Not to be confused with the upcomingVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2,Big Bad Wolf’sVampire: The Masquerade - Swansongis a very different experience. Sharing more in common with the Telltale Games style of narratively-driven experiences, there is no combat at all.
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Instead,Swansongplays more like a detective adventure game with the RPG elements focused on building a character’s personality traits. Thanks to these hybrid mechanics,Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong’stake on theWorld of Darknessfranchise is unique. However, there are still many games that share similar mechanics and experiences. With that in mind, this list focuses on games that share similar gameplay features as well as some vampire-based titles for fans to enjoy.
7The Council
If one loves the mechanics andnarratively-driven experienceofVampire: The Masqueradethen they should check out the developer Big Bad Wolf’s previous work,The Council. It includes similar complex RPG mechanics toSwansongand also shares similar themes and character designs.
Players can build their character by putting points into certain personality traits and skills. These skills like diplomacy or detective can reveal very different interactions with the other characters. It’s these same mechanics that have evolved intoSwansong.
6Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
The original game in theVampire: The Masqueradeseries isBloodlines, an action RPG for the PC. The gameplay is significantly different fromSwansong,as it employs more RPG mechanics. It became a cult hit with fans of the tabletop RPG despite its technical issues and set the tone for the LA set RPG. It was left to fans to modify and fix the game and is thankfully in a much better state today. However, a modern-day remaster of this title would make sense given the push the franchise has on modern consoles.
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Just likeSwansong,it’s set in the modern-day only this story focuses on a recently turned vampire as they rise through the ranks ofthe vampire underworld and its many factions. Those looking to explore more of whatThe World of Darknessuniversehas to offer should start with the originalBloodlines. Unfortunately, the sequelVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2has been hit with several delays, and a release date is yet to be announced.
5Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
Fans that simply want to explore another rich and deep universe that is centered around vampires should invest their time in theCastlevaniaseries. The gameplay is vastly different but the RPG mechanics and story that the series employs have spawneda sub-genre of their own lovingly referred to as Metroidvania.
The most critically acclaimed game in the series isCastlevania: Symphony of the Night, which is readily available on most platforms. The game features a compelling narrative full of twists and surprises for the player to invest in.
4Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow
Expanding theCastlevaniaseries further was the 3D action-adventure gameCastlevania: Lords of Shadow. Despite being critically acclaimed it’s often overlooked as aCastlevaniatitle as it shares more in common with theGod of WarandDevil May Cryseries.
The production values are fantastic, it features a great soundtrack, top-notch visuals, and a compelling narrative. This narrative is backed up by a great voice cast provided by the actors Robert Carlyle, Patrick Stewart, and Natasha McElhone. It still retains some of the Metroidvania mechanics but the focus is more on action and narrative.
3The Wolf Among Us
Even thoughVampire: The Masquerade - Swanswongis an RPG it’s fundamentally a narratively-driven supernatural detective game. That’s why Telltale’sThe Wolf Among Usis an easy recommendation.
It’s a graphic adventure gameset in theFablesuniverseand centers on the protagonist Bigby Wolf, a private investigator and a werewolf. It’s a dark world where the fairytale characters and communities have integrated into the real world. Wolf is investigating a serial killer on the loose in Fabletown, New York. LikeSwansong, it features branching dialogue choices and a narrative that changes according to the decisions the player makes.
2Blood Omen: Legacy Of Kain
A top-down action-adventure RPG,Blood Omen: Legacy of Kainis considered by many fans to be the best in the series. It plays very differently from the platforming 3D adventure gamesLegacy of Kain: Soul Reaver.
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This game begins with Kain in his early days as a vampire as he hunts down the Circle of Nine. It features several mechanics where Kain has to ensure that his blood is replenished by feeding on his enemies. The story is well-told with great voice acting and narration. It’s one of the earlier games that allows players to feel like they are in the shoes of a vampire and it remains one of the best.
1Vampyr
In recent years, developers Dontnod Entertainment have become better known for their work on theLife is Strangeseries. In many ways,Swansongshares quite a few gameplay mechanics with that series. However, their action RPGVampyris a much better fit.
Incorporating many elements from graphic adventure games, there’s a heavy emphasis on dialogue-based role playing too. LikeSwansong,the choices the player makes affectthe NPCs around Londonand can change the outcome of the story. Moreover, the game leans heavily into vampire lore, and how the character moves and behaves in the world.
Vampyr: The Masquerade - Swansongis available now for the PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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