Vampire Survivors: Operation Guns, developed by Poncle, is a DLC expansion that grafts Contra's run-and-gun aesthetic onto a bullet-heaven survival RPG. It delivers action-shifted encounters where players level, pick upgrade synergies, and survive escalating waves while wielding arcade-style weapons. The expansion includes a dedicated Adventure campaign, fresh playable heroes, and a soundtrack of classic Contra tracks and remixes. It targets fans of roguelike survival games and retro arcade shooters seeking a nostalgic twist and local co-op options.

What kind of game is Operation Guns?

The expansion blends the base title's top-down survival loop with an arcade shooter temperament, so sessions mix long survival waves with concentrated run-and-gun beats. Players still advance by gaining levels and selecting synergistic upgrades, but encounters tilt toward sustained projectile density and mechanical enemies, which makes positioning and area control more important than single-target skirmishes. This creates a different combat rhythm while keeping the same upgrade-driven progression loop.

Does it have a multiplayer mode and how does progression feel?

The expansion supports local co-op, letting two players team up as classic Contra heroes for shared waves and coordinated weapon use. A dedicated Adventure Mode offers a structured six-chapter path that guides new objectives and staged encounters. Progression ties into in-game challenges and unlock conditions rather than a single linear unlock; some heroes and weapons require specific tasks or evolutions to access, which rewards repeat runs and focused goals.

What does the game look and sound like?

The expansion translates 8-bit and 16-bit shooter aesthetics into a top-down presentation, with a large Neo Galuga map that occasionally shifts into horizontal-scrolling segments and introduces environmental hazards. Audio includes thirteen original Contra tracks alongside remixes tailored to the survival format, giving battles a familiar arcade pulse. Stage selection and the internal menu surface new content and internal unlocks without changing the base game's interface philosophy.

Is it hard to get started and what brings players back?

Onboarding leans on existing familiarity with the base game, while replayability comes from a wide set of unlocks: eleven playable characters, twenty-two weapons, and more than thirty in-game unlocks and "cheevos" accessible via challenges and evolutions. A new Weapon Power-Up pickup is required to evolve several high-tech arms, which encourages experimentation with combinations. The variety of weapons and evolutions keeps runs feeling distinct and invites short sessions or longer improvement-focused play.

A nostalgic, action-first expansion best for bullet-heaven fans with the base game

Operation Guns is an inviting pick for players who enjoy dense projectile combat, short survival runs, and local couch co-op. The expansion is not standalone and requires ownership of the base Vampire Survivors title, which is the main practical limitation. For anyone who likes experimenting with weapon evolutions and retro soundtrack callbacks, the expansion rewards repeated sessions and cooperative play.