Poncle’s Vampire Survivors took the indie game world by storm, boasting player numbers that few titles can even dream of. On that note, why keep the fun to yourself? Here is how to play Vampire Survivors with your friends in co-op mode.
How does Vampire Survivors Co-op work?
The most significant limitation to co-op in Vampire Survivors is it’s local only. This means you have to play in the same room as your friends, commonly known as couch co-op. Poncle does intend to potentially introduce online co-op as a mode in the future – according to their January 2024 statement – but it is still a mode that may or may not come.
Providing you’re playing on the same machine, starting a co-op game is easy. Start a round as usual, pick a character, and everyone with a controller/keyboard can do the same. Bear in mind there is no way to share peripherals -you can’t have multiple users sharing a keyboard, for example – so tell your friends to bring their controllers – please, don’t hook up four different keyboards on the same computer, things can get unstable pretty soon.
What’s new in Vampire Survivors Co-op?
The same Vampire Survivors you know and love is still here in co-op. The most significant difference is you’re limited to four Weapons and Equipment slots instead of six – according to Poncle, this is to prevent the game’s screen from becoming a mess. As usual, each player has their own inventory, but some powerups affect the entire team. Items like Spinach, for example, have ‘[all]’ written beside them, indicating a global change. That way, you can circumvent the slot limitations as long as you and your friends strategically choose the best
The game will also become a bit more forgiving on the “survival” part of its name when playing co-op thanks to the coffin mechanic. If you or one of your teammates die, they will be converted into a coffin. Said teammate will eventually revive, so make sure to guard the coffin with all your strength and abilities.
Another huge addition to Co-op is the Friendship Amulet. This item is a potential level-up reward and upgrades a random weapon in each player’s inventory. The Friendship Amulet offers a ton of value and will show up multiple times per run.
Players share gems and take turns leveling up. Chest rewards are also given to a random player regardless of who opened it. In general, the new features in Vampire Survivors found in co-op play are really fun and fair.
How do I stop my controller from moving multiple characters?
With the default configuration, you may find that one player can control multiple characters. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix for that in the Options Menu. Uncheck the Assign Controller to Player 1 box (pictured above), which should split the inputs.
You can also customize several co-op settings here, including player colors. Vampire Survivors quickly gets hectic in multiplayer, so the Permanent co-op outlines option may help if you keep losing track of your character.
Best Vampire Survivors co-op maps
Since you will be aided by your friends, then the best and most fun Vampire Survivors co-op maps are the ones that provide the biggest challenge and have more interesting features in the game. There are no co-op exclusive maps and no co-op achievements, so you can play the entirety of the game with co-op as well as solo if you wish to. Check out the table below to know what are the best Vampire Survivors maps for co-op:
| Map | Description | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Boss Rash | As you might guess from its clever wordplay, Boss Rash is a boss rush challenge stage that will have you and your teammates on the edge of your seat. “The monsters want entertainment, and if we win their game, the loot is ours for the taking. Let us face these recycled assets and do what we do best… survive!“ | Unlock Hyper Mode for all 5 normal stages: – Mad Forest – Inlaid Library – Dairy Planet – Gallo Tower – Capella Magna |
| Mt.Moonspell | This stage from the Legacy of the Moonspell DLC will allow you and your teammates to farm and explore its vast size. Combine your efforts to unveil its secrets and survive Mt.Moonspell. “Ancestral home of a fallen clan, now overrun by yokai and oni. In this world where the sun doesn’t shine, the night is victorious.“ | Unlock Inlaid Library (you must own the DLC). |
| Green Acres | While this is not the hardest or the most interesting map of them all, this challenge stage will be perfect for co-op players to learn the basics of the game while also trying to defeat enemies from other stages. “Fate changes by the minute in a realm where mortals can only trespass. What rewards wait those who challenge its rules? Treasure? Glory? Poultry?“ | Unlock Hyper Mode for 2 normal stages: – Mad Forest – Inlaid Library – Dairy Planet – Gallo Tower – Capella Magna |
| Bat Country | If you don’t care much about bats except for the famous DC vigilante, then this map will suit your team. You will also be leveling up dramatically slower on this map, so if you enjoy a challenge, then pick Bat Country. “We can’t stop here.“ | Reach level 80 in Inverse Mad Forest. |
| The Bone Zone | And since we are talking about challenges, the crude nature of The Bone Zone will fit your co-op needs. Collect as many coins as you like, but beware of all skeleton monsters eager to take your lives. “Calcified carnage awaits where the dead go to live. If we speak unholy vespers we will open the way, but should we not go home? Have we not dug too deep?“ | Unlock Hyper Mode for 3 normal stages: – Mad Forest – Inlaid Library – Dairy Planet – Gallo Tower – Capella Magna |
Vampire Survivors offers a superb single-player experience but works so well with friends. Subnautica is the same, although you need to jump through a few hoops to get it to work. If you’re interested, check out our guide on how to set it up.
