Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
A first-person action RPG where you feed on Seattle's citizens and use Ventrue disciplines to navigate the city's vampire politics.
Not the Bloodlines 2 you wanted — the one we got. The Chinese Room's atmosphere and writing are great, but it's a smaller, more linear game than the cult original.
For you if
- You've followed Bloodlines 2 through every studio change and want to play THIS version of it, even with caveats.
- Atmosphere, dialogue writing, and Seattle-as-Vampire-City world-building matter more to you than open-world breadth.
- Playing as a fixed elder vampire (Phyre) with a defined backstory — instead of building a Kindred from scratch — sounds interesting, not limiting.
Not for you if
- You wanted the original Hardsuit Labs vision — Bloodlines 2 from 2020 is not what shipped, and that's fundamental.
- Combat depth is a top priority — the action is functional and serviceable, not the genre-leader the writing aspires to.
- You expected the original Bloodlines' freedom — fewer hubs, more linearity, less reactivity than the 2004 game.
The narrative writing and clan-specific roleplay choices are the core draw for returning players.
Persistent technical issues like crashes and unregistered collectibles frustrate players, along with repetitive combat.
Media
What critics say
- 2/5Eurogamer
This action RPG feels hollow and functional, redeemed only by stellar performances from characters and cast.
- 7/10IGN
Takes another flawed but unique and remarkable bite at the jugular, with plenty to love and loathe.
- 78/100PC Gamer
A gripping story full of intrigue and murder that struggles to find its footing as an RPG sequel.
Before You Play
Refreshed monthlyWhat's the best clan choice for new Bloodlines 2 players?
Tremere is the most forgiving first-clan pick — its blood magic specialty leans on ranged attacks, which lets you handle most encounters without committing to melee positioning. Brujah is the easiest "stand and brawl" choice if you prefer hands-on combat. All six clans (Banu Haqim, Brujah, Lasombra, Toreador, Tremere, Ventrue) are roughly balanced; Toreador is generally considered the weakest in pure combat terms. Pick on theme and aesthetic — the gameplay differences are real but the story doesn't gate clans behind difficulty.
Source: TheGamer Clan Guide
What difficulty should new Bloodlines 2 players choose?
Bloodlines 2 has four difficulties: Casual, Easy, Normal, and Hard. Normal is the intended experience and the recommended starting point for most players. Drop to Casual if you're entirely new to action RPGs and want to focus on the story, choices, and Seattle's atmosphere; jump to Hard only if you've cleared first-person ARPGs like Cyberpunk on a similar setting and want tighter combat tension. Difficulty can be changed at any time from the menu.
Source: PowerPyx Trophy Guide
What side content can new Bloodlines 2 players miss?
Bloodlines 2 has limited side content compared to most modern RPGs — three collectible sets and three sidequest chains that don't tie back to the main plot. None are aggressively gated, but the sidequests are easy to walk past since the game emphasizes its main storyline heavily. Specific decisions during faction interactions (Camarilla, Anarchs, etc.) lock you out of certain endings, so consider saving before any major dialogue inflection point if you want to explore alternates without restarting.
Source: Bloodlines 2 Fextralife Wiki
Do I need to play the original Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines (2004) before Bloodlines 2?
No. Bloodlines 2 is a fresh story set in Seattle's World of Darkness, with a new protagonist (Phyre, a thinblood). The 2004 original is set in Los Angeles with a different cast and plot — characters and direct events don't carry over, and the developer (The Chinese Room) deliberately built the sequel to welcome newcomers. Playing the original adds context for the World of Darkness setting (clans, factions, the Masquerade), but Bloodlines 2 explains its own world via dialogue. Newcomers can start here cold.
Source: XDA World of Darkness Primer
Is there post-game content in Bloodlines 2?
Limited at launch. There's no New Game Plus or carryover system — replay value comes from running different clans and making opposing faction choices on a fresh save. Multiple endings tie to your final story decisions; achievement hunters typically run the game 2-3 times for clan-specific dialogue and ending unlocks. The Loose Cannon DLC adds additional questlines for those who want more content. The Chinese Room has indicated NG+ may come in a future patch but isn't promised.
Source: AllThings.how NG+ Status
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