Everything you need to know about Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong
With a release date of May 2022, Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is one of the most hotly anticipated games of the year. But what exactly can you expect and why is it getting so many tongues wagging? We reveal it all here.
What to expect
Coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is the latest offering in the World of Darkness series. The game centres on three vampires, who each have unique characteristics, skills and bloodsucking abilities.
Up first, you’ve got Galeb – a member of clan Venture who’s been around for 300 years. Then, there’s Leysha, a mother, prophet and member of Malkavian. Finally, Emem is a jazz diva and a member of Toreador. At just 100 years old, Emem seems rather youthful compared to the others!
In the game, you can choose which vampire you want to play. By harnessing their power, facing their demons and embracing their dreams and desires, the story will unravel as the fate of each vampire is decided in Boston.
So, how does it compare?
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong is the latest release in the overarching series. Since its inception, the World of Darkness has launched a number of popular video games, sold multi-million copies and even secured the title as one of the top 25 best RPGs in the world.
Other games in the franchise include Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt, Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York, and Vampire: The Masquerade – Shadows of New York. There are also Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood, Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest and Wraith: The Oblivion – Afterlife.
Admittedly, each of the games boasts new characters, different settings and immersive graphics, but the overall theme and objectives within each game are similar. The Vampire collection allows gamers to enter a world where vampires, monsters and werewolves live among us in plain sight.
Vampires as a theme
Vampire-themed games aren’t anything new and, over the years, fans have gone crazy for the likes of Vampyr and Darkwatch. But why does this theme remain such a popular choice in entertainment? Perhaps it’s because elements of the supernatural remain prominent in other areas of the entertainment sector, such as books, films and TV, with critically acclaimed shows like What We Do In The Shadows being a prime example.
In addition, classic archetypal creatures like vampires and werewolves have been rewritten with interesting and alternative narratives in the digital era. This allows gamers to enjoy some of their favourite mythological characters in a novel way.
Our fascination with vampires and, indeed, the other world doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, and it’s not only the US that’s affected. In the UK, where the novel Dracula was originally based, vampires are a consistent theme in television and film, especially remakes of the classic novel.
Even gaming is affected by the phenomenon, where new slots like Nightfall continue to appear online. It’s not just the characters in these slots that make them such a popular choice but also the fact that they’re regularly enhanced and updated, boast innovative graphics and features, and focus on the vampire theme – both in an original and inventive manner.
Other popular slot vampire games include Bloodsuckers and Immortal Romance (based on Twilight), which consist of a variety of vampire types, deathly prizes and the opportunity to win free spins.
It cannot be denied that the franchise of vampire games from the World of Darkness series has garnered a lot of hype. With incredible graphics, detailed storylines and characters that keep individuals coming back for more, it’s no surprise. For fans of the series, it’s definitely worth noting that Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, a sequel to previous games, is in development now.