Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, long time coming, long time cooking, long time shifting ideas, but it’s finally about to launch, so it’s time to get ready with everything you need to know about the game, or at least everything we can know before launch.
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty without delay, the game goes live tomorrow (at the time of writing).
The progeny of a 2004 cult classic
Bloodlines 2, as the title might suggest, is a sequel, or at least a follow-up for a cult-classic RPG from 2004, Vampire: the Masquerade – Bloodlines, based on an even more classic tabletop RPG of the same name (sans the “Bloodlines” bit), which would evolve into a TTRPG system-family called World of Darkness.
The original Bloodlines was a remarkable RPG with satisfyingly branching story, memorable characters, a bit of questionable sections that can’t fully be blamed on the source material, and a lot of technical issues. Going in right now, in 2025 after two decades of fan patches and restorations, is a very different experience from what getting in “raw” in 2004 was like.
Despite that, there is a reason Bloodlines is so beloved despite all the jank and weird bits. The desire for a follow up has been growing for twenty years, and it’s coming out tomorrow.
Who are we playing as?
We are Phyre, a centuries old vampire, recently roused from torpor in messy circumstances leaving them (Phyre is customizable) with a brain-guest: a mind of a self-styled noir detective who is a vampire himself, a thinblood of clan Malkavian.
Phyre can hail from one of several clans, but despite their age, something blocks their access to the full range of vampiric powers of their chosen clan. Why are the restrictions there? How to remove them? It’s for you to find out. The game take place in modern-day Seattle, setting is some twenty years after the first game, and about a century after Phyre’s last activity. Vampires can have really long naps.
Clans? What’s that?
A clan is what a certain, well, bloodline, of vampires is called, often named after its original progenitor. Clans have different social standings, area of expertise, and, more importantly for the immediate gameplay: different blood-powered magical abilities. They are based to a degree on various vampiric archetypes from popular (and less popular) culture.
Phyre can belong to one of the following vampire clans:
- Brujah: the clan of brawlers, rebels, fallen from the reputation of the learned clan.
- Banu Haquim: the lawbringers in the shadows, with strong codes of conduct
- Tremere: bloodmages with no equal
- Ventrue: the self-professed aristocracy of the vampire world, with fondness of politics
- Toreador: artists, seducers, with command of hearts as fine as Ventrue’s command of minds
- Lasombra: shadowcrafters with ruthless drive for climbing the social ladder
What’s the gameplay like?
Bloodlines 2 is a first-person perspective action RPG, with a fair amount of combat powered by vampiric abilities physical and magical alike. There is a substantial share of interactive conversations with potential long-reaching consequences involving the specifics of how the story unfolds and what your relationships are with the encountered NPCs.
The games does seem to be a narrative-heavy RPG with a choice-driven gameplay, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Why are people concerned?
Vampire: the Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 had a troubled development, including changing the writers and, ultimately, also the studio, as the initial work by Hardsuit Labs was replaced by the current version developed by The Chinese Room.
The tumultuous development, changes from the initial pitch of the story, and some worries that game is more of an “action RPG” rather than “action RPG” led to a many people being unsure what to make of it, especially since there are also shards of the immersive sim genre apparent in the trailers.
Who is the developer and publisher?
The current developer, The Chinese Room is best known for Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs, Dear Esther, and Still Wakes the Deep, so if you’re familiar with their prior work, you might have some idea of what to expect.
The publisher, meanwhile, is Paradox Interactive, the owners of the the World of Darkness license.
When is the launch?
The Vampire: the Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 release date is October 21st, at 9am PT / 6pm CEST.
Is familiarity with the original game and the source material required?
No, the game should be perfectly capable of standing on its own regarding providing relevant information, but there might be references unclear to people coming in fresh.
Closing thoughts
Judging by the reviews, Bloodlines 2 might end up being contentious, but if the previews and trailers look interesting to you, specifically, dear reader, enough to give it a shot, check the deals available at G2A.COM. The offers might lessen the buyer’s remorse if you end up not liking it after all, and if you do like it, then that’s a win-win scenario!