The Best Vampire Games on PC

Bloodlines is certainly one of best PC games – not simply within the vampire games style – that destiny and dangerous enterprise choices dealt a poor hand to. A rushed launch date that put it out on the identical day as Half-Life 2, a nonetheless comparatively unknown developer in Troika, and an inventory of bugs that may make a QA tester weep. It’s unfinished, but it surely’s value taking part in for one primary motive – it’s Deus Ex with vampires, which is a pitch that also makes us swoon.

After selecting certainly one of a number of clans – which alter how the game performs – you’re free to wander across the darkish streets of Los Angeles in quest of souls to feed on, quests to finish, and to search out out why the clans are at one another’s throats (a very dangerous factor for vampires). How you do any of this stuff is as much as you, and it’s all underpinned by the intelligent guidelines of the Masquerade. Be an enthralling Toreador and you may merely persuade thralls to supply their necks to you, however for those who’re a hideous Nosferatu you’ll be skulking via sewers in worry of anybody even seeing you. It is usually a bit tough across the edges, however Bloodlines has sufficient unbelievable concepts to negate any points.

Castlevania is essentially the most revered vampire games saga round, so it’s disappointing simply how few titles within the sequence have truly made it to PC. We’re hopeful we’ll see Symphony of the Night and the opposite 2D Metroidvania games on Steam earlier than too lengthy, however till then we’re lucky to at the very least have the most effective 3D Castlevania game – which can be one of many best action-adventure games ever made.

The first Lords of Shadow is an action-packed epic, mixing God of War-style fight with frantic, thrilling set-pieces. Players tackle the function of Gabriel Belmont and wield a crucifix-chain-whip in opposition to the forces of darkness. The motion is initially somewhat button-mashy however quickly turns into fairly tactical – forcing gamers to combine between direct and space assaults, dodges, counters, combos, and ultimately even magic powers. Better nonetheless, within the sequel Gabriel truly turns into Dracula, and also you don’t get any extra vampire than that.

Vampyr, from Life is Strange developer Dontnod, focuses on telling an emotional vampire story – and it’s an adventure game blended with Dark Souls-inspired fight. For a big chunk of the game you’re speaking to the residents of London, discovering out the supply of the epidemic within the metropolis, and forging new relationships, whereas the remainder of the time you’re combating vampire hunters and werewolves within the misty streets.

Oh, and infrequently murdering an in depth pal. The coolest factor about Vampyr is in selecting your victims. You might depend on rats to get your well being again, by no means killing anybody, and be grossly underpowered for each fight encounter. Or, you may prey on the folks who’ll by no means be missed. Gain their belief, full missions for them, carry them to the healthiest, most hopeful, and most alive they’ve ever been – after which rip their throats out. You’ll get lots of XP, however you’ll really feel lifeless inside.

The attraction of Skyrim is that you would be able to select who you need to be. A melee-focused barbarian who can punch dragons to loss of life? A mage who can blow aside giants with fireballs? Nah, you need to be an undead vampire lord of the damned, feasting on the Nords and solely touring by night time. With nice bonuses like being resistant to illness and poison, and a big bonus to spell harm, Skyrim will be the last word vampire RPG.

Related: Skyrim console commands and cheats

The Dawnguard enlargement provides much more to this fantasy. This Skyrim add-on is fully primarily based round vampirism – with a legion of nosferatu known as the Volkihar Clan in search of to fulfil a prophecy from an Elder Scroll, whereas being hunted by the titular Dawnguard vampire hunters. Even higher, gamers can turn out to be a Dracula-like Vampire Lord, with a brand new ability tree and a spread of latest skills – comparable to transferring super-fast or pulling an enemy in direction of you. Yes, you may turn out to be a vampire Jedi in Skyrim – no Skyrim mods required.

Outside of the Castlevania sequence, the Legacy of Kain games are a number of the hottest vampire games round. There have been 5 games launched between 1997 and 2003, and whereas the Soul Reaver games are notably pleasant, we’re plumping for the ultimate game within the sequence for this listing – Legacy of Kain: Defiance, which was particularly developed to carry all of the disparate storylines collectively.

Even by way of gameplay, Defiance efficiently melds each of the differing Blood Omen and Soul Reaver kinds – with each sequence protagonists playable, main to 2 wildly completely different and equally pleasant experiences. There’s extra enemy selection than earlier games, and it’s extra action-packed too – though there are nonetheless a couple of puzzles within the combine. The story is numerous enjoyable due to sharp writing from Uncharted creator Amy Hennig, so the Legacy of Kain sequence went out on a excessive. Why haven’t we had one other one within the final 15 years?

In the inexplicable absence of any of the good 2D Castlevanias on PC, the Bloodstained games – lead by former Castlevania sequence producer Koji Igarashi – are most likely our greatest wager. Only the primary game, Curse of the Moon, is presently accessible – however fortunately it’s unbelievable. It’s basically a contemporary NES game, with neat gameplay concepts and superb boss battles.

While the gameplay is akin to the primary Castlevanias – platform-action games with restricted particular weapons and lives – Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon considerably tweaks the formulation by having a number of participant characters, all with completely different skills. Zangetsu is hard however close-range solely, Miriam has an extended attain and may roll, Alfred has magic powers however a poor assault, and Gebel can assault upwards and switch right into a bat – sure, he’s a vampire. You have to make use of all these characters and their varied skills to get forward, and it makes for a difficult and pleasant game. Not only one for followers of retro games, in spite of everything.

Despite having a unbelievable premise – kickass vampire vs. Nazis – the 3D Bloodrayne games have been by no means nearly as good as they might’ve been. As it seems, all they wanted in an effort to flip Bloodrayne good was make it 2D and provides the sequence to the action-platformer specialists at MethodForward.

Bloodrayne Betrayal is side-scrolling motion game, however let’s name it what it truly is – it’s a 2D Dark Souls. It can actually be powerful, particularly with the sheer quantity of enemies thrown on the participant – for those who like difficult games Betrayal is for you. It’s by no means unattainable although, as you may all the time suck an enemy’s blood to get well being again. It additionally seems attractive, with timeless comic-book fashion and wonderful animation. It’s so satisfying to chop a vampire in half and stomp on its head.

While Bloodlines is the Vampire: The Masquerade game everybody talks about, earlier title Redemption shouldn’t be dismissed. They’re very completely different games, for starters. While Bloodlines is a vampire Deus Ex, Redemption is nearer to Diablo or The Witcher. It’s not a lot in regards to the fight as it’s pushing ahead in opposition to the percentages, strategically coping with enemies, and scouring new areas for all of the loot you may carry.

The story sees gamers taking over the function of doomed crusader Christof in 12th Century Prague, looking the vampires threatening town earlier than changing into one himself. The story’s enjoyable, if filled with 2000-era videogame voice performing – however the actual shock comes when the story cuts to 800 years later and gamers get to journey to modern-day New York. This utterly transforms the game from a traditional medieval-fantasy hack-and-slash, to a cross between Diablo and, effectively, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines. It could have launched some time in the past, however there’s nonetheless life in Redemption, and it’s one of many best old games on PC.

We’re placing two entries in a single right here, since they’re each expansions for traditional household management game The Sims. They even have the identical objective – carry vampires to the game. Nothing livens up an easy simulation game greater than turning it right into a What We Do In The Shadows remake.

The Sims 2’s Nightlife enlargement added a downtown space to the game with such healthful fare as bowling, karaoke, and getting became a vampire. Vampirism is sort of an Easter egg in Nightlife, however was lastly expanded on in The Sims Three enlargement Supernatural – which was extra particularly constructed round creatures of the night time. With this add-on, you may flip your house into a correct Castle Dracula – gothic furnishings, secret passageways, sinister laboratories, and naturally, a crypt to your undead household’s coffins. It’s enjoyable to handle vampires.

We’re heading to Diablo-town with this trilogy of adventures primarily based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the place you play essentially the most well-known vampire hunter of all of them: Van Helsing (though sadly not the one performed by Hugh Jackman). Set in a twisted tackle 19th Century Europe, the Van Helsing games sees the titular character – son of the well-known hunter from Bram Stoker’s novel – persevering with his father’s mission by in search of out and destroying monsters.

What we get is a trilogy of action-RPGs which can be massively impressed by Diablo, however nonetheless handle to hit all the great factors from Blizzard’s hyper-addictive games. Frantic fight, entertaining monsters, attention-grabbing loot, and all the time feeling compelled to hunt out what’s simply across the subsequent nook. If you’re bored with ready for Diablo 4 – aren’t all of us? – The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is a enjoyable various.