fan-made game developed under Microsoft’s “Game Content Usage Rules” – meaning it’s legally permitted but entirely independent from Xbox Game Studios.
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