Vampyr

Vampyr is a dark action RPG from Dontnod, in which the player takes on the role of Dr. Jonathan Reid, who is involuntarily turned into a vampire shortly after returning from World War I and must cope with a constant hunger for blood on the streets of London in 1918, amid a raging Spanish flu epidemic. A key element of the game is the moral dilemma reflected in every non-playable character in the city - each can be thoroughly investigated, their personal story, relationships, and secrets uncovered, and ultimately the player decides whether to kill them for a quick boost to vampiric powers or let them live at the cost of slower character progression, though doing so preserves the health and stability of the whole district and its inhabitants for future chapters of the story.

The combat system combines ordinary and surgical weapons infected with vampire blood with supernatural abilities such as turning into mist, blood claws, or hypnotizing opponents, and on PS4 the game ran solidly, albeit with occasional technical shortcomings typical of a smaller independent studio, such as fluctuating frame rates or minor animation glitches. The atmosphere is completed by a gloomy Victorian England shrouded in fog, disease, and poverty, supported by a melancholic musical score and believably written supporting characters from various layers of society.

Vampyr was praised by critics especially for its bold moral system, which gave real weight even to seemingly minor characters and their fates, and for its dense atmosphere despite a not-quite-polished technical execution and combat system. Today it is seen as an interesting and thoughtful alternative to mainstream vampire games, one that places emphasis on ethical decisions and storytelling rather than flashy, mindless action. It is precisely the need to choose between mercy and power that players remember most about Vampyr, even years after release and despite all the technical flaws that accompanied it.

Why play: For players who prefer ethical decisions and storytelling over flashy action, Vampyr offers a bold moral system that gives weight even to supporting characters, despite a not-quite-polished combat system.