Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 128 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York Game Cover
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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.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews
story34 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • The story is engaging and continues the narrative from previous games, providing a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
  • The dual perspective of the two main characters, Kali and Padraic, adds depth to the storytelling, allowing players to experience events from different angles.
  • The atmosphere and art style, while different from previous entries, still capture the essence of the Vampire: The Masquerade universe.
  • The game is overly linear with limited choices, making it feel more like a visual novel than an interactive game, which disappoints players looking for meaningful decision-making.
  • The character art direction has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling it lacks the charm and detail of earlier titles.
  • Many plot points feel predictable and unresolved, leaving players wanting more depth and closure in the story.
  • story150 mentions

    The story in "Reckoning of New York" is generally viewed as a continuation of the previous games, offering an interesting narrative but lacking in meaningful player choices and consequences. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and character development, many criticize the linearity and predictability of the plot, feeling it fails to fully resolve key story threads or provide a satisfying conclusion. Overall, it serves as a decent, if not groundbreaking, addition to the Vampire: The Masquerade series, appealing primarily to dedicated fans.

    • “What a story, one that gets you a little bit of that lingering depression and heartbroken melancholy afterwards.”
    • “The same nuanced writing, gorgeous art, and hypnotic music that hooked me in Coteries, made me fall utterly in love with Shadows, now concludes in Reckoning: telling the story of two kindred's messy connection in the week leading up to the new year, surviving and navigating vampire politics to hunt down a young Ravnos' sire.”
    • “It's a story that adds to the previous ones of the same cycle while maintaining its own identity.”
    • “The major plot threads of reckoning have no real follow-through line to the first two games, where somehow a mob of low-tier hunters comes out of nowhere, along with a tzitzimime that pops up out of nowhere and becomes a major threat.”
    • “The story is dull, the dialogue is not very interactive or interesting.”
    • “The story is incredibly linear, and choices don't matter.”
  • graphics38 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the new art style, which they feel lacks the charm and expressiveness of previous titles. While some appreciate the cleaner backgrounds and overall visual improvements, others criticize the character designs for appearing too human and lacking distinct expressions. Overall, the shift in art style has polarized fans, with many preferring the darker, more atmospheric visuals of earlier installments.

    • “Great continuation and conclusion to the VTM New York games. The art style shift, while not as dark, does still capture the feel and nuance of VTM, and the sound design is still spot on for that oppressive, paranoid ambiance of New York at night when Kindred roam the streets.”
    • “Combined with bleak, matte artworks, scenes fully engulf readers in an oppressive, despondent atmosphere.”
    • “With a great Padriac character, engaging choices, and beautiful visuals, it's a must-play for fans of vampire stories!”
    • “The new art style looks a bit strange sometimes; I prefer the one from previous games.”
    • “The art style has changed a lot, and I don't think it was for the better.”
    • “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.”
  • music37 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it atmospheric but lacking the memorable quality of previous titles, particularly "Shadows of New York." Critics noted a limited number of tracks, leading to repetitive listening experiences, and some expressed disappointment that the soundtrack did not match the character and depth of earlier games. While the music is generally described as decent and fitting for the game's ambiance, it falls short of the high standards set by its predecessors.

    • “The music is good, I like it; I'll be waiting for the album on Spotify.”
    • “The new mechanics offer a fresh take on decision-making, and the atmospheric music adds to the immersion.”
    • “Great storytelling, good music, and excellent art.”
    • “The score of this one is rather forgettable, while Shadows was one where the soundtrack is worth being a DLC to buy.”
    • “The music and sound design is not good enough to be this repetitive.”
    • “God, those three same songs played over and over again kill many of the tense parts in the story.”
  • gameplay18 mentions

    The gameplay in this title is largely linear, with many players feeling that it offers an illusion of choice rather than meaningful decision-making. While some appreciate the introduction of RPG mechanics and the atmospheric elements, others criticize the lack of substantial gameplay and the clumsy integration of new mechanics, which detracts from the narrative experience. Overall, the game is seen as a narrative-driven experience that sacrifices gameplay depth for storytelling.

    • “The hunger and suspicion mechanics are back from the first game; however, they're much more forgiving (you basically have to actively try to get a fail state) and can be turned off if wanted.”
    • “Although Shadows of New York, in every way, stands as the shining jewel of this trilogy, Reckoning is still a worthy successor and its touches in gameplay, writing, sound, and art sometimes help bring the world and characters to ever greater (un)life than before.”
    • “I enjoyed the first two games in this trilogy a lot, and I feel like this one builds on what came before, both mechanically and narratively.”
    • “But there is no gameplay.”
    • “The game mechanics, thin as they already are, are also removed from play leaving you with something which features not even the facade of meaningful choices.”
    • “The gameplay feels like a thinly disguised kinetic novel where you don't really have any room to do anything but follow the already pre-determined plotline.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, with many players appreciating the blend of ambient sounds and atmospheric music that enhances the experience. However, some critiques highlight a lack of variety in the music tracks, leading to repetitive listening, and a few players feel that the atmosphere is less dark compared to previous titles in the series. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating setting that resonates well with fans of the genre.

    • “It allows you to spend a few hours in this splendid setting, giving a taste of what the atmosphere would be like if you were playing around a table with pen and paper.”
    • “The new mechanics offer a fresh take on decision-making, and the atmospheric music adds to the immersion.”
    • “Combined with bleak, matte artworks, scenes fully engulf readers in an oppressive, despondent atmosphere.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it to offer an impactful journey with relatable characters that evoke strong feelings, others criticize the dialogue and responses as lacking depth. Overall, it presents a slow-burn narrative that may not resonate with everyone, balancing philosophical themes with varying emotional engagement.

    • “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.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Reviewers feel that the character development in the game is lacking, with choices and story elements feeling superficial and not impactful. They suggest that enhancing character development, particularly by emphasizing the vampire aspects, could significantly improve the overall experience.

    • “The addition of character development would add significant value to the game, similar to what other titles have achieved.”
    • “While some choices may appear important, they often feel superficial, including aspects of the story and character development.”
    • “It would be great to see a stronger emphasis on the vampire elements within the character development.”
    • “The addition of character development would add some worth to it, as some of the other games have.”
    • “Choices that could seem important are just formal; the same goes for story elements and character development.”
    • “They should push more of the vampire aspect in the character development.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Overall, the game is perceived as linear with limited choices, leading to concerns about its replayability. While it is enjoyable, many players feel that its short length and lack of diverse paths diminish the incentive to replay.

    • “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) it's a bit short for the money.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience.

    • “Cons: it's incredibly buggy.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it unplayable at times.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and glitches that ruined the experience.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of Gen Z sensibilities and vampire themes, appealing to a younger audience with its witty and relatable jokes. Players appreciate the fresh take on traditional vampire tropes, infused with modern comedic elements. Overall, the humor is seen as both clever and engaging, resonating well with its target demographic.

    • “The game nails that Gen Z humor with a hilarious twist on vampire tropes!”
    • “I love how the humor is so relatable and fresh, especially with the vampire theme!”
    • “The witty dialogue and clever jokes kept me laughing throughout the entire game!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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