Vampyr

(Spoiler-free)
Vampyr is a role-playing game with an open world set in 1918’s London. The game is also a combination of many elements from other genres which greatly benefits it. It took me years to finally give it a try and I am amazed. The climate, the narrative and the characters made an enormous impression on me. I personally think that this is the best Vampire RPG game out there. It is a must-try for vampire and role-playing games enthusiasts.
When you launch the game, in the lobby you are going to hear an amazing violin song that’s already very climatic. It is a real pleasure for one’s ears. You begin the game with a prologue which introduces you to the story as well as to gameplay basics. The prologue itself lasts around an hour and is very, very climatic. The dark streets of London at night and an amazing audio accompany you throughout the whole experience. I don’t think that you can actually make someone’s first impression better. That’s a prologue done right. It absolutely bought me and made me want to continue playing the game.
In this game we play as Jonathan Reid, a distinguished British gentleman who is also a doctor. The man is hard to not like. The story is deep and keeps you engaged until the end. It is actually a really nice and well-written story (with few exceptions). The characters are explicit, well expressed, all different from each other and very likeable. You will find interactions with them interesting. Well, not all of them are likeable. Some you will like, others you will hate but when you hate someone, what actually stops you from embracing them? Absolutely nothing. You have a lot of freedom in this game and all choices belong to you, however, every decision leads to some consequences. Those can be either harmless or catastrophic.
There are communities in this game and a few interesting mechanics connected to them. You see, we discover hints (information) about people as well as their stories. At least half of them will have separate quest lines connected to them. The more you know about the person, the better reward for killing them will be. There is no faster way to get stronger in this game other than feeding on members of the community. Before that can happen, you have to keep them alive and safe from diseases. When a person is ill, their blood will be affected, granting much less experience than when they are healthy. It can even lead to their death. You will spend a lot of time talking, healing and doing investigations for the citizens but that’s an enjoyable part of the experience.
In summary, the game is great and definitely worth trying. There are some amazing mechanics behind it as well as an interesting story, characters and the climate. The only thing I disliked about this game was combat. Fortunately, it was easy to learn and intuitive. Once I learnt how to fight, it no longer was an issue but it was dreadful at times. I also encountered a few minor glitches that did not affect my experience. Overall, I played an exceptional game and I can recommend it with clear conscience.
If you enjoyed the review you can find more detailed reviews on my curator page here.

Interview with the vampire, but you are the vampire, and you interview everyone.
You spend at least double the time talking to people than fighting enemies,
10/10, would interview again

A daring nocturnal adventure in the Spanish Flu torn London. Has its flaws, but definitely recommended.

In the beginning, I felt that the game tries to be three games, a vampire game, obviously, a doctor game, surprisingly, and a very English game, refreshingly. OK, most of the time, you will roam on the grim industrial alleys of London, killing anyone, who dares to oppose, but for the first half of the story, you probably would cure the residents, who are still alive. And doing that in a very special, English gentlemanish way.

The story feels more ragtag, than complete. Pity. It has really good concepts and sadly, there are no heavyweight rivals in the vampire game category, so you got to deal with it. Got some subplots, some romance, sime errand boy chores dressed as side quests, but the romance is kind of forced, subplots are usually bland and chores are uninteresting, still, you would do most of them for the XP.

The characters are rather stock, not really deep. Main character has potential, but does not really evolve in character. The romantic interest is forced because no matter what you do, they would say they love each other at the end. (About 80% of the story they were in friendzone max, but I would say acquaintances rather. Suddenly, main character said he loves her. Felt pretty weird.)
Sadly, the game lacks a good antagonist and carefully made villains.
There is a vast number of named NPC-s, though only a handful are more than just potential food.

By the way food...

Unfortunately no vampire games that I tried nail the core concept that our poor predators need to feed occasionaly. I mean not just for healing after fights, but they need it all the time, because blood is food. Sorry, not just food they must consume after a while, it is also a heavy drug, like cocaine for them, so a vampire, working as a surgeon is kind of hell of a story conception.

In this point of view, Vampyr fails also, because no matter how much blood surrounds our dear Jonathan, how strictly you want to force him on a diet, there are no points in the story where you have to battle his hunger or lust. You can suck everyone dry if you want to or spare them, but not because of the said bloodlust.
On the other point of view, Vampyr still manages to center on the human dilemma. Since you can avoid an extremely huge amount of time, spent on XP grinding (side quests, healing, even combat) if you decide to speed up the process by killing some named folks, sooner or later you would not see people, named Jack, John, or Mary, but good food, mediocre food and junk food. You can moralise that you are not a monster if you kill the bully, the crook, or the serial killer, but after 10-15 hours, you simply won't do that. You check the character sheets like a menu and see, who is weak minded enough to become a meal and is it nutritious (XP rich) enough to make it worth your time.
My Jonathan started with the common hero archetype, good doctor, does not kill any citizen. After struggling with combat and thinking a little about that there are folks, whose life would worth the same amount of XP that killing 1.200 enemies... well, suddenly some patients died, some criminals got killed, etc.
Normally I would say, it is bad game mechanic, since if you want to be a good guy, you need to do every chore, every side quest, cure and combat for obnoxiously long, to get enough XP and with that enough power to defeat the bosses. But isn't the concept of vampire about this? Wanna be good? Suffer. Don't want to suffer? Be bad!

And that is where the fun begin. Eat some good mannered people, enjoy taking out the trash, the annoying, or even the innocent. Become an unstoppable Terminator in seconds and enjoy killing anything. Much more fun than the endless grind.
If you are not adamant that you want to discover what character build you want to make, or that you want a completely different one, I strongly suggest that check the guide section and stick to the Eviscerator build, made by a very decent fellow.

The visuals are okay-ish. Not that bad, but could have been nicer. Sometimes the places are lit so well that you think, Jonathan walk in broad daylight. Cutscenes are weird, people start wiggling, like they are drunk, and staring somewhere else for no reason, facial expressions are meh.

The music is good. It really catches the atmosphere. Voices are okay also. I am not sure if the accents are English, but it felt authentic for me.

Combat is odd. Dodging is paramount, sometimes the difference between slicing through hordes with ease and getting killed by only 3 common enemies is that you failed with your dodges. Since it is a vampire game, I preferred using vampire skills rather than weapons. (A decently upgraded Claw skill makes any main hand weapon, two-handed weapon, or firearm useless.)

Overall, the game is far from perfect, but worth your time and money nonetheless. Buy it on sale!

THIS GAME IS FOR YOU IF:
You like pretty graphics with moody lighting.
You like very well written dialogues with superb voice acting.
You dislike huge skill trees. The game offers managable and easy to understand skills.
You like uncomplicated gameplay, go in and out for an hour or two of gaming.
You like dark, gloomy and slightly depressing atmosphere (London, War times, Vampires, moody appropriate music).
You like to stick to the main quest without being thrown into unnecessary side quests (but to be fair, you will have to do some work on the side to gain XP for the main quest, it doesn`t fell though like your typical "fetch quests", it is all connected to the main plot in a way so it is fine)
You like a good, not just average main story.
You don`t like huge maps which you can easily get lost in. The world progression is fairly linear as you steadily "unlock" new areas.

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☑ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☐ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☐ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☑ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☑ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☑ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☑ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☑ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☑ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☐ Never heard of
☑ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☑ 9
☐ 10

This is not the game I thought I was getting into. You are a vampire but in your past life you were a doctor. As a vampire you have a conscience still and you still wish to help people and be a doctor so you join a local hospital and start helping treat the patients there. Although you work at the hospital you also are on the hunt for whatever bloodsucker turned you into a vampire in the first place. They are making short work of the civilians around town and you want to put a stop to it.

Rating 10/10 No complaints here. This game is very unique. It doesn't just let you drain blood from just anyone. You need to be able to mesmerize them first and take them to a secluded place to do it, each person in the game has a mesmerize level and if it's higher than yours you can't mesmerize them.

Vampyr, developed by Dontnod Entertainment (the creators of Life is Strange), is a unique and atmospheric game that leans heavily on storytelling and character development. Set in 1918 London during the Spanish flu epidemic, it offers a haunting and immersive narrative experience where choices have real consequences. While the game has its strengths, particularly in its story and setting, the gameplay itself feels somewhat lacking compared to the engaging narrative.
Story and Character Development
One of Vampyr’s biggest strengths is its deep, story-driven approach. You play as Dr. Jonathan Reid, a renowned surgeon recently turned into a vampire, struggling to balance his Hippocratic Oath with his newfound thirst for blood. The game is largely built around the moral dilemmas Dr. Reid faces, which add a compelling tension as he interacts with NPCs throughout London. Each character you meet has a story, personality, and background that you can uncover through conversation, and your choices shape not only your character but also the fate of each district of the city.
Character development is top-notch, and Dontnod does a fantastic job of making you care about the people you meet. The consequences of your actions, whether you choose to embrace your vampire side or resist the urge to feed, add weight to every decision. Killing an NPC can give you more experience points, making you stronger, but it could also destabilize the community, leading to its collapse. This moral complexity keeps the story engaging and makes Vampyr a standout in terms of narrative-driven gameplay.
Atmosphere and Visuals
The visuals in Vampyr are striking, especially in capturing the dark, eerie atmosphere of early 20th century London. The city streets are shrouded in fog, with gaslights casting ominous glows, creating a beautifully gothic setting that feels perfect for a vampire story. While the graphics may not be the most advanced, the art style and attention to detail bring a haunting beauty to the city, from the rain-soaked alleys to the dimly lit interiors.
The visuals add greatly to the immersion, making you feel like you’re truly navigating a grim, plague-ridden London. The city feels alive, or rather, on the edge of death, with NPCs coughing in the streets and tension hanging thick in the air. Each district has its own vibe and unique NPCs, which adds to the overall richness of the setting.
Gameplay and Mechanics
When it comes to gameplay, Vampyr falls a bit short. Unlike action-focused RPGs, Vampyr is designed more as a story-driven experience than a combat-heavy game. The combat system is fairly basic and, while functional, lacks the depth and polish seen in other action RPGs. Fights can feel repetitive over time, with limited moves and abilities, and they don’t match the intensity or complexity you might expect in a game centered around a vampire character.
The gameplay is mostly about exploration and talking to NPCs, fitting with Dontnod’s strength in storytelling rather than action mechanics. Much of the game consists of running around London, investigating clues, and interacting with various characters to unravel the story. For players who enjoy story-based games like Life is Strange, this narrative focus will feel familiar and satisfying. However, if you’re looking for a combat-focused vampire game, the gameplay may feel too slow or simplistic.
Pros:
Rich, immersive story with moral choices that impact the game world.
Well-developed characters with complex backstories that make the world feel alive.
Beautifully dark atmosphere that captures the eerie feel of London in 1918.
Choice-driven narrative where decisions matter and have real consequences on the world.
Cons:
Mediocre combat system that lacks depth and can feel repetitive.
Gameplay is limited mostly to exploration and conversation, which may not appeal to action-focused players.
Some pacing issues in terms of quests and travel between locations.
Final Thoughts
Vampyr is a game that shines in its storytelling, character development, and atmosphere. It’s a deep, narrative-driven experience that draws you in with its moral complexity and haunting setting. However, the combat and gameplay mechanics feel underdeveloped, which might not appeal to everyone. If you’re a fan of story-based games and are looking for an immersive vampire tale where your choices truly matter, Vampyr is worth the journey through dark London streets. But if you’re seeking a high-action vampire RPG, this game’s slower, more story-focused approach may fall short.