Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines | Game Brain

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Game Cover

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Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is a single player open world role playing game with horror, fantasy and thriller themes. It was developed by Troika Games and was released on March 22, 2007. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

A first- and third-person Western RPG based on the Vampire: The Masquerade tabletop RPG with a heavy emphasis on character building and role-playing, in which the player embodies a fledgling vampire under the guidance of vampire prince Sebastian LaCroix. The player must serve the prince while getting to know the various factions of vampires in Los Angeles and forming their own political views.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines screenshot

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 11,224 reviews

story1.8k positive mentions

stability882 negative mentions

The game features a captivating atmosphere and rich storytelling, with well-developed characters and engaging dialogue that enhance the overall experience.
Despite its dated graphics, the unique gothic aesthetic and immersive sound design create a memorable and atmospheric world that players appreciate.
The character development and replayability are standout features, with diverse vampire clans and branching narrative paths that encourage multiple playthroughs.

The game suffers from numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues, often requiring unofficial patches to improve stability and playability.
Combat mechanics are clunky and repetitive, particularly in the late game, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.
The graphics are widely regarded as outdated, with blurry textures and awkward animations that detract from the overall visual experience.

story
4,264 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
2%
The story of "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines" is widely praised for its depth, engaging narrative, and rich character development, drawing players into a dark, atmospheric world filled with political intrigue among various vampire factions. Players appreciate the game's branching dialogue options and the impact of their choices on the storyline, which enhances replayability through different clan experiences and multiple endings. Despite its technical flaws and a rushed final act, the compelling storytelling and immersive lore make it a beloved classic in the RPG genre.
- “The story is good, cohesive, and makes sense.”
- “The story is captivating, the characters are unique and real, dialogue is superb and so is the voice acting.”
- “The story is engrossing as you get involved with the diverse factions and supernatural races vying for control of LA, and excellent supernatural political drama ensues.”
- “The game rushes through the rest of the story, too – major antagonists like Andrei and Bach are discarded in anticlimactic boss fights, while major battles like the Sabbat raid and the Kuei-jin invasion are resolved off-screen.”
- “The final two missions are among the worst things I've played through in any video game, just enemy spam and uninspired, samey corridors.”
gameplay
1,388 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
62%
9%
The gameplay of "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines" is a mixed bag, often praised for its depth and variety, particularly through the unique abilities of different vampire clans, which significantly alter the player's experience. However, many reviews highlight the clunky combat mechanics, dated graphics, and numerous bugs that can detract from the overall experience, making the game feel frustrating at times. Despite these issues, the rich storytelling, immersive atmosphere, and engaging RPG elements keep players invested, especially when paired with community patches that enhance gameplay.
- “There is nothing quite like opening this game and roaming the world while hiding in the shadows, or talking crazy, or operating as a seemingly normal person; the many gameplay styles Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines offers really allows the player to get into their idea of how a vampire should operate.”
- “Stealth is the one unique thing this game has gameplay-wise that is actually extremely fun, especially with the way the powers and traits complement it, as well as the extreme amount of choice depth that basically every major interaction in a quest will have.”
- “The way the clans are all unique from each other and the writing make up for the awful combat and weird bugginess of the moment-to-moment gameplay.”
- “Tie that in with its sloppy and boring combat mechanics and the game forces you to go through many long, tiresome sections of repetitive battles before you can get to the parts that are actually enjoyable.”
- “The gameplay isn't the best.”
graphics
1,193 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
65%
14%
The graphics of "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines" are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2004 release, with many players noting that they show their age through blurry textures and awkward animations. However, the game's unique gothic aesthetic and atmosphere, combined with strong storytelling and character depth, often overshadow these graphical shortcomings. Players recommend using unofficial patches and mods to enhance the visuals and fix bugs, which can significantly improve the overall experience.
- “A masterpiece that manages to perfectly blend gothic aesthetics and the dark atmosphere of the 2000s into a single game.”
- “The graphics may be dated, but this is how you do role-playing, as opposed to table-top-miniatures-battles-with-some-story, in 3D.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly nice for such an old game.”
- “The graphics are dated, sure.”
- “Graphically, this game has aged a lot; textures are blurry and messy, lighting can be a bit hit or miss, models move oddly, and everything is low-poly and very flat.”
- “The graphics are clearly out of date and the animations can be somewhat robotic, but...”
atmosphere
1,139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The atmosphere of "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines" is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed gothic setting, capturing the dark allure of early 2000s Los Angeles. Players appreciate the game's unique blend of atmospheric sound design, compelling music, and well-crafted environments that evoke a sense of dread and intrigue, making it a standout in the RPG genre. Despite its technical flaws, the game's narrative depth and character interactions are enhanced by its captivating atmosphere, solidifying its status as a cult classic.
- “A masterpiece that manages to perfectly blend gothic aesthetics and the dark atmosphere of the 2000s into a single game.”
- “The atmosphere, the soundtrack, the characters, and the overall feel of the game helped me find the mental fortitude to reload after every single 'final death'.”
- “The atmosphere is simply unmatched by any game of its type, the story absolutely incredible, and well-rounded characters with amazing voice acting performances.”
- “The atmosphere is simply unmatched by any game of its type, the story absolutely incredible (excluding the ending), and well rounded characters with amazing voice acting performances.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is yet to be challenged.”
- “The atmosphere, the story, the characters, the dialogue, the writing in general, all of it shines to create one of the best RPGs of all time.”
stability
892 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The stability of "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines" is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that can significantly hinder gameplay. Many reviews emphasize the necessity of installing the unofficial patch to mitigate these issues, as the game was released in a notably unfinished state. Despite its technical shortcomings, players often describe the game as a flawed masterpiece, praising its engaging story and immersive world while acknowledging the persistent instability.
- “With the unofficial patch, it runs great on a modern PC even at 3440x1440 resolution.”
- “Many people say that the game plays really well with the latest patches and there's next to no glitches to be found.”
- “Although the game looks dated from a graphical standpoint and it's far from bug-free, thanks to the fan-created unofficial patch, the game is playable on most modern systems, fixes most of the instability issues and quest bugs, and even restores some lost and/or unfinished content.”
- “This game is a buggy mess that is literally unplayable more often than not.”
- “Overall, vtmb is a buggy, frustrating, and unfinished mess that is still ahead of its time in world-building, quest design, reactivity, and character expression.”
- “Unfortunately, it is so buggy (even with the unofficial patch installed) that it is legitimately unplayable, and I do not say that lightly.”
music
816 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The music in "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines" is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's gothic and noir aesthetic. Composed by Rik Schaffer, the soundtrack features a mix of original pieces and licensed tracks from notable artists like Lacuna Coil and Ministry, which resonate well with the game's dark themes and settings. Players often highlight the music's ability to evoke strong emotions and contribute significantly to the overall experience, making it a standout element of the game.
- “The soundtrack by Rik Schaffer, combined with licensed tracks from artists like Chiasm and Lacuna Coil, creates a moody, immersive soundscape that perfectly captures the nocturnal melancholy of the setting.”
- “The music perfectly complements the eerie atmosphere, enhancing immersion and adding an extra layer of depth to each experience.”
- “The music is incredible, Rik Schaffer's soundtrack ranges from ambient pieces with broken ringing pianos akin to old classic horror compositions, to these super gothic trip-hop tracks that evoke Massive Attack and Portishead.”
- “The clubs and bars have loud and sometimes obnoxious music that plays, making it difficult to hear NPCs when talking to them.”
- “The music sounds like something that early 2000's emo kids would listen to 1/3rd of the time.”
- “The music is very much what you would hope for in an early 2000's vampire game (if you like Massive Attack and similar, you will love the soundtrack).”
replayability
534 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
50%
1%
The replayability of "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines" is highly praised, with players noting the significant impact of character choices, clan selection, and multiple endings on each playthrough. The game's diverse vampire clans, each offering unique abilities and dialogue options, encourage players to explore different playstyles and narrative paths, making it one of the most replayable RPGs available. Additionally, the community's support through unofficial patches and mods further enhances the game's longevity and replay value.
- “The variety of clans and the way their stories intersect with the world add a lot of richness and replay value.”
- “With multiple vampire clans to choose from, branching paths, faction allegiances, and four different endings, the replay value is through the roof.”
- “The fact that every clan offers such a different experience offers so much replayability; I love the political intrigue and machinations of it all.”
- “The only replayability comes from choosing a different clan during character creation.”
- “My only issue with this game is that there is nothing else to follow up the cliffhanger-esque ending, and that after you exhaust the other endings you quickly lose the 'replayability' of the game and its storyline (for me, at least).”
- “While it does have moments that put a damper on the experience (mainly the dungeons), it more than makes up for it in story, replayability, and world.”
humor
354 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in this game is a standout feature, characterized by a blend of dark, witty, and often absurd dialogue that resonates with players. Many reviews highlight the memorable characters and their quirky interactions, particularly praising the Malkavian clan for its uniquely hilarious dialogue options. Despite some bugs that can lead to unintentionally funny moments, the writing is sharp and engaging, making the game both entertaining and replayable.
- “If you're looking for a nostalgic, hilarious, and engaging game to get into, this is it.”
- “The writing is sharp, filled with dark humor, political intrigue, and moral ambiguity.”
- “The dialogue is engaging and oftentimes takes hilarious directions.”
- “I think it's supposed to be funny, but it's just really awkward and gross.”
- “The sole black NPC wears a basketball jersey, sports an afro, refers to women as 'baby girl', and in conversation, when he invites the player to eat with him, there is a dialogue option that reads: 'Couldn't I just watch the monkeys feed down at the zoo?'... not funny!”
optimization
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
43%
18%
The optimization of "Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines" is widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, bugs, and crashes at launch. However, the installation of unofficial patches is deemed essential for improving stability and performance, allowing the game to run smoothly on modern systems. Despite its age and initial technical shortcomings, the game is praised for its compelling writing and voice acting once these optimizations are applied.
- “You need to install the unofficial patch from Nexus, and after that, the game starts to run smoothly without any issues whatsoever.”
- “With the unofficial patch plus, my game runs smoothly and I've yet to run into any major issues.”
- “Considering the sheer age of this game, the vocal performances are so top-notch that they are positively comparable with games that released in this same console generation.”
- “At launch, the game was riddled with bugs, performance issues, and incomplete content due to a rushed release and financial troubles at Troika.”
- “This game was an unoptimized and buggy mess when it was released, and only the patches fixed it.”
- “The base game is glitchy, unoptimized, and has tons of cut content.”
grinding
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
6%
90%
The reviews highlight a significant divide in player experiences regarding grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the immersive story and character interactions, many criticize the late-game combat and tedious fetch quests, particularly in claustrophobic environments, which can feel repetitive and frustrating. Overall, the game is noted for its engaging narrative but suffers from clunky mechanics and a grindy feel, especially towards the end.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “There is absolutely no grinding necessary!”
- “RPG elements are implemented a bit differently than most RPGs, in that XP is only awarded for completing quests, so there's no grinding involved, or even leveling (as XP is used to increase stats).”
- “The combat is very clunky, and it gets very repetitive and tedious towards the second half of the game.”
- “The gameplay can be tedious and in general the buggy nature of certain parts of the game.”
- “The late game feels less fun because it's all combat, and becomes quite tedious because before, combat was more spaced out.”
character development
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and complexity, allowing players to make meaningful choices that significantly impact gameplay and narrative outcomes. The character designs are noted for their uniqueness and memorable aesthetics, contributing to an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding linearity and combat mechanics, the game's storytelling and character progression are considered standout features, making it a beloved title among RPG enthusiasts.
- “Character development is one of its biggest strengths here, having such a diverse cast of actual characters, well written and not once out of character, and with some of the best voice acting you will ever hear in a video game.”
- “The roleplaying aspects, character development, and different ways to tackle quests were strong enough to offset any blemishes in the combat.”
- “It has everything - politics, character development, action, stealth, upgrades, and an immersive storyline you can influence.”
- “A decent RPG shooter, but it has a poor character development system and only an okay story at best.”
- “The character design system is initially intoxicating due to its apparent 'depth', but after playing the game for more than ten minutes, it becomes obvious that any variety in gameplay choices is just a veneer over a linear adventure game with gratuitous sexual pandering and jump-scares thrown in for good measure.”
- “Character development doesn't occur via experience points at all; rather, every assignment you finish grants you skill points, which you can then choose on what to spend (categories broadly include combat, stealth, sorcery, social, merchant, computer hacking, among others).”
emotional
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its immersive storytelling, rich character development, and atmospheric settings that evoke a wide range of feelings, from joy to heartbreak. Players appreciate the moral complexity and memorable characters, which create a deep connection to the narrative, although some critique the latter parts of the game for lacking emotional payoff. Overall, it is celebrated for its ability to engage players on a profound emotional level, making them feel like active participants in a compelling world.
- “Bloodlines offers a gripping, multi-layered story that is filled with moral ambiguity, unforgettable characters, and moments of genuine emotional weight.”
- “The world has its moments of pure horror and comedy, as well as moments that leave your dead heart breaking in half.”
- “It truly made me feel involved with the characters and story.”
- “It makes me feel like I'm playing the game, instead of just sitting on rails, being driven through a boring story, someone else's narrative.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players feeling that it suffers from a lack of proper advertising and support, leading to a perception of it being a cash grab. While the game features engaging elements like clever radio ads and a rich narrative, there are concerns about its execution and the overall quality of the franchise's recent offerings. Players express disappointment that a remaster could have better served the genre, highlighting the disconnect between the game's potential and its marketing strategy.
- “It's a great game, sad to see it so unloved because of the dev's problems and lack of advertising.”
- “Hopefully I can reach a few people to spread the message that, instead of buying a fun vampire game, you are being the target of an insidious cash grab.”
- “They didn't give this the time or advertisement it deserved.”

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74%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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21h Median play time

71h Average play time

23h Main story

40h Completionist

6-42h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 49 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is a open world role playing game with horror, fantasy and thriller themes.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is available on PC and Windows.

The main story can be completed in around 23 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 40 hours to finish. On average players spend around 71 hours playing Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines was released on March 22, 2007.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines was developed by Troika Games.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is a single player game.

Similar games include Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age: Origins, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords, Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption, Deus Ex and others.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

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