Xbox Game Pass just got the best Vampire Survivors clone in years
Ascend to Zero, a new roguelike developed by Flyway Games, launched July 13 on Xbox Series X, Windows PC, and Xbox Game Pass. The game applies inventive twists to the Vampire Survivors formula, with a distinctive time-management mechanic at its core.
The game’s central premise challenges players to save the world in 30 seconds, but the mechanic offers surprising depth. Players start with a 30-second timer and can activate an ability to pause time indefinitely. When time resumes, the player deals damage to nearby enemies, and defeating certain foes adds more seconds to the clock. This creates a roguelike gameplay loop where extending the initial half-minute through strategic enemy defeats becomes essential for advancing further and ultimately saving the world.
The time-stop ability adds a layer of strategy to the roguelike formula, giving players tactical control over when to engage with enemies and when to preserve their dwindling seconds. The game’s availability on Game Pass provides players with immediate access to the title as part of their subscription.