Best Vampire: the Masquerade Video Games

Vampire: the Masquerade began as a tabletop role-playing game, in which players choose a clan with varying powers and weaknesses to offer unique experiences for each player. Like D&D, one player assumes the role of the DM, in this instance the Storyteller, guiding their plays through personal and gothic horror in real-life settings.

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Due to its popularity, VtM has also branched out into other mediums, such as a TV show, a card game, and a variety of video games that bring players into the world of vampires without the need for dice and a Storyteller. RPGs and visual novels make up most of the VtM video games, but all offer completely unique stories and settings.

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Vampire: the Masquerade – Bloodhunt

An Exciting Battle Royale

Battle Royale

Shooter

Fighting

Platformer

Systems

Released

September 7, 2021

ESRB

t

Each clan in VtM offers a unique range of abilities known as Disciplines, such as the Brujah who can use Potence to gain supernatural strength, or the Tremere who can wield magic with their own blood. Such powers would make excellent mechanics for fun combat gameplay, and this is exactly what players get with Vampire: the Masquerade – Bloodhunt.

Fans were surprised to see a battle royale made based on the TTRPG, as it does seem like an odd or even ill-fitting choice given the rich lore of the universe, but it become a smash hit with many gamers, fans and non-fans alike. The fun yet challenging gameplay was a major draw, and offers gameplay disparate enough from other battle royales such as Fortnite to give players another way to experience their favorite genre, with gothic and vampiric flair.

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Vampire: the Masquerade – Redemption

Follow the Story of One Vampire Spanning Entire Eras

Vampire: the Masquerade – Redemption is one of the earliest VtM video games, as it was an RPG released back in 2000. It follows the story of one vampire named Christof who was embraced back in the Middle Ages, and must navigate the difficulties of the time period as well as vampirism, which comes with a host of whole new issues that no human could have been prepared for.

With the plot of a dangerous, power-thirsty Tzimisce planning on taking each clan’s ancestors’ powers for himself, the stakes are high for Christof, creating a very exciting story for the player to be immersed in. And with two separate timelines that show a completely different side to the world and vampire society, Redemption is a truly fantastic way to experience VtM, even if the game is over 20 years old.

5

Vampire: the Masquerade – Coteries of New York

A Visual Novel Exploring Vampire Politics

Released

December 11, 2019

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Mild Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

Several visual novels were crafted based on the TTRPG, the main two of which are set in New York, a Camarilla domain populated by many fascinating characters, and embroiled with the intriguing city’s politics. The first of the two was Coteries of New York, where the players pick one of three characters who are a new vampire and finding ways to survive and thrive under the strict regime of the Ivory Tower.

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Most of the gameplay involved reading dialogue and providing responses to uncover more of the story and forging alliances with other vampires that would make surviving the nights far more likely. The characters are from a variety of clans with wildly different personalities, which makes each interaction unique and engaging. While it wasn’t viewed as fondly as the other Draw Distance VtM visual novel, it is still a fun experience for VtM fans.

4

Vampire: the Masquerade – Night Road

A Branching and Immersive Narrative

• Platform(s): PC, Android, iOS
• Release Date: September 24th, 2020
• Developer(s): Choice of Games

Unlike other VtM games, Night Road is a text-based adventure, using minimal visuals and instead telling the story completely through the medium of text, with the player selecting choices and dialogue options which can influence the outcome of the game.

The player controls a courier that has the important responsibility of delivering messages from elders and meeting other vampires in the sect across a variety of clans. Romances are even possible for the courier, adding an extra element of excitement for the player. Relying wholly on text to replay the narrative, Night Road does a fantastic job of providing engaging text that will keep the players attention even with its minimal interface.

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Vampire: the Masquerade – Swansong

Uncover the Brewing Conspiracy in the City of Boston

Released

May 30, 2023

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language

Developer(s)

Big Bad Wolf

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

Swansong was one of the more recently released adventure RPGs set in the VtM universe, perfect to whet the players’ appetite who were trapped in the eternal struggle of waiting for Bloodlines 2’s long-awaited release. With intrigue, and three different characters the player controls with vastly different gameplay style, Swansong was a diverse and interesting game that avoids becoming too stale quickly.

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Gale, Emem and Leysha are tasked with looking for the orchestrator of an attack that saw multiple highly influential individuals killed or captured, meaning whoever was behind it had the knowledge and skills to take down vampires, who work hard to keep their existence secret. The protagonists have their own goals they are expected to succeed with, and the choices made can influence the ending that players achieve. Swansong is far from a perfect game, but a fun and intriguing experience all vampire and RPG lovers are sure to enjoy.

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Vampire: the Masquerade – Shadows of New York

Explores the Personal Story of a Newly Embraced Vampire

Released

September 10, 2020

ESRB

r

The second visual novel developed by Draw Distance once more takes place in New York and as such, those who have played Coteries of New York will recognize a few friendly faces, but it features a brand-new protagonist. Journalist Julia Sowinski runs into a slew of issues, such as being fired from her job, that culminates in the ultimate stroke of misfortune–being killed. She doesn’t remain dead, however, as she wakes up as a Lasombra vampire, and is left to figure out everything alone.

Meeting the colorful characters that frequent the night streets of New York make up most of the gameplay, as does gaining more influence in the Camarilla, and navigating her troubled relationship with her girlfriend Dakota, which has the added difficulty of one of them now being an undead who must keep her secret safe.

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Vampire: the Masquerade – Bloodlines

A Flawed but Fanatic Masterpiece

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines

Released

November 16, 2004

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

Developer(s)

Troika Games

In the city of Angels, the player will become a monster, becoming one of the vampires living in the city of LA under the regime of Camarilla Prince LaCroix, to the chagrin of the Anarchs that make up the majority of the vampire LA court. As they were embraced without permission, the Prince orders the execution of the sire but spares the fledgling, with the caveat they must make themselves of use, and follow his orders. They become part of a power play for the throne of LA, all surrounding a sarcophagus which many believe may hold great power, perhaps in the form of an ancient vampire.

The player will travel to many places, meeting different characters and contending with many dangers before making the choice of who they wish to side with, influencing the outcome of their game, With a choice of several different VtM clans that offer different powers, there is much variety in Bloodlines, and as it is such a fantastic game, players definitely will want to play it more than once.

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