Vampyris is a brand new IP; a dark action roleplaying-game byDotnod. Yep, that’s right. They’ve gone from an emotional teenage drama (with super powers) to a dark RPG with vampires and other ghoulish creatures of the night.
It’s quite a departure for them and one that took a lot of people by surprise when it was first announced. With only a couple more months to go until we all get our hands on the game, we will soon know whether they pulled off such an ambitious move. As things stand though, it looks to be shaping up nicely.
Keep your stakes and garlic handy, for it is time to walk amongst the tombstones. Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!
Genre: RPG, Action-RPG, Real-time
Developed by: Dotnod Entertainment
Published by: Focus Home Interactive
Release date: June 13, 2025
Platforms: PC via Steam, PS4 & Xbox One
Website:http://www.vampyr-game.com/en
Vampyr features
Story & Setting
The game is set in 1918, just after the First World War.Vampyrfollows the story of Doctor Jonathan E. Reid, who becomes a vampire after he is bitten by a patient thought to have the Spanish Flu. While the British government struggles to rebuild the country, secretive groups led by supernatural beings are pulling strings with growing influence. Ancient vampire societies, occult scholars and relentless vampire hunters compete for dominance in a shadowy conflict lasting a millennia.
It opens with Doctor Reid awakening to find that he has been cursed with a thirst for human blood. In his quest to find a cure for his vampiric condition, he tries to maintain a rational and scientific method – but gradually has to come to terms with a strange, supernatural world.
London is on a knife-edge. Will you be its salvation or the instrument of its downfall? You’re a doctor and took an oath to heal those in need. With your medical expertise, you could find a cure for the disease which is plaguing the city. And as a newly-turned vampire, you may also be able to defend the citizens of London from the creatures of the night. But you need to survive to become strong enough to succeed in this regard…which means that you’ll need to feed.
Vampyrfeatures a flexible combat system. you’re able to build your own combat style through combining a wide range of crafted weapons and powerful Vampire abilities. There’s a large beastiary of nightmarish creatures to fight, such as the Skals - hideous beings who hunt for victims in the darkest corners of the city. You will also have to contend with vampire hunters.
Whichever approach you choose to take to combat, positioning, timing and managing your resources will be key to your success. If you struggle with a boss, you could return to that friendly barman and drain him dry for an experience boost. But with each death, London becomes a more desolate place and the odds of more powerful supernatural foes moving in increases.
Ravaged by the Spanish Flu, London’s streets are desolate. Those who manage to survive in this place are more important than ever. Every character has been hand-crafted. You’ll be able to learn about their daily routines and how they relate to others. Every character has a purpose in the world; a job, a family, and a story. Kill one of them and it will have a ripple effect, impacting the lives of many others. But you need to feed to survive long enough to save the city. Can you live with the consequences of taking innocent lives? Mothers. Sons. Store owners. Priests. Prostitutes. Beggars. Soldiers. Who will you sacrifice for the greater good?
Your dark quest will be filled with death and drama. It looks to be a game which accomplishes what few games manage to achieve; it actually makes you feel bad about killing people. So yes, this is a departure for Dotnod. But their skill in crafting emotionally powerful stories is put to good use here. What kind of a vampire will you opt to be?
Audio & Visual
Vampyrlooks to have an interesting mixture when it comes to the game’s music. The game’s theme song is a dark and brooding track called “Devil”, which is sung by Ida Maria.
Much of the game’s music though will be a mixture of classical and industrial. The in-game music was composed by Olivier Deriviere and much of it is performed by solo celloist Eric-Maria Couturier. For an idea of how it will sound, check out the second half of the video below.
So, what about the visuals? Well, visuallyVampyrdefinitely looks the part. Graphically, the game is impressive. It’s powered by the Unreal 4 Engine. London has been recreated with some creative freedom – landmarks are present but streets have not been mapped accurately. But the Gothic feel and immersive lighting effects bring the city to life.
Vampyrlooks like it could be a pretty amazing game. The combat looks a little basic perhaps but the story, visual and audio elements all seem to be top-notch, so there’s a lot to love. I can’t wait to get my hands on this game. June 5th can’t come soon enough.
