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. This kind of came to an end when Twilight became a franchise and killed the vampire concept.
Though vampires have slowed down, they have had quite the history in gaming. Whether they are the main protagonist or the antagonist, vampires have been part of games since the 1980s. It’s time to take a look at the best and we’re going to avoid the Castlevania series since that would take up half of the list.
10 Hunter: The Reckoning
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. It’s certainly no Devil May Cry but a fun enough equivalent for those wanting a vampire hunter game. Hunter: The Reckoning also spawned two sequels: Wayward and Redeemer.
9 Lunar Knights
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. Well in 2006, Kojima released an action-RPG focusing on vampire hunters…hunting vampires. Pretty straight forward.
Originally, the Japanese version featured an exclusive mechanic using a solar sensor and the microphone. However, when the game 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 V: Skyrim – Dawnguard
The Elder Scrolls V: 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 standout perfectly.
7 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood And Wine
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 per usual with The Witcher 3, a seemingly endless list of side missions to have fun with.
6 Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver
The Legacy Of Kain series is often labeled as one of the pinnacle vampire 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…
5 Blood Omen 2
Soul Reaver was a great new addition to the series but the third game returned to the roots. Kain is the protagonist yet again and the presentation was better than ever. Kain’s vampire abilities are some of the best in the series, the story is great, and the gameplay continues to be addictive.
Fans of the Legacy Of Kain series often debate on which is better: Soul Reaver or Blood Omen 2. Even to this day, the games remain iconic gems of that era which is a testament to Crystal Dynamics’ work.
4 Darkwatch
While games like Legacy Of Kain and Vampire The Masquerade reigned supreme, there was another vampire title that passed under the radar. Darkwatch is a first-person shooter about a gunslinger turned vampire named Jericho Cross who joins the Darkwatch organization to stop a demonic vampire lord named Lazarus.
Darkwatch uses a morality system to determine what upgrades the player gets. The wild west setting was different for the time and the undead monsters are all exquisitely designed. There was a planned sequel but it was unfortunately canceled.
3 BloodRayne II
Imagine if Devil May Cry merged with Bayonetta with a hint of the Legacy Of Kain games. The result is BloodRayne II, a much superior game to its predecessor which focuses on a dhampir named Rayne continuing the hunt for her evil father Kagan.
Now in contemporary times, Rayne hacks and slashes to stop Kagan’s followers from taking over the world. The hack and slash gameplay is at its finest here as it’s way more refined. It takes more than just spamming a button to win, much like the Legacy Of Kain games. Good luck trying to find a copy though, it is a rare game to find these days.
2 Vampyr
It was difficult to choose between Vampyr and the final entry on the list. Vampyr was the big return to the world of vampires in gaming. It focuses on Jonathan Reid, a vampire who is a surgeon in post-World War 1 London with the influenza outbreak.
Vampyr can best be described as a vampiric version of Mass Effect. Tons of dialogue options, story decisions, and RPG mechanics to keep the player hooked for hours. The 1918 London setting also makes for a visually stunning Gothic look for the game. For anyone in need of a modern vampire game, Vampyr is the best option; it’s even available for free on PSN for October.
1 Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines
Vampyr is an amazing contender for the best vampire game. However, as great of an RPG as it is, it still does not manage to beat Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines. There’s a reason why Bloodlines 2 is so anticipated: the first game is one of the most unique and massive RPGs of its time.
With Vampyr, Jonathan Reid and his awesome abilities are all the player gets. In Bloodlines, there are many classes of vampires to become and evolve in the open-ended world. It can essentially be considered the Skyrim of vampire games, that’s how free the player is with Bloodlines. Fans can only hope the long-awaited sequel lives up to the legacy that this RPG left in its wake.
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