The bullet heaven genre popularised by Vampire Survivors, affectionately dubbed 'Vampire Survivors-likes', continues to enjoy steady traction within the roguelite space. Thanks to straightforward controls and the sheer thrill of obliterating hordes of relentless foes, it is a genre you can jump into whenever you fancy without any fuss. Recently, we have seen a steady stream of fresh releases blending traditional bullet heaven tropes with unique mechanics like deckbuilding, loot grinding, and squad-based combat. For this edition of [Game Recs], we have rounded up five cracking new bullet heaven titles currently making waves on Steam and earning solid praise.

The first title on our radar is the zombie-hunting escapade 'Yet Another Zombie Survivors'. Set in a world ravaged by a viral outbreak, you take control of survivors tasked with wiping out endless waves of the undead, currently sitting on a 'Very Positive' user rating on Steam with 15,478 reviews and a 91% approval rating.

The standout feature here is the three-person squad system. You kick things off with a lone survivor, but can recruit two additional mates along the way. The core of the experience lies in mixing and matching characters with distinct weapons and abilities—such as a S.W.A.T., a tank, or an engineer—to pull off devastating synergies. On top of that, a permanent upgrade tree lets you tailor the team to your liking, and you can reset skills at any time to experiment with entirely different builds.

Next up is 'Hell Maiden', a title heavily inspired by Dante Alighieri's Italian epic poem 'The Divine Comedy'. It follows Dante's journey of tumbling down into hell and losing memories after ascending to heaven, all while dispatching demons on the long road back. Boasting charming JRPG-style character designs and slick action choreography, it holds a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam with 1,964 reviews and a 90% approval rating.

Combat is structured around weapon and stat enhancements manifesting as cards, giving it a proper deckbuilding feel. You can add unique enemy abilities straight into your hand, equip modification cards to buff your gear, and dynamically rebuild your deck on the fly. By pushing through the depths of hell, earning Beatrice's blessings, and rescuing legendary poets like Virgil to unlock fresh abilities and ultimate moves, the game serves up plenty of progression satisfaction.

'Ascend to Zero'is a roguelite developed by Flyway Games, a subsidiary of Krafton, currently holding a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam with 971 reviews and an 83% approval rating. The defining gimmick here swaps traditional health bars for remaining time, treating your countdown as the ultimate survival resource.

You start with a restricted ticking clock; defeating enemies grants you precious seconds, while taking hits drains them away. Rather than a pure DPS race, it demands puzzle-like spatial awareness and strict time management. In particular, you can leverage a time-stop ability that freezes the battlefield, enemies, projectiles, and the timer all at once, allowing you to dodge lethal bullet hell patterns, scoop up items, and set up counter-attacks with strategic precision.

'Reincarnation Insurance Program R.I.P.'infuses traditional bullet heaven combat with Diablo-style gear farming. Players step into the shoes of elite operatives working for the Reincarnation Insurance Program, tasked with physically purifying zombies across a world plagued by mutant viruses. It currently enjoys a 'Mostly Positive' rating on Steam based on 3,080 reviews with a 76% approval rating.

Aside from standard level-up upgrades, you can permanently buff your character using legendary gear drops and set bonuses courtesy of fallen foes. You can also tinker with equipment options or summon the spirits of historical heroes for handy buffs, opening the door to diverse builds. Once you finish crafting your build in regular maps, a Void Spire mode awaits, throwing infinite waves of enemies your way as you climb higher floors to scratch that ultimate loot-grinding itch.

Rounding out our list is 'Funguys Swarm', which stands out thanks to its bright, humorous cartoon aesthetics. The plot revolves around Funguys, mushroom guardians of the woodland, taking a stand against the Fire King's army to protect their burning home. It carries a much lighter and breezier tone compared to other bullet heaven titles, securing a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam with 1,166 reviews and an 89% approval rating.

The heart of the experience relies on combining nature-inspired weapons and upgrades to clear out the opposition. Alongside roughly fifty different upgrades, you can unlock new heroes, pets, and machinery to beef up your character. You can even build a woodland sanctuary to protect other creatures and secure handy combat bonuses, faithfully nailing the addictive loop typical of the genre.