Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York | Game Brain

Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York Game Cover

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Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Draw Distance and was released on September 10, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In "Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York" , navigate the complex politics of vampire factions in a modern-day New York City. As a Kindred, use Disciplines to overcome challenges and evade hunters, but beware the Hunger that could lead to your downfall. This visual novel combines supernatural intrigue with third-person gameplay mechanics, offering a rich and immersive experience.

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Single-Player

Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York screenshot

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65%

Audience ScoreBased on 210 reviews

story58 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The artwork is stunning and a definite step up from previous titles, creating a captivating atmosphere.
The dual playthroughs offer a unique perspective on the story, allowing players to experience events from two different characters' viewpoints.
The game continues to build on the rich lore of the Vampire: The Masquerade universe, providing engaging narrative elements.

The story lacks the depth and engagement of previous titles, with many plot points feeling underdeveloped or predictable.
The choices presented to players feel limited and often lead to the same outcomes, diminishing the sense of agency.
The new art style and character designs have received mixed reactions, with some feeling it detracts from the overall experience.

story
245 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
72%
4%
The story in "Reckoning of New York" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its continuation of the overarching narrative from previous titles while criticizing its linearity and lack of impactful choices. Some found the dual protagonist approach repetitive, as it often retreads the same plot points with minimal new insights, leading to a sense of frustration and diminished engagement. Despite these criticisms, the writing quality and character development were praised, particularly in how the story immerses players in the complex vampire politics of New York City, though many felt it fell short of the depth and satisfaction found in earlier installments.
- “The narrative unfolds through a mix of exploration, dialogue, and decision-making that directly shapes how the story progresses, who becomes your ally or enemy, and ultimately, what fate befalls the city.”
- “It’s a game that caters primarily to fans of the Vampire: The Masquerade franchise and those who appreciate deep narrative RPGs, but its complex storytelling and morally grey characters can captivate any player interested in immersive, mature storytelling.”
- “The story is good, just not as great as the two others. On its own and without comparison, it's an interesting story, we have more New York lore and I actually liked both characters we play.”
- “Unfortunately, playing through as Padraic was basically a repeat of the same story with almost zero new insight or context filled in.”
- “It feels like no matter the decision you make, you end up getting the same ending and going through the story threads the game wants to take you through, giving the player a lack of agency.”
- “The various plot points are resolved too easily or not resolved at all; there are virtually no impactful choices to be made, and the main mystery involving the second protagonist feels too much like a pretentious shaggy dog story, making the whole experience come across as vapid.”
graphics
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
8%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning artwork and atmospheric visuals that capture the noir aesthetic effectively. However, a significant number of users criticize the new art style as a downgrade from previous installments, describing it as overly realistic and reminiscent of AI-generated art, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the character detail and ambiance, the consensus leans towards disappointment with the shift in visual style and its impact on the game's charm.
- “On one hand, the presentation is excellent: the artwork is a definite step up and truly stunning, and the individual characters are very well done.”
- “Visually, the game captures the noir aesthetic of Vampire: The Masquerade well, with dimly lit urban environments, rain-soaked streets, and shadowy interiors that evoke the gothic horror roots of the series.”
- “While not hyper-realistic, the art style balances stylized character designs with detailed backdrops that bring the city to life.”
- “The new art style is a baffling downgrade from the beautiful presentation of the first two games in the trilogy.”
- “The art style feels different enough that it doesn't feel like the same series.”
- “The change in the art style, while similar to the original, also doesn't help as the visuals lost the charm they gave both the characters and backgrounds in the other two stories.”
music
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
49%
8%
The music in this game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it lacks the memorable quality and variety of previous titles, particularly "Shadows of New York." While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities of the soundtrack, others find it repetitive and forgettable, with only a few standout tracks. Overall, the music is described as decent but not as impactful or engaging as in earlier installments, leading to disappointment among fans.
- “The music underscores the overall atmosphere well - an interplay between silence, ambience, and darker tones to hammer the sense of danger home.”
- “This ambiance is enhanced by the game’s moody soundtrack, voice acting, and detailed environmental design, which together evoke a sense of lurking danger and ancient power beneath the city’s surface.”
- “The music is nice and atmospheric, but had hardly any tracks which lead to a bit of bland constant repeats of the same 2 or 3 songs; the ambient noise was very nice where it was worked in.”
- “On the music side, this opus is also much weaker, with no memorable tunes.”
- “Less offensively, the music is entirely forgettable.”
- “The score of this one is rather forgettable, while Shadows was one where the soundtrack is worth being a DLC to buy.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
69%
12%
The gameplay in this title has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the narrative depth and character customization but criticizing the lack of meaningful choices and the linearity of the experience. While the hunger and threat mechanics add some complexity, they often feel superficial and do not significantly impact gameplay. Overall, the game is seen as more of a narrative-driven experience than a traditional RPG, with some players wishing for a more engaging and less constrained gameplay structure.
- “This RPG element isn’t just window dressing; it meaningfully impacts gameplay, dialogue options, and combat tactics.”
- “Feeding mechanics add another layer, as maintaining your character’s blood pool is vital to survival and effectiveness.”
- “Its layered storytelling, meaningful choice-driven gameplay, and customizable vampire protagonist make it a rewarding experience for fans of dark fantasy and mature RPGs.”
- “The hunger and threat meters, as well as the disciplines, are kinda just for show and don’t really influence the gameplay.”
- “Altogether I enjoyed Kalis' story a lot, even though the gameplay (if you can even call that) was missing somehow.”
- “The game mechanics, thin as they already are, are also removed from play leaving you with something which features not even the façade of meaningful choices.”
atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
19%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its moody and immersive qualities, effectively utilizing music and sound design to enhance tension and a sense of danger. While some reviewers noted a lack of variety in the soundtrack and occasional blandness, the richly detailed setting and strong storytelling contribute to a compelling experience that captures the essence of the World of Darkness. Overall, the game successfully creates an oppressive and engaging atmosphere, though opinions vary on its effectiveness compared to previous titles in the series.
- “The game excels at creating an atmosphere of tension and paranoia, where trust is scarce, and every interaction is layered with subtext.”
- “Draw distance, known for their strong storytelling and atmospheric design, this game takes place in a richly detailed version of New York City, where vampire clans vie for control, alliances are fragile, and every choice carries deadly consequences.”
- “I still think they nail the atmosphere as in coteries and shadows; it's just that there were several scenes and character descriptions that could've had art for it to strengthen the storytelling.”
- “Also, while the artwork and music were okay and did help to establish the atmosphere, I felt like they were reused a bit too much and that more variety would have been nice.”
- “Combined with bleak, matte artworks, scenes fully engulf readers in an oppressive, despondent atmosphere.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the customization options for abilities and clan affiliations are praised, many players feel that the character designs are overly stylized and lack uniqueness, detracting from the gritty atmosphere. Some reviewers express disappointment with the depth of character development and the impact of player choices, suggesting that the vampire elements could be more pronounced. Overall, the balance between stylized designs and the dark setting leaves room for improvement in creating more engaging and distinctive characters.
- “One of the game’s most impressive features is its character development system, which allows players to customize their vampire’s abilities, feeding style, and clan affiliations.”
- “While not hyper-realistic, the art style balances stylized character designs with detailed backdrops that bring the city to life.”
- “The addition of character development would add some worth to it, as some of the other ones have.”
- “All the character designs were too pretty and stylized compared to the dark and gritty backgrounds, and having overly attractive characters is honestly boring.”
- “Where's the unique character designs?”
- “Choices that could seem important are just formal; the same goes for story bits and character development.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be a mixed bag; while some characters, like Kali, are seen as relatable and evoke genuine feelings, others suffer from lackluster dialogue and responses. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to deliver an emotionally impactful journey, particularly within the darker themes of its narrative, making it a noteworthy experience for those seeking depth in storytelling.
- “I highly recommend this game to anyone looking for an emotionally impactful journey.”
- “Additionally, there's a humanity to these characters that is hard to find in the world of darkness, and it forces far more of a tug on the emotional strings than I have normally come to expect out of Vampire: The Masquerade.”
- “And so, while Reckoning of New York may have misimplemented some of its novelties, it presents an impactful, emotional story.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's replayability is enhanced by player agency and customization, allowing for different clan choices that lead to unique storylines and endings. However, some players find the linearity and limited choices diminish its overall replay value, with concerns about the game's length relative to its cost.
- “This customization encourages replayability, as different clan choices open unique storylines, quests, and endings, providing varied perspectives on the vampire underworld.”
- “Overall, the game continues the story well from the last two games with more player agency and replayability than its predecessor.”
- “I've not finished it yet - my main hesitations are a) it feels quite linear so I'm not convinced it has much replay value and b) a bit short for the money.”
- “Overall the game continues the story well from the last two games with more player agency and replayability than Shadows... the biggest negative point being the art style, which looks like generic AI slop.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a playful subversion of expectations, particularly with the character D'Angelo, whose transformation from an ugly nosferatu to a more attractive figure is seen as a humorous twist. This blend of irony and modern sensibilities resonates with Gen Z humor, adding a lighthearted touch to the vampire theme.
- “They made D'Angelo more pretty, which is hilarious since he's supposed to be ugly; he's a Nosferatu.”
- “Gen Z humor on a vampire?”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game has been criticized for its lack of stability, with users reporting numerous bugs that significantly impact the overall experience.
- “Cons: it's incredibly buggy.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and stability issues throughout my gameplay.”

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Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York is a role playing game.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, Steam Deck and others.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York was released on September 10, 2024.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York was developed by Draw Distance.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York is a single player game.

Similar games include Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York, Vampire: The Masquerade — Night Road, Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest, The Detail, The Banner Saga 3 and others.

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