Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 394 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood Game Cover
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In "Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood," players step into the role of Dracula's loyal servant, completing tasks for the immortal being in a single-player adventure. The game features one-touch gameplay with frenetic action, taking players through unique stages with numerous enemies and bosses. With a variety of weapons and a charming visual style, players must fight, die, and resurrect to fulfill their duties and appease Dracula.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 394 reviews
graphics81 positive mentions
grinding23 negative mentions
  • The game features excellent graphics and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • Gameplay is addictive and engaging, with a satisfying loop of upgrading and unlocking new abilities.
  • The game successfully combines elements from the Vampire Survivors genre with unique mechanics, making it a fun and enjoyable experience.
  • The game suffers from visibility issues, making it difficult to see enemy projectiles amidst the chaos on screen.
  • There are balancing problems, particularly with certain weapons and abilities feeling underwhelming or ineffective.
  • The progression system can feel grindy, with some players finding it frustrating to unlock new content and upgrades.
  • graphics143 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, vibrant colors, and impressive visual effects, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. Many reviewers noted the nostalgic feel and artistic quality, comparing it favorably to other titles in the genre, particularly highlighting its superior visuals over similar games like "Vampire Survivors." However, some critiques mentioned issues with visual clarity in gameplay, particularly in distinguishing foreground and background elements during chaotic moments.

    • “Great action roguelike/bullet hell game with utterly gorgeous graphics, a soundtrack that isn't to scoff at, and all for a fistful of singles!”
    • “The graphics are bright and there's a consistent style.”
    • “Beautiful game with stunning graphics!”
    • “The second problem with Renfield is the visuals.”
    • “I think the issue with the art style is that at least in the first level, it's not immediately obvious which objects are in the foreground or background, and while you're running around trying to avoid enemies, you're constantly having to guess which are or aren't.”
    • “The graphics are a mess.”
  • gameplay118 mentions

    The gameplay of "Renfield" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it addictive and engaging, particularly praising its blend of challenge and simplicity. However, some criticize it for being unbalanced and repetitive, with mechanics that can feel clunky or overly simplistic compared to other games in the genre. Overall, while the game offers a visually appealing experience and a solid gameplay loop, it may require further refinement to enhance depth and variety.

    • “The gameplay offers a delightful blend of challenge and addiction, making it hard to put down.”
    • “The gameplay loop is addictive and engaging.”
    • “This game is fun with good visuals, nice music, and overall satisfying gameplay.”
    • “Renfield doesn't bring much to the table in terms of gameplay.”
    • “Seems rushed to market and not enough gameplay testing from various sources to call out the major imbalances and design issues.”
    • “You could definitely do worse when looking for a movie license tie-in game, but despite how much I wanted to like Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, the gameplay is just too clunky, grindy, and slow to get going.”
  • music96 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some noted that the music can become repetitive over time, the majority found it to be a standout feature, complementing the game's visuals and atmosphere effectively. Overall, the soundtrack is described as catchy, fitting, and a significant factor in the game's appeal.

    • “The music is catchy, the weapons unique, and the locations are gorgeous.”
    • “In terms of audio, the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful and complements the game's atmosphere exceptionally well.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, sharp and full of detail, the sound and music add to the atmosphere making the pace of the game feel fluid.”
    • “There also needs to be more music added.”
    • “The game has the graphics and music going for it but that's all they have so far.”
    • “While other skills such as the skill that wipes enemies and the music notes is op in comparison to other skills that are lacking.”
  • grinding25 mentions

    The reviews present a mixed perspective on the grinding aspect of the game. While some players find the grind to unlock characters and upgrades tedious and detrimental to the overall enjoyment, others appreciate the engaging nature of the grind, viewing it as a rewarding challenge. Overall, the game's grindiness is a significant point of contention, with opinions varying on whether it enhances or detracts from the experience.

    • “It isn't that grindy, with many of the unlocks having conditions (e.g., finish this level with this character to unlock weapons/characters/talents) rather than numerical grinds (get to x out of x many points of whatever).”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The bottom line is too much grinding and the fun evaporates quickly.”
    • “The game is incredibly grindy, slow paced, and overall not very engaging or fun.”
    • “It's too grindy and there's nothing there to shake up that grind and make it tolerable.”
  • story14 mentions

    The story of "Renfield" is praised for its unique take on the classic Dracula narrative, featuring engaging character progression and a retro aesthetic. While some players appreciate the immersive experience, others feel that the lack of a deeper narrative or lore detracts from the overall enjoyment, suggesting that additional story elements could enhance the gameplay. Overall, the game offers a fascinating premise but leaves some players wanting more in terms of storytelling depth.

    • “I love the progression in the story and the feeling of unlocking the other characters.”
    • “It's a different way to tell the Dracula story, and I think it's pretty cool.”
    • “Overall, 'Renfield' by Mega Cat Studios is a great game that brings a classic story to life in a new and fun retro way.”
    • “It has fun moments, but is spoiled by design decisions that render the game unfun (the 25% not recommended on Steam is significant at the time of this review and tells a story).”
    • “☑ no story”
    • “Even though I don't have much context (haven't watched the movie) with the title, it hasn't prevented me from getting immersed into the game/world (although some type of lore/story would be nice).”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game is highly praised for its replayability, offering a diverse range of characters and play styles that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the addictive nature, numerous unlocks, and the ability to enjoy the game offline, all at an affordable price. With various stages and battle perks, it provides ample challenge and fun, encouraging multiple playthroughs.

    • “Addicting, tons of replay value and unlocks, can be played without internet and is a steal for the price.”
    • “I love the diversity that each of the characters have, each having a unique play style that the player can choose from, making replayability much more fun.”
    • “Fun game with lots of replayability and a good variety of battle perks.”
    • “The game packs a lot of content and has significant replayability despite being very cheap.”
    • “The game is easy to understand and play, which adds to its replayability factor.”
    • “A very good vampire survivor-like game; I played it for 2 hours straight to see if it has any replay value, and it does.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The atmosphere in Renfield is highly praised for its dark, gothic aesthetic, enhanced by detailed pixel art and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. Reviewers note that the immersive surroundings and impressive sound design create a captivating experience that draws players into the world of Dracula, making it a standout choice for fans of roguelikes and vampire lore. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as both enchanting and eerie, contributing significantly to its appeal.

    • “The dark, gothic atmosphere, the detailed pixel art, and the eerie yet enchanting surroundings all contribute to an immersive experience.”
    • “In terms of audio, the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful and complements the game's atmosphere exceptionally well.”
    • “I appreciate the dark atmosphere, which is enhanced by fantastic pixel art graphics, an electrifying soundtrack, and impressive visual effects.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, some have encountered significant issues such as freezing upon quitting, janky hitboxes, and save progress deletion after updates. The introduction of new features has also led to additional bugs, impacting the overall experience for some users.

    • “It is mostly competent, and it runs smoothly and seems mostly bug-free.”
    • “In terms of bugs, I've only encountered one so far where items can fall into inaccessible areas and can't be looted, but beyond that, it is a well-polished game that runs great and plays great - highly recommend it for people who like bullet hells like Vampire Survivors and Brotato.”
    • “Colorful, runs great, and is quite addicting.”
    • “When I try to quit, the game freezes.”
    • “Balancing is absolutely terrible, buggy as all hell, with janky hitboxes and collision.”
    • “A boring and buggy clone game that now deletes your save progress with the most recent update.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a darkly comedic approach, particularly in its portrayal of Renfield's servitude, which resonates well with fans of classic horror and dark humor. Players appreciate the funny power-ups, such as exploding rats, and the overall engaging aesthetic, making the experience both entertaining and memorable.

    • “The darkly humorous take on Renfield's servitude is both engaging and entertaining.”
    • “Is an absolute delight for fans of dark humor and classic horror.”
    • “Awesome retro look, addicting gameplay, funny power-ups, cool soundtrack.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly with minimal bugs, and features a controller-friendly design that enhances gameplay mechanics like directional fire.

    • “It is mostly competent, and it runs smoothly and seems mostly bug-free.”
    • “Also clearly optimized for controller, which might also be the reason for the directional fire mechanic.”
    • “The game feels like it was clearly optimized for controllers, which might explain the awkward directional fire mechanic.”
    • “Optimization issues make the gameplay experience frustrating, as performance drops occur frequently.”
    • “Despite the potential of the game, the lack of proper optimization leads to lag and stuttering during critical moments.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users express frustration over the game's mechanics, particularly the slippery movement that can lead to significant health loss when colliding with enemies. This design choice detracts from the emotional experience, as it creates a sense of unfairness and frustration rather than engagement.

  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is heavily criticized for its intrusive movie advertisements, which detract from the overall experience.

    • “The monetization feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constant interruptions.”
    • “It seems like the game is designed more for profit than for player enjoyment, with paywalls everywhere.”
    • “The in-game purchases are so prevalent that it detracts from the overall experience, making it feel like a cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
2-55hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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