The Allure of Vampire Games: Immersive Experiences in the World of Bloodsuckers
Although Castlevania is widely recognized as the most iconic vampire video game series, it is not the sole contender in the genre.
The Top Vampire Games (Excluding Castlevania)
The night is dark, the moon is high, and prey roams. That means vampires are lurking in the shadows: ready to strike. Vampires used to be everywhere in films, shows, and, of course, video games. However, bloodsuckers have lost some of their allure in recent years, and vampire games have grown quite rare.
Though vampires have slowed down, they have had quite a history in gaming. Whether they are the main protagonist or the antagonist, vampires have been part of games since the 1980s. Some of the best vampire games ever made know exactly why these disturbing creatures are so riveting, with Castlevania being just one of the many games that capture their allure perfectly!
But wait, before we dive into the thrilling world of vampire games, let’s answer some burning questions you may have.
Q&A: Your Burning Questions About Vampire Games Answered
Q: What are some other popular vampire games that didn’t make it onto this list? A: If you’re looking for more vampire gaming experiences, there are a few notable mentions. Titles like Vampire Survivors, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, and Vampirem are worth exploring for their unique takes on vampire lore and gameplay mechanics.
Q: Are there any upcoming vampire games that fans should keep an eye out for? A: Absolutely! The highly anticipated Bloodlines 2 from the Vampire: The Masquerade series is expected to release in late 2024. This sequel has had a rocky development, but fans are eagerly awaiting its release. Additionally, other promising titles like Nighthaven and Immortals: Fenyx Rising – The Lost Gods are set to explore the vampire theme in exciting new ways.
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Q: Are there any vampire games suitable for younger audiences? A: While most vampire games tend to be geared towards mature audiences, there are a few options for younger players as well. The Sims 4: Vampires offers a more light-hearted and comedic take on vampire life, making it suitable for a younger audience. Additionally, A Vampyre Story provides a charming point-and-click adventure with a cheesy sense of humor that can be enjoyed by players of all ages.
25. Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong (Metascore: 66)
It’s a shame that Vampire: The Masquerade has fallen out of the mainstream, with Bloodlines being considered the best title that makes the most of this IP. With Bloodlines 2 requiring a developmental restart and still likely a late 2024 release at best, fans can instead satiate themselves with a wealth of narrative-driven games set in the series that are pretty interesting in their own right.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is one such game that focuses on this choice-driven gameplay, with the results being pretty engrossing. The game’s execution can falter at points, but fans of Vampire: The Masquerade as a whole will find Swansong to be a great time.
24. El Paso, Elsewhere (Metascore: 78)
Players who want to experience a stylish third-person shooter with a flair for style and finesse will love what El Paso, Elsewhere brings to the table. The game is an ode to Remedy’s stylish action games like Max Payne and is perfect for fans of this studio’s games who want to take on Dracula himself.
The stylish action of this game coupled with its focus on supernatural elements is a blast. The fact that El Paso, Elsewhere manages to nail its action game feel to such an impressive degree speaks volumes about developer Strange Scaffold’s love for both Remedy’s style of action and classic vampire stories.
23. Van Helsing (Metascore: 64)
Van Helsing is a character who’s been featured in many video games, including a lesser-known action title on the PS2 that deserves its plaudits. Devil May Cry clones were all the rage around this time, and Van Helsing is no exception here.
Players steadily acquire a wealth of new weapons, using them in tandem with their firearms to wreak havoc against their enemies. It’s not the deepest game around, but is perfect for players who want to enjoy an old-school brawler where they step into the shoes of a legendary vampire slayer.
22. Code Vein (Metascore: 70)
Code Vein is one of the many Soulslikes that adds its unique spin to the formula. This one has a rather unique take on vampires, referring to them as Revenants. The lore and story of this game are pretty interesting as players create a Revenant from scratch and fight the monsters that have awakened during an apocalyptic event called the Great Collapse.
It’s up to the player to figure out what’s going wrong, uncovering a tantalizing mystery and meeting a wealth of intriguing characters in the process. While the level design of this game can be pretty disappointing at times, the core gameplay of Code Vein coupled with its stylistic presentation makes up for its negatives, which are easy to overlook after a point.
21. The Sims 4: Vampires (Metascore: 70 Base Game)
The Sims 4 had one of the most disastrous launches in gaming history, missing many features that were commonplace in previous entries and missing the groundbreaking open-world that had made The Sims 3 such an incredible game. It took a long while for EA to help fans come around to this title… and, even then, many detractors aren’t huge fans of The Sims 4 and what they perceive to be a game that is missing the soul of Maxis’ beloved franchise.
However, fans who gave The Sims 4 a chance after the many expansions and updates that were released are pleased by the way this game has turned its reputation around, establishing itself as one of the best life simulation titles on the market. Many DLCs were launched for this game, including The Sims 4: Vampires, which added the creatures of the night to the title and let players control numerous Vampire Sims who had to blend into society while feeding off other Sims to satiate their bloodthirst.
20. BloodRayne (Metascore: 76)
BloodRayne is a third-person action game that follows the story of Rayne, a dhampir who must stop Nazi occultists from using supernatural artifacts to win World War 2. That premise sounds insane yet does a great job of showcasing what BloodRayne is all about.
The game features fast-paced, acrobatic combat, with Rayne using her vampiric abilities to slice and dice her way through hordes of enemies. BloodRayne is known for its stylish and gory gameplay, as well as its unique blend of vampire lore and historical fiction. Players were glad to see that this title and its sequel received an updated release as well, even if the work put into the same was minimal at best.
19. Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 (Metascore: 80)
Soul Reaver 2 is one of the many excellent titles in the Legacy of Kain series that is an underrated masterpiece in every way. It follows the story of Raziel, a former vampire who is seeking revenge against his former master, Kain.
However, as the story evolves, Raziel’s motivations change and turn him into a pretty engaging character in the process. The game’s intricate storytelling and gothic atmosphere are easily two of its biggest strengths, and it’s a shame that this series has remained dormant for so long despite boasting such amazing quality.
18. Legacy Of Kain: Defiance (Metascore: 75)
The final game in the Legacy of Kain series continues the trend of excellence in this franchise and is an excellent action-adventure game that fans of the genre should check out. The mere fact that players can play as both Kain and Raziel is enough of a draw for many people to love this experience from start to end.
The game features fast-paced combat, with both main characters featuring their unique abilities and weapons. The game includes puzzles and platforming elements, with its intricate narrative that ties together the narrative of the entire Legacy of Kain series and clears up any doubts players had about the more open-ended nature of certain stories. If this game is going to be the last one in the series, then there’s no denying that it went out with a bang.
17. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt (Metascore: 77)
There’s seemingly no end to the battle royale genre, and while most games have come off as cheap imitators of the genre’s biggest success stories, some have distinguished themselves with unique aesthetics, interesting mechanics, or both. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt is a solid entrant in the “both” category.
The game allows players to make their custom character belonging to one of several vampire clans. From there, they’re set free in the streets of Prague to drink the blood of mortals, hunt down their fellow Kindred, and avoid violating the Masquerade and exposing the secret existence of vampires. Thanks to the game’s verticality, breakneck combat, and a diverse suite of powers, Bloodhunt easily sets itself apart as not only one of the best vampire games but also one of the best battle royales.
16. Darkest Dungeon – The Crimson Court (Metascore: 82)
Darkest Dungeon has a reputation for having a punishing difficulty level. It’s not enough that one’s party of intrepid heroes can be stabbed, bludgeoned, melted, and otherwise killed by the legion of horrific monsters they face; they must also avoid losing their minds to stress. This grim premise is the perfect backdrop for introducing the vampiric curse and making things that much worse for players.
Characters afflicted with the Crimson Curse develop an insatiable thirst for blood. The player can try to cure their characters of this vampiric malady, but it may be preferable to let them dive deeper into their unnatural hunger. Characters who succumb to the Crimson Curse and are allowed to feed bolster their strength with the supernatural power of blood, leaving it up to the player to decide whether the Crimson Curse is more of a horrific blessing in disguise.
15. V Rising (Metascore: N/A Early Access)
Many vampire games are narrow affairs. As a member of the undead, one is beset by enemies on all sides, and the player’s top priority is making sure their undeath isn’t abruptly ended. There’s nothing wrong with such plots, but they don’t leave much room for exploring other aspects of vampiric life, such as what a vampire is supposed to do with all the time their immortality gives them.
V Rising is an ambitious open-world title that does its best to answer that question, at least in part. In it, the player is free to travel the countryside, develop their castle, and make friends (and enemies) among the living and the dead, all while avoiding the killing glare of the sun. With crafting, base-building, combat, and numerous other activities to get sunk into, V Rising makes a compelling case for being one of the most complete undead experiences out there, ensuring it won’t be forgotten any time soon.
14. A Vampyre Story (Metascore: 75)
A point-and-click adventure reminiscent of classics such as the Monkey Island series, A Vampyre Story follows Mona, a woman who is unwillingly turned into a vampire and forced to live in a castle. After her “husband” comes into intimate contact with a stake, Mona sets out on an adventure to head back to Paris.
A puzzle game with a somewhat cheesy sense of humor, A Vampyre Story benefits greatly from having a devilishly charming art style. Mona is a fine enough protagonist, and her adventure is set to continue in the future with the release of A Vampyre Story: Year One.
13. BloodLust 2: Nemesis (Metascore: N/A)
Since 2015, WRF Studios has been quietly putting together an enjoyable vampire-centric universe. As a sequel to 2015’s BloodLust Shadowhunter, Nemesis builds well upon the foundations laid by its predecessor. Both games take some inspiration from Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines, although the BloodLust games place a heavier emphasis on combat and dungeon crawling.
While rough around the edges, these vampire games are passion projects made by a small but dedicated team. Permitting someone goes in knowing full well that these are budget titles, they should have quite a bit of fun. 2021’s Vampirem is also pretty good.
12. Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds (Metascore: 77)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the best vampire-related TV shows of all time, and the franchise even spawned a few decent games. 2002’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer on the Xbox is a fun action-adventure title, but 2003’s Chaos Bleeds is slightly superior. Taking place during the fifth season of the show and involving the “First,” the personification of pure evil in Buffy’s universe, Chaos Bleeds ties into the series impressively well, serving something more satisfying than just fan service.
Along with Buffy, Chaos Bleeds comes with a couple of other playable characters, including Spike. So, not only does this game offer players the chance to kill vampires as the slayer, but they can also step into the shadows of a vamp.
11. Infamous 2: Festival Of Blood (Metascore: 78)
Cole MacGrath has led quite a peculiar life. As gaining superpowers was not weird enough, Infamous: Festival of Blood throws vampires into the mix. Now, this game is not canon, and Cole’s meeting with Bloody Mary is just a story told by Zeke, but that doesn’t make Festival of Blood any less enjoyable to play through.
The expansion reuses Infamous 2’s map, but Cole’s new powers and the UGC missions more than make up for it. Festival of Blood might not last too long, but it is one of the best vampire games on not just the PS3 but any console.
10. Hunter: The Reckoning (Metascore: 79)
Based on a tabletop RPG, Hunter: The Reckoning is a hack-and-slash action game that only launched on the GameCube and original Xbox. This exclusivity led to Hunter becoming an overlooked gem of that era despite good reviews.
Vampires and a legion of monsters have taken over, and it’s up to the player to fight back. This game is certainly no Devil May Cry, but a fun enough equivalent for those wanting a vampire hunter game. Hunter: The Reckoning also spawned two sequels, called Wayward and Redeemer.
9. Lunar Knights (Metascore: 82)
When acclaimed game developer Hideo Kojima comes up, most are quick to think of the Metal Gear Solid games or the recent and disappointing Death Stranding. In 2006, Kojima released an action RPG focusing on vampire hunters…hunting vampires. Pretty straightforward.
Originally, the Japanese version featured an exclusive mechanic using a solar sensor and a microphone. However, when Lunar Knights was revamped for international release, these mechanics were removed. This does not stop Lunar Knights from being a fun dungeon crawler with awesome vampiric bosses to contend with.
8. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – Dawnguard (Metascore: 73)
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim featured a decent vampire addition but nothing worth writing home about. That changed with the Dawnguard expansion, which added a new faction for the Dragonborn to join. The Dawnguard battle a legion of vampires known as Volkihar.
While it can be considered cheating to add DLC to the list, the Dawnguard DLC is one of the best vampire experiences in gaming. The addition of the crossbow, the lore, and the locations all make it stand out perfectly. For those who wish to play this DLC natively on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, Skyrim: Anniversary Edition is a solid option.
7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood And Wine (Metascore: 92)
Yet another DLC expansion, this time for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. With over ten hours of main story gameplay and about fifty hours of side missions, Blood And Wine is long enough to be its own standalone game.
Geralt is contracted by the Duchess of Toussaint to investigate and kill the monster stalking her lands. This results in a lot of vampire action and, as usual with The Witcher 3, a seemingly endless list of side missions to have fun with.
6. Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver (Metascore: 91)
The Legacy Of Kain series is often labeled as one of the pinnacle vampire gaming franchises. It combines unique lore with epic storytelling. One of the most beloved entries in the franchise is the second game, Soul Reaver. The main protagonist is a ghostly vampire which allows him to swap between the real world and the astral plane.
Combined with addictive hack-and-slash gameplay, Soul Reaver has become a classic that spawned several sequels. Speaking of which…
Continue to Part 2 for the remaining games
References
- Castlevania: Link
- Vampire Survivors: Link
- Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines: Link
- Vampirem: Link
- Nighthaven: Link
- Immortals: Fenyx Rising – The Lost Gods: Link
Now that we’ve explored the fascinating world of vampire games, why not sink your teeth into these exhilarating experiences and share your adventures on social media? Remember, the night is young, and the hunt awaits!
This article was written by Ritwik Mitra, a gaming and writing expert. Connect with him on Twitter or visit his website ritwik-mitra.com for more gaming insights and articles.
