Vampire Survivors

Released in early access in late 2021 then as a full version on October 20, 2022, Vampire Survivors single-handedly invented a sub-genre. You control a character who never attacks voluntarily: weapons fire on their own, in rhythm, and the only thing to do is move to avoid hordes that grow bigger minute after minute.

Each run lasts about thirty minutes and is played around power growth: collecting gems, choosing a weapon, evolving it by combining it with the right passive item, and finishing by sweeping the screen. The game is written in HTML5, costs less than five euros, and has been followed by several short expansions as well as official collaborations with Castlevania and Contra. A cooperative mode for up to four players was added for free along the way.