Bloodthief

About

Bloodthief is a single player action game. It was developed by Blargis and was released on September 22, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Bloodthief is a single-player action game where you play as a vampire, using momentum and parkour to dash through hazardous dungeons while violently slashing enemies. Featuring 30 levels, 20 unique weapons, and over 100 secrets, it combines perfect mechanics, sensational graphics, and exceptional music for an exhilarating, replayable experience. Uncover dark mysteries, master your abilities, and race friends in this brutal, fast-paced dungeon runner.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 715 reviews

gameplay48 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The movement and combat mechanics are incredibly satisfying, allowing for fluid gameplay and a sense of speed that keeps players engaged.
The level design is varied and encourages exploration, with numerous secrets and collectibles that enhance replayability.
The game has a strong community and ongoing support from the developer, with regular updates and a focus on player feedback.

Some levels can feel frustrating due to overwhelming enemy placements and difficulty spikes that disrupt the flow of gameplay.
The requirement to grind previous levels for experience points to unlock new stages can be tedious and may deter casual players.
Certain mechanics, like parrying and wall-running, can feel inconsistent, leading to moments of frustration during gameplay.

gameplay
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced, fluid mechanics that encourage mastery and speedrunning, with well-designed levels that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the variety of mechanics and weapons, though some find certain enemies and level segments frustrating. Overall, the game offers an addictive and engaging experience, particularly for fans of movement-based gameplay, despite some inconsistencies and design issues.
- “Awesome game! Love the fast-paced gameplay; highly recommend.”
- “The mechanics, secrets, and numerous weapons are all very fun and well balanced, making the experience constantly engaging.”
- “An absolute blast to play -- fast-paced, with lots of things to discover, keeping the gameplay fresh and providing reasons to come back for more time and time again.”
- “Fun game that's completely ruined by a boss that doesn't fit the gameplay in the slightest and in the very next level they make the ludicrous decision to just add him as a normal enemy and kill the flow of the game completely.”
- “Some movement mechanics—especially wall-running—can occasionally feel inconsistent, and certain level segments demand such exact timing that frustration becomes part of the learning process.”
- “The lack of accessibility for non-speedrunners, combined with the slightly inconsistent mechanics and a somewhat tedious level design, makes it a tough sell to a broader audience.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
30%
6%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, described as a "banger" soundtrack that perfectly complements the fast-paced gameplay and vibrant aesthetics. Reviewers highlight its dark electronic and synthwave influences, which enhance the game's atmosphere and elevate the overall experience. Many players find the music addictive and integral to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature that contributes significantly to the excitement and enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “Incredible music, incredible level design, incredible game, love it.”
- “The aesthetics are retro yet still feel fresh, and the music is so god damn good and fitting.”
- “The soundtrack contributes heavily to the game’s atmosphere, mixing dark electronic beats with rock-infused energy that fuels the game’s rapid pacing.”
- “Ost is a banger too, you wouldn't expect synth-wave music to go so well with the old-school grungy FPS aesthetic, but it works wonderfully.”
- “Music, environments, and overall aesthetic are nice, but the movement.”
graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
37%
9%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and charming retro aesthetic, reminiscent of PS1-era visuals, which complement the fast-paced gameplay and engaging soundtracks. While some players note inconsistencies in the art style, the overall design is considered stylish and atmospheric, enhancing the gaming experience. The combination of interesting visuals, tight controls, and clever level design contributes to a satisfying and memorable aesthetic that resonates well with players.
- “The graphics give an amazing vibe that fits the game perfectly.”
- “The movement feels fantastic and the graphics are perfectly PS1-era.”
- “The art style and soundtrack are also incredible and just everything works so well together; I would recommend it to anyone.”
- “Aggressively flashy visuals sometimes (this was the first game I've played in a while that made my eyes hurt after a long time playing).”
- “Its very inspired by Quake's visuals.”
- “Aesthetics are unimportant.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The game's story is generally regarded as interesting but not central to the experience, serving primarily to provide context for the levels and enhance the gameplay. While some players appreciate the simple yet effective dark fantasy backstory and the lore elements, others feel that the story could be minimal or even absent without detracting from the fun. Overall, the narrative complements the engaging gameplay and exploration, making it a worthwhile addition without overshadowing the core mechanics.
- “This game combines my love of hack-n-slash movement games with story-rich games.”
- “The story and lore are a perfect fit for this kind of game: it's all going on in the background and on the intro screens of levels, with a few set pieces taking place within levels.”
- “The story was a complete surprise; I didn't really expect one, but it's in here and does a good job of providing context for the levels and tying them together.”
- “The story leaves a lot to be desired.”
- “Honestly would have been better with absolutely no story and just a fun playground.”
- “Story is practically non-existent, but I'm sure there'd be a lot of lore if you're into that type of thing just from the vibes the game gave off.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
11%
17%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting its addictive mechanics, high skill ceiling, and the challenge of mastering levels. Many reviews emphasize the enjoyment of revisiting levels to improve performance, particularly through speedrunning, which adds depth and variety to gameplay. Overall, it is praised for offering hours of engaging content and diverse play styles, making it a worthwhile investment.
- “An amazing game with huge replay value.”
- “It’s a title that rewards dedication, and for those who click with its philosophy, it offers hours of replayability as you strive to perfect routes and conquer its most demanding challenges.”
- “The speedrun component adds a huge amount of replayability, and all the levels are places you will enjoy revisiting to improve your times.”
- “The challenge isn't just completing a level—it's mastering it.”
- “Excellent gameplay loop, atmosphere, and challenge pushing replayability.”
- “This is a solid replayable speedrun hack'n'slash!”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while many players appreciate the smooth performance and responsiveness, some have reported issues like stuttering and input delay, particularly in specific levels. The indie developers are praised for their attentiveness to player concerns, contrasting with the optimization struggles often seen in AAA titles. Despite some performance hiccups, the game is generally considered well-optimized for enjoyable gameplay.
- “The result is a game that feels handcrafted for players who crave precision platforming blended with melee combat and who enjoy refining their performance across multiple runs.”
- “Performance was pretty much perfect for me on release day.”
- “Game is fun, well optimized, and combat is very smooth.”
- “Game so far feels really fun, although it does seem to be a lot more unstable compared to the demo, experiencing a lot of stuttering, as well as increased input delay.”
- “One problem that I encounter is that in the level 'Buried Library of Exrion' second checkpoint I got a really bad stuttering (plus lag from the godly amount of spam enemies throw at me) and that occurred only once.”
- “After I reloaded the map, stuttering has gone but the lag from the amount of projectiles still annoys me.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
83%
Players find grinding in the game to be a mixed experience; while quick restarts facilitate faster attempts and add fun, later levels can become tedious and slow. The game offers a nostalgic grind reminiscent of titles like Celeste, but its accessibility issues and inconsistent mechanics may deter non-speedrunners.
- “The grinding can feel a bit repetitive at times, but it also provides a satisfying sense of progression.”
- “While the game has its grindy moments, the rewards make it worthwhile and keep me engaged.”
- “I appreciate the grind; it allows me to fully explore the game's mechanics and develop my character.”
- “Also, the later levels begin to feel slower and more tedious.”
- “The lack of accessibility for non-speedrunners, combined with the slightly inconsistent mechanics and a somewhat tedious level design, makes it a tough sell to a broader audience.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by its dynamic soundtrack, which blends dark electronic beats with rock elements, complementing the fast-paced gameplay. Players appreciate the combination of speedrunning and exploration, which, along with clever level design and charming aesthetics, contributes to a highly engaging and replayable experience. Overall, the music and atmosphere create a captivating environment that encourages players to uncover secrets and enjoy the challenge.
- “The soundtrack contributes heavily to the game’s atmosphere, mixing dark electronic beats with rock-infused energy that fuels the game’s rapid pacing.”
- “There is a lot going for this game: the tight controls that prioritize speed, a surprisingly heavy amount of atmosphere for a game in this genre, clever level design that synergizes well with the established mechanics, good music, a lot of charm in its aesthetic and so on.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is also enhanced by the music, composed by Occams Laser for the game.”
- “There is a lot going for this game: the tight controls that prioritize speed, a surprisingly heavy amount of atmosphere for a game in this genre, clever level design that synergizes well with the established mechanics, good music, a lot of charm in its aesthetic, and so on.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a key element, with players finding it both fast-paced and genuinely funny. The combination of intense gameplay and comedic moments contributes to an enjoyable experience, despite occasional technical issues that some find amusing.
- “Well, some guy thought it would be funny to combine Ghostrunner with Quake and create this monstrosity of a game, and I absolutely love it.”
- “It's a fast-paced and totally funny game.”
- “Very funny! I love that game.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is generally good, particularly on the Steam Deck, but some users report occasional freezing and crashes, especially on Linux systems, which can disrupt gameplay and affect the desktop environment.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “However, I am experiencing an occasional bug while playing on Linux where the game just freezes for a few seconds.”
- “Unfortunately, in my setup, Bloodthief regularly freezes and crashes, occasionally taking down the desktop environment with it.”