A gripping vampire thriller, but not a worthy successor to "Bloodlines"
29.10.2025
Translation: machine translated
I have been waiting over 20 years for the successor to "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines". It offers practically nothing of what characterised the legendary role-playing game back then. Nevertheless, "Bloodlines 2" still grabbed me.
I am convinced that if «Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2» had a different name, the reviews would be more positive. 64 per cent on Opencritic is disappointing. The fact that it has taken over 20 years and several studios to bring out a sequel to the cult role-playing game from 2004 shows the difficulty of the project. Although the vampire game was released rather banned at the time, it has long since achieved legendary status. It offered a unique setting with mafia-like vampire clans, dark stories and a complex role-playing system with classes that play completely differently. On its own, «Bloodlines 2» nevertheless serves up a thrilling vampire thriller in a fairytale Seattle.
Get out of my head
«Bloodlines 2» starts coherently. I wake up from a deep sleep and find myself disorientated in an abandoned tower block. What am I doing here, how did I get here and what is this mysterious mark on my hand? It's not just me who is confused. There's a second voice in my head. And it's just as surprised to find itself in someone else's body. It belongs to Phyre, a so-called «ancestor», a pure-blooded vampire. She or he - both are available - is better known as Nomad. A mysterious figure who has wandered the earth for hundreds of years. The male voice, on the other hand, belongs to Fabian, a police detective who is also a member of the bloodsucker family.
Source: Philipp Rüegg
I like the dynamic of these two from the very first minute. Phyre is a powerful vampire who has been through a lot and nothing impresses her easily. Fabian is the typical washed-up sleuth, with a tiny office, who commands little respect but has a keen nose. After some initial scepticism, their relationship warms up over time. Both seem refreshingly mature. Together they try to find out who or what led them to their fate.
In the process, they stumble across a series of murders dating back over a hundred years. Fabian was already investigating back then, but the trail was lost. At the same time, a new prince, or rather princess, Ryong Choi, has taken over as head of the quarrelsome vampire clan. Their power is anything but secure and several parties are fighting for influence over Seattle.
The main story is the highlight of the game. It is carried by numerous charismatic personalities, who are excellently voiced in English. Although the characters move very little during conversations, their faces are extremely expressive. And they are almost all placed in dramatically lit scenes. I usually meet the researcher Safia in her dark laboratory, which is bathed in bright red. Lou, the sawed-off predecessor of the current prince, is waiting for me in an opulently furnished and dimly lit hotel suite. Niko, the pawnbroker, always has his hood pulled over his piercing-covered face, which is illuminated by a green light. Most of the time I can't even make out the source of the gaudy lighting, but that doesn't matter. The main thing is that it looks great.
Source: Paradox
The rest of Seattle at night is also dramatically staged. Every corner reflects the light of neon-coloured illuminated signs in the snow. Even in dark side streets, you can rely on the tail light of a stationary vehicle to illuminate the scene.
Super vampire
The vampire power fantasy is also a success. In the body of Phyre, I sprint through the streets at breakneck speed, run up walls and float over rooftops. Traversing through Seattle is a lot of fun. I'm less conspicuous on the rooftops than when I'm running through the streets on all fours like a wild animal. After all, it's important to keep up the masquerade and not be recognised as a vampire. If I slurp out a passer-by in the middle of the pavement as if he were a Bloody Mary, the police are soon breathing down my neck. If I overdo it completely, the game ends with a game-over screen, but not without a hunter driving a stake through my heart.
Source: Paradox
The combat system also feels great for the most part. Phyre relies almost exclusively on melee combat. I can hurl weaker opponents through the air with a powerful punch. Dodging is lightning fast. Each of the six factions also has four unlockable active abilities. Publisher Paradox originally wanted to hide the Lasombra and Toreador behind a 22-dollar DLC. After a huge outcry, they finally rowed back.
I decided in favour of the Ventrue. I can use it to force opponents to commit suicide or control them remotely. The latter is particularly useful with large enemies so that they can do the dirty work for me. I can learn skills from other factions in a roundabout way. However, this costs significantly more skill points. The skills make battles, which are surprisingly well-paced, quite fun.
There is a lack of variation, both in the enemy types and in the approach. This is partly made up for by the great mobility. There are no weapons or other equipment. I can only fire weapons at enemies using telekinesis. Sometimes the fights degenerate into trial and error, because even as a super vampire I am quickly overwhelmed. While I nibble on an enemy to replenish life and energy, the enemies continue to pummel me.
Source: Paradox
Other role-playing elements are not offered by «Bloodlines 2». When I played the game at Gamescom, the developers of The Chinese Room and publisher Paradox emphasised that it is also an action role-playing game. I would even go so far as to describe it as an action-adventure game - a genre term that is rarely used these days. However, it applies well to «Bloodlines 2», because action is not at the centre.
Walking vampire
I spend most of the game travelling as Fabian. In regular flashbacks, I take on murder investigations as the talkative Malkavian vampire. And I do this twice. Once at the beginning of the 20th century and once shortly before Phyre's arrival.
Source: Philipp Rüegg
Fabian's investigations consist solely of shambling from A to B in Seattle, interrogating suspects and investigating crime scenes. There's nothing to do along the way except occasionally draw blood at human blood refuelling stations. This is how I top up my investigative vampire skills, without which the game doesn't progress. So it's a complete waste of time.
Fabian can talk to dead people, but also to objects like filing cabinets and pool tables. It's just an embellished representation of Fabian's thought processes, but a very entertaining one. Especially when he imitates the voice of objects. Fabian can also manipulate the memories of humans and vampires in order to access their memories. Having to constantly walk from one corner of Seattle to the other to investigate doesn't feel particularly vampiric. Unlike Phyre, Fabian can neither climb walls nor levitate.
Source: Paradox
I'm still an absolute fan of Fabian's film noir character. His dry humour and compassionate nature make him very likeable. Even if the game becomes sluggish as soon as he takes the reins. If only there were at least some exciting decisions to make. The game is very linear. Although characters react differently to certain answers, after two thirds of the game I have hardly noticed any noticeable effects. It will certainly influence the six different endings, but for the actual game it is a wasted opportunity. Just like the side quests, which rarely offer exciting dialogue and mostly consist of delivery or murder tasks. The fact that there isn't even a quest log says it all.
The implemented, extremely ridiculous, romance options for some secondary characters are a complete mystery to me. You don't need to do much more than choose the completely obvious answers in order to charm the other person. As soon as it's time to have sex, the picture goes black for a few seconds. Sometimes I hear some moaning, maybe a sentence or a whip and that's it. In contrast, «Leisure Suit Larry» is hardcore porn.
Source: Paradox
«Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2» is available for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
In a nutshell
An atmospheric vampire thriller, but not the sequel I was hoping for
Bloodlines 2 doesn't quite get my blood pumping. The special moments don't quite measure up to those in the first Bloodlines. Even 20 years later, I can still remember the horror detour to the Ocean Hotel and the Sibling Rivalry quest with the llama. Nevertheless, Bloodlines 2 still grabs me with its grandiose level design and soundtrack, which varies between classical, rock, and electro.
The atmosphere in kitschy, Christmassy Seattle contributes greatly to this. A few more iconic buildings or objects worth discovering wouldn't have hurt. Nevertheless, I enjoy strolling, or rather floating, through this neon-lit city. Even as a mere backdrop, the world is worth a visit. And the story of murder, intrigue, and power struggles fits perfectly into it.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is not a true successor to Troika's cult role-playing game. But honestly, if it had been called something else, I probably would never have tried it. If, like me, you're a fan of vampire stories and film noir settings, you're in for an exciting crime thriller. It even made me want to play the original again. Let's see which class I haven't tried yet.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chAs a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.
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