Nearly six years ago, we realized that 2004’s clunky cult traditional RPG Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines was going to get a giant ol’ sequel. Now, flash ahead to October 2025, and Bloodlines 2 is almost right here after a rocky development cycle that saw one studio replaced with another and multiple delays. So is the sport definitely worth the 20-year wait and all of the delays? Nicely, it relies upon who you ask.
On October 17, three days forward of Bloodlines 2′s launch on consoles and PC, opinions for the upcoming Chinese language Room-developed motion journey RPG went dwell throughout a number of shops. And critics are in every single place with this one. I’ve learn a number of opinions that make it sound like one among 2025’s worst video games, different opinions that decision it high-quality, and even a number of that make it clear the reviewer actually loved their time within the digital streets of rain-soaked and vampire-infested Seattle.
Some critics praised the sport’s environment, storytelling, writing, and aspect characters, whereas others discovered plenty of that stuff to be disappointing. Others loved Bloodlines 2’s fight and stealth, whereas some look like they might reasonably eat glass than play anymore. The one factor almost each assessment agrees on is that this isn’t actually a sequel to Bloodlines. As a substitute, to many, it’s a linear, action-focused spin-off set in a bland open world with dangerous aspect quests and a few neat concepts.
Whereas some may discover such a wide selection of vital opinions disappointing or annoying, I like it. These are the sorts of video games that may typically shock you, although not at all times in a great way. Both means, I’m going to attempt and take a look at Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 when it launches on October 21 on PS5, Xbox, and PC.
Bloodlines 2 is sweet, typically even nice, and it completely sated my urge for food for a blood-fuelled undead yarn. However it’s a sequel in identify solely, and it by no means actually enthusiastically embraces being an RPG. Given its predecessor’s cult standing, and the supply materials, that’s sure to be a disappointment for some. – Fraser Brown
That is an motion RPG with barely any character growth (and even customisation) in it. You may have 4 talents you should utilize, tied to the clan you belong to, and you’ll unlock all of them inside a few hours of play. And that’s it – you received’t get any extra highly effective after that. Powers don’t evolve or change. You may, in case you like, unlock powers from different clans, however this received’t enhance your total energy or supply extra talents to make use of in fight. It solely presents variation and the potential to combine which 4 talents you utilize, which could result in discovering a brand new mixture you favor, nevertheless it didn’t for me. I ended up utilizing roughly my default talents for the whole lot of the 25-hour recreation. This, coupled with there being no loot or tools within the recreation, makes character growth really feel skinny to the purpose of nonexistent. – Robert Buy
The place it falls down essentially the most, sadly, is as an RPG. You might be enjoying as an elder vampire, so it’s not precisely a typical zero-to-hero story. However simply to provide a consultant instance, the harm your melee assaults do on the very starting is precisely the identical as will probably be within the last boss combat. You awaken new powers known as Disciplines, like having the ability to flip invisible or smooch an enemy to show them to your aspect, however you’ll get all of them to your chosen clan throughout the first eight hours or so, after which level anything is generally a sidegrade. You may improve your well being observe by discovering hidden symbols painted in blood throughout Seattle, however total there isn’t a lot of a way of energy development all through a lot of the marketing campaign. -Leana Hafer
Bloodlines 2 isn’t the everyday RPG many had been anticipating. It tells a fantastic political story, taking you on a grown-up journey the place each selection you make impacts the narrative, and it’s splendidly complicated. The town that The Chinese language Room has constructed has a fantastic environment, and it’s populated by lovable (and hateable) characters. Nonetheless, it might achieve this rather more to dwell as much as its identify by taking nice components from the TTRPG to make you actually really feel like a vampire. As an journey recreation, Bloodlines 2 shines, however these lacking options suck the life out of it as an RPG, for higher and for worse. – Jessica Filby
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is the definition of a crying disgrace. Clumsy writing and flat, repetitive world design expose a handful of excellent concepts that by no means take root, whereas its poor technical high quality and unstable efficiency will render it unplayable for some. The result’s a half-baked, blunt-toothed action-mystery hybrid that disappoints at virtually each flip, struggling to depart even the ghost of an excellent impression. – Jasmine Gould-Wilson
Happily, I believe the wait (and absolutely the chaos of growth) was principally value it. Although I wouldn’t name Bloodlines 2 a fantastic recreation, per se, I had a good time enjoying it. For higher or worse, it retains plenty of Bloodlines’ DNA, mixing motion, stealth, and thriller to create a mature and enthralling, choice-driven RPG. Although not as nitty-gritty or system-heavy as its predecessor, it nonetheless largely feels the identical to play. I swear, I skilled deja vu as I crouched by warehouses and nervously spoke with characters seemingly wanting to sink their enamel into me if I mentioned the incorrect factor to them. Nonetheless, it additionally carries with it some jank and technical points that make it really feel like an early aughts title. -Jessica Cogswell
It appears The Chinese language Room has taken all of Bloodlines‘ bad bits – chiefly janky combat and performance woes – and somehow magnified them. Bloodlines 2 is neither a satisfying sequel nor a strong enough RPG experience to make the splash that the franchise sorely needs. If you’re a long-time Vampire: The Masquerade fan, you may simply discover sufficient to take pleasure in Bloodlines 2. I personally cherished assembly its characters and lurking within the extra hand-crafted sections of Seattle. However in case you had been hoping for a recreation that comes near recapturing the magic of Troika’s traditional, you received’t discover it right here. – Lauren Bergin
