Best Open World Games Featuring Vampires

Vampires are a crucial element of fantasy and folklore alike. It's no surprise, then, that plenty of open world games feature vampires to some extent. They could be supporting characters, crucial elements of the lore and world-building, or the main focus of their respective game.

Vampires can fit into plenty of aesthetics and settings, from medieval fantasy all the way to the modern day. They may be heartthrobs with a youthful appearance, or pale and winged creatures of the night. This allows plenty of games to utilize the vampire mythos, drawing inspiration from the tenured and historical inclusion of vampires in various forms of media.

8 Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

A Gift From Serana

Skyrim is a title that most gamers should not need to be introduced to. The critically acclaimed 5th entry in the Elder Scrolls series is known for its deep and rich open world, as well as its incredible fantasy elements.

In the first DLC for Skyrim, Dawnguard, one of these fantasy elements takes center stage. This, of course, is the concept of vampirism and vampire hunters. There are two options in the DLC. Players can join the Dawnguard and take the fight to Lord Harkon and his vampire family. Conversely, players can accept the gift of vampirism from their new companion Serana, and gain the ability to transform into a vampire lord, ultimately helping Serana overthrow her father, Lord Harkon. This transformation comes with new magic, abilities, and a monstrous winged appearance.

7 The Witcher 3

Not Your Typical Vampires

The Witcher 3 has a sprawling and densely packed open world, filled with all sorts of fantastical creatures and unsettling monstrosities. It should be no surprise, then, that The Witcher 3 also includes vampires. Most notable among them is the high vampire, Regis, just one of the many types of vampire within The Witcher 3.

Interestingly, the vampires in The Witcher 3 do not follow traditional vampire rules. In fact, such rules are considered myths within the lore of the franchise. Typical vampire rules, such as aversion to holy water and garlic or transformation via biting, are simply folklore within The Witcher canon.

6 Baldur's Gate 3

Astarion — Enough Said

Baldur's Gate 3 utilizes Dungeons and Dragons lore to present players with unique and interesting fantasy concepts. Its vast and nuanced story allows for these concepts to be tackled in compelling and intriguing ways.

Related

Baldur's Gate 3: Top 13 Astarion Quotes

Astarion is one of Baldur's Gate 3's most beloved characters, and these quotes are perfect examples of why so many fans have fallen in love with him.

Posts 1

By  Lyna De Wit

One such example is that of Astarion grappling with his vampiric urges. Throughout his quest line, the player must help Astarion come to terms with the trauma of his past, being turned and enslaved by a master vampire. Ultimately, players can convince him to break the cycle, or to take his master's power. Baldur's Gate 3 brings a thought-provoking ethical discussion to the concept of vampirism through Astarion's story, a concept not always done well in vampire stories.

5 Code Vein

Like Dark Souls, But Vampiric

Inspired by titles like Dark Souls and Godeater, Code Vein offers a vampire combat experience set in a vast world, with excellent customization options. Whilst lacking the polish of 'Soulsborne' games, Code Vein is undeniably a compelling action game, coupling difficult souls-like combat with vampire fantasy.

The game contains plenty of flair within its animations and design, boasting an extensive character creator that allows players to immerse themselves within the setting. Despite technically being vampires, the characters in Code Vein operate under many scientific principles, allowing for an interesting deviation from the expected formula.

4 Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

The Classic Vampire Franchise

Castlevania is a long-standing and beloved franchise, offering the most tenured vampire gaming experience. Whilst most games in the series contain level-based gameplay, Lords of Shadow 2 includes an open world, something unprecedented for the series.

Released in 2014, Lords of Shadow 2 sees players take control of Dracula (Gabriel Belmont) in a modern-day iteration of London. Though many players consider the gameplay average, many more praise the tone and setting. The game offers a unique modern setting for a character usually seen in more medieval locales, coupled with a bombastic and foreboding soundtrack. This gives Lords of Shadow 2 a distinct and memorable style, both in setting and atmosphere.

3 V Rising

A Vampire Take On Survival

V Rising is an open-world survival game that sees players take control of a vampire in a gorgeous gothic environment. Players are placed in a unique position. They are both a vampire set on re-building their empire, as well as a more traditional survival game protagonist, desperately trying to survive.

Related

V Rising: 11 Best Jewelry Pieces, Ranked

Jewelry is more important than just looking fancy. In V Rising, the piece scores are almost as valuable as the rest of the equipment combined.

Posts

By  Juliet Childers

The game allows players to live out a true vampire fantasy, slowly building up a castle and an army of thralls. V Rising offers an immersive vampire experience too, featuring a day/night cycle that promotes strategizing around the deadly daytime sun. Few games offer the ability to slowly build up vampiric powers and status quite like V Rising does.

2 Vampyr

A Return To Whitechapel

Vampyr is an interesting title that hasn't had the recognition of a lot of modern RPG releases. It features the under-utilized setting of early 1900s London, which perfectly matches the tone of the game.

Gamers play as Jonathan Reid, a doctor who recently became a vampire and must balance his thirst for blood with the desire to cure London of the Spanish Flu. The story is set in Whitechapel, an area of London where most Dracula stories place Dracula's first kill. The game offers entirely peaceful solutions to every situation, provided the player doesn't mind making the game harder on themselves due to the lack of new and useful vampire abilities. This presents two distinct ways to play the game: as a monstrous vampire who feasts on the innocent, or as the doctor trying to find a cure.

1 Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

The Premier Vampire Experience

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is often considered the best vampire gaming experience. Based on a tabletop RPG of the same name, the game offers a dense and gritty open world to provide players with the perfect environment to live out the vampire fantasy.

Players can pick from multiple clans, all of which come with their own backstories, powers, and dialog options. Each clan offers up multiple avenues of exploration and ultimately multiple endings. The sheer variety of clans offers a plethora of play styles and experiences. For example, players can blend in as many of the clans in the game, operating through manipulation and social disguising. However, picking the Nosferatu clan completely changes how the game is approached, as players can no longer blend in due to their hideous appearance. The distinction between the 13 clans, coupled with the story and setting explains why Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines has such a cult following, even so far removed from its 2004 release date.

More

The Best Vampire Games (That Aren't Castlevania)

Castlevania might be the most iconic vampire gaming series out there, but there are plenty of other great vampire games.

Posts