TEST Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2: A Dark World That Both Captivates and Disturbs
After years of turbulence, the long-awaited follow-up to Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is here — yet the result may leave the faithful more uneasy than excited.
Released on 21 October 2025 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 was developed by The Chinese Room and published by Paradox Interactive. The original game from 2004 built a cult legacy thanks to its rich RPG systems and player freedom — a legacy many feared this sequel might struggle to live up to.
A legendary vampire, a restrained identity
In a bold departure from the predecessor, you don’t play a young vampire starting out, but rather an ancient elder named Phyre — a 400-year-old legendary vampire awakening in Seattle. The character has a predetermined identity: sex and clan can be chosen, but overall appearance and backstory are fixed.
This choice curtails some of the customisation freedoms active fans expected. Despite this, the narrative delivers. The cast of vampiric characters is full of personality and the dialogue voices hold up well. The game builds its version of vampire society — elegant, vicious, conspiratorial — with care.
Gameplay turned action-RPG, not full open-RPG
Where the original focused heavily on role-playing freedom, stat sheets and branching systems, this sequel leans into action. You’ll punch humans through walls, climb and leap across rooftops, wield telekinesis, and feed on blood to recharge your powers. While initially exhilarating, many critics found this shift disappointing.
Clan choice still affects your initial powers and slightly dialogues, but deeper impact is limited. The city of Seattle serves as a hub world rather than a full open-world sandbox, and fast-travel is missing — meaning a lot of running back and forth. Some welcome the tighter narrative focus, others lament the lost RPG depth.
Strong narrative and atmosphere, but technical and design flaws
The story is dense, morally ambiguous, and dripping with the political tension that defines the World of Darkness universe. Every conversation feels deliberate, every character a shade of gray — from the cunning Ventrue elites to the deranged Malkavians whispering secrets in alleyways. The dialogue delivers exactly the kind of mature, lore-rich experience that long-time fans hoped for.
Visually, The Chinese Room captures Seattle’s nocturnal melancholy with striking precision. Neon reflections bleed across rain-soaked streets, clubs pulse with decadent energy, and quiet corners echo with whispers of the Masquerade. It’s a world that feels genuinely alive — at least at first glance. Unfortunately, that brilliance fades once you start exploring. Enemy encounters lack depth, animations can feel stiff, and technical hiccups.
Final verdict
For newcomers, Bloodlines 2 can still be an intriguing vampire-themed action experience with strong writing and mood. For longtime fans of the original, however, it may feel like a missed opportunity — a game with the right setting and tone but stripped of much of the role-playing substance. Beneath the stylish veneer lies an experience that, in many ways, stops short of delivering on its promise.
What do you make of this sequel-versus-expectation dilemma? Leave a comment below with your thoughts and share how this sequel lands for you.
A video game enthusiast ever since I first got my hands on a Game Boy. Over the years, I've played many different games across various genres, discovering hidden gems and niche titles along the way. I'm also passionate about technology, always up-to-date with the latest news and insight in the PC and Console market. Ready to share and bring you the latest news !
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