Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 preview: Doing its own thing

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is technically a sequel to the 2004 cult classic, but it’s really not. The earlier fans accept that reality, the happier they’ll ultimately be. Even the devs at The Chinese Room have gone on record saying that the only reason for the game being named Bloodlines 2 is the contract saying so — and I get the feeling that even Paradox would rather be rid of the name, but can’t because it’s been selling pre-orders under that title for half a decade.

I just wanted to get this out of the way before recounting my experience with the game during a hands-on opportunity at Gamescom 2025, because I really believe that Bloodlines 2 deserves a fair chance to be looked at as its own thing. Anyone going into it with the expectation that they’ll get more of what the 2004 original offered will inevitably be disappointed.

What stood out to me about the game were two aspects. One is TCR’s take on the experience of being a vampire. Right from the start, you’re an absolute machine. You’re a monster. Right at the start of the game, you’re playing through a classic horror game scenario: It’s a dark night in an abandoned apartment building. A murder happened. Police are combing through the house. They hear strange noises, see shadows moving behind them, and feel the slight change of the air as something hurries by.

That something is you, sneaking around. You’re the monster stalking these people. But the trope is subverted, of course, by one of the setting’s major elements: the masquerade. Vampires need to maintain their cover — if you’re detected and seen for what you truly are, your own kind takes you out immediately. So there you are, a monster capable of throwing people around like dolls, equipped with fangs that can rip out throats in a heartbeat, but it feels like you’re the hunted.

I found that to be an interesting juxtaposition — and it’s a constant of the game. Later, when you get to freely move around Seattle, you’ll want to vanish into back alleys before climbing up walls to reach the rooftops, where you can move around more comfortably. Taking a sip of blood from some drunkard sleeping on a public bench is a risky thrill. It feels like it's your right, because you are so much more powerful than anyone else around, but it’s a taboo — a break of the rules.

Naturally, you get to flex your muscles whenever no “normal” person is around, such as when you beat up scores of ghouls. The game’s combat system is fairly simplistic at first, featuring a light and a heavy attack in addition to abilities you can unlock and a dodge maneuver. But the system feels bloody good. You get to sneak up on people to drain them of blood, throw them across rooms, and unleash your truly monstrous powers, such as blood sorcery. I chose the Tremere Clan as my origin, giving me an initial skill that allowed me to mark an enemy, who would then explode in a shower of blood upon taking damage.

It’s an action RPG and there will be lots of combat, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the system evolves as you get access to more skills and opportunities to chain them together.

I think TCR did very well in creating that vampire power fantasy chained by the setting’s rules.

The other aspect I really enjoyed is the general atmosphere of the story and world, which is built up to be this neo-noir mystery thriller. Your character, Phyre, helps out Fabien, a Malkavian who somehow got stuck in your mind. It’s a detective story. You follow leads, find new clues, and then things escalate pretty quickly from there as you get sucked into the intrigue and politics of Seattle’s vampire court while continuing to chase down your and Fabien’s backstory.

There is this fantastic contrast between richly decorated hotel suits full of gilded furniture and old portraits and the grimy warehouses and abandoned buildings you have to sneak through — but it’s all connected by this neon-lighted, snowy map of Seattle around Christmas time that invokes the image of a weary, freezing detective wearing a long coat, hat, and scarf wading through the snow, entering a seedy bar and lighting a cigar as they down a shot with their informant.

TCR definitely flexed its muscles when it comes to crafting an atmospheric, immersive world — it’s a strong start to the game, if you go in with an open mind.

I also liked how the relationship between Phyre and Fabien progressed in the little part I played. Phyre is this old vampire who’s been asleep for a century and so they don’t know jack about the modern world, leading to some great comedic moments when Fabien has to explain the basics. But there are some tender moments as well, like when something big is revealed about Fabien quite early on in the game — of course, the moment is only tender if you choose the appropriate dialog option. You could be an insensitive klutz as well, if you wanted. How that would affect the relationship in the long term is something I obviously can’t say at this point, but everything you decide is recorded.

It’s natural to be skeptical after the kind of development history Bloodlines 2 has had, but for my part the demo I played at Gamescom 2025 made me a lot more optimistic about the game. It’s not even a genre I usually play, but TCR’s craftsmanship is so enticing that I really want to dive in now.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S on October 21, 2025.

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