The joys of Vampire Survivors are all well-documented at this point. Despite being a seemingly minimalist game, and spawning a litany of genre stablemates, there’s just something about moving around mowing down ridiculous hordes of enemies as you go that is incredibly satisfying. The good thing about inspiring a whole genre is that often the games that come after you tend to bring something new to the table. This is exactly the case with Earl vs. the Mutants, which takes the formula, plonks it into a jeep with a mounted turret, and adds just a dash of affable Hillbilly into the mix.
The result of all of this is a game that feels immediately familiar but offers a significantly faster-paced experience. Unlike the more deliberate progression found in other games, Earl vs. the Mutants keeps players in constant motion thanks to the jeep and while the game doesn’t emphasize acquiring new weapons as frequently as some other titles, it compensates by providing a steady stream of passive upgrades. These enhancements gradually improve the character’s capabilities by increasing factors such as bullet quantity, size, and impact force.
Unsurprisingly, it’s all a lot of fun, and to add to the excitement, players can occasionally find drones that provide assistance by creating defensive barriers or collecting items. It’s a tried-and-true gameplay loop that feels excellent and as an added bonus, there are some passive upgrades for players to buy as a reward for completing levels. Whilst it might not be quite as complex as some of the other offerings in this genre, it’s no less enjoyable.
In fact, it’s arguably a better choice for new entrants to the genre than something like Death Must Die or Champion Shift. There’s an innate comedy of boosting over a hill only to land on a huge group of barrels and exploding yourself into nothingness that you really can’t find in other games. If you want to get into the bullet heaven/Vampire Survivors-like genre, and you’re not sure where to start, Earl Vs The Mutants is a great choice. It’s also ludicrously cheap too.
