Vampyr

Vampyr from Dontnod Entertainment is an action RPG set in a London ravaged by the Spanish flu in 1918, where the player takes on the role of Dr. Jonathan Reid, turned into a vampire against his will. At the heart of the game is a moral dilemma between healing the sick residents and preying on them as a source of blood, where killing a particular character can irreversibly affect the state of an entire district as well as the side quests available. The combat system combines melee weapons with vampiric abilities such as turning into mist or blood attacks, and the character develops precisely according to how much the player chooses to feed on London's inhabitants.

On Xbox One the game suffered from certain technical shortcomings, such as a lower frame rate and longer loading times, which somewhat spoiled the otherwise strong impression of its atmosphere for some players. That atmosphere is indeed one of the game's main strengths — misty Victorian streets, an oppressive soundscape of a disease-ravaged city, and dark gothic aesthetics create a dense mood that few other RPGs achieve. Contemporary reviews praised the original moral system and story but criticized the technical side and repetitive combat. Despite these flaws, Vampyr remains a respected title for players seeking an RPG with a strong atmosphere and genuinely difficult moral decisions that carry lasting consequences for the world around the character.

Each district of London is populated by its own set of characters with a name, occupation, family relationships, and personal secrets that the player uncovers through conversation and investigation, making decisions about life and death far more personal than in other vampire games. If the player chooses the path of killing, the district grows poorer, shops disappear, and disease spreads faster, while a more merciful approach means a harder but morally cleaner playthrough with a weaker character. This interconnection of systems gave Vampyr a reputation as a thoughtful, if technically imperfect, work that, thanks to its strong theme and atmosphere, still holds onto devoted fans today.

Why play it: Anyone looking for a thoughtful, if technically imperfect, vampire RPG will appreciate Vampyr for its personal moral dilemma — killing impoverishes a district and spreads disease, while the gentler path means a harder but cleaner playthrough.