Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 gameplay reveal: blood, illusions, and choices

Sequel to the cult classic is set for release later in 2024

Paradox Interactive and The Chinese Room have finally lifted the curtains on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, showing off almost 15 minutes of uncut gameplay footage in a brand-new trailer for the RPG, which you can watch below:

We’re following main character Phyre, an enforcer for the ruling court of the vampire world, on a mission in an abandoned warehouse, where they hope to find a secret keeper called Willem and obtain some answers from him regarding a mysterious mark put on Phyre’s body.

The Chinese Room, usually an address for horror games, used its expertise in that genre to set the mood for the shown level, both visually and in terms of sound. This being a vampire game, a copious amount of blood is expected to flow – and the developers are certainly delivering in that department: Phyre takes quick drinks from her enemies before finishing them off, refreshing their HP to get back to squishing heads, breaking necks, and decapitating people bare-handedly.

Chasing Willem lands Phyre in some sort of illusion used to keep them unconscious. Growing ever more surreal, they need to find a way to unravel the dream and get back to reality, where Willem awaits them with a suicide vest around his chest. We’re getting some breadcrumbs on the bad guy – someone called The Gardener – and their plans to destabilize the court. Phyre tries to talk Willem out of activating the vest, but it looks like there is little consequence to the choice of dialog options in this case, as The Gardener is listening to what’s going on and turns the suicide vest on remotely. Bye, Willem.

Phyre has recently been awoken from a deep slumber :: The Chinese Room / Paradox Interactive

The footage offers a look at some of the stealth, movement, and combat options open to Phyre – though many of these Disciplines will depend on which of the available clans she’ll join with the Brujah, Tremere, Banu Haqim, and Ventrue all being open to her. While the telekinesis, feeding, and vampiric senses are all part of the standard kit for Kindred, the melee abilities seemed to have come from the Brujah Clan – like the charge through several enemies or the bullet time moments allowing Phyre to aim a barrage of hits.

“The gameplay and action of Bloodlines 2 is a sort of dance. As players explore the world, soak in the atmosphere, and make strategic choices, they affect their relationships with the characters around them,” explained Alex Skidmore, creative director at The Chinese Room in a press release. “Players can choose their legend, but the world is dynamic, and characters will remember how you treat them. Think carefully, and trust no one.”

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, taking place in an alternate version of modern Seattle, is set to be released in Fall 2024 for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.