Vampirism is traditionally seen as a horrific curse in fiction, but you’ve got to admit that there are some pretty cool benefits to becoming a Nosferatu. If you ask me, not being able to get a tan at the beach pales in comparison to classic vampire abilities like flight, immaculate hair, and, of course, eternal life. This kind of power fantasy is precisely why vampires are so prevalent in videogames, as the virtual realm allows us to partake in their bloody lifestyle from a safe distance.
Rebel Wolves co-founder Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, who previously worked on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is obviously aware of this, with the studio’s latest game The Blood of Dawnwalker putting players in the shoes of a Carpathian warrior from the Middle Ages who discovers that he can live as a human by day and a super-powered vampire by night.
The Blood of Dawnwalker now available on Steam, Xbox Series and PlayStation 5.
With the hotly anticipated title arriving soon, I’m looking back at five of the most memorable vampires in videogame history.
As usual, this list is purely based on personal opinion, but keep in mind that it’ll only include original vampires specifically created for videogames. That means no digital adaptations of Dracula. Though he doesn’t hail from a horror game, I’d also like to give a shout-out to Baldur’s Gate 3’s Astarion, as I think he’s definitely one of the most iconic bloodsuckers we’ve seen in a while.
As usual, don’t forget to comment below if you think we missed a particularly memorable vampire.
With that out of the way, onto the list.
5. Rayne – Bloodrayne
A gory gothic romp all about thwarting occult Nazi conspiracy theories, the Bloodrayne series seems like it was made to bring joy to me specifically. Of course, a franchise is only as good as its main character, and Bloodrayne’s leading lady is one of the best in the business.
Heavily inspired by the paranormal investigator Svetlana Lupescu, an existing vampire from slightly less popular Terminal Reality franchise Nocturne (a part of the Blair Witch Project expanded universe), Rayne underwent an extensive design process where the team aimed to find a perfect balance between strength and attitude. If you ask me, they really hit the nail on the head (or the stake through the heart) with this one!
4. Raziel – Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
He may not be the title character of the series, but I think it’s safe to say that there are more fans of the vampire-turned-wraith Raziel than there are of Kain at this point. In fact, Soul Reaver and its moody protagonist were so well-received that a lot of people are still unaware that the title is actually a spinoff of an existing action RPG.
A winged vampire who was resurrected by an Elder God after being betrayed by his master, Raziel’s design is one of the most memorable examples of Goth and classic ’90s edge making their way into videogames. In fact, the character’s undead appearance was influenced by both Conrad Veidt’s Cesare from the 1920 expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari as well as paintings of the Hindu god Vishnu.
3. The Voerman Sisters – Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
The very first image you see when you pick up a copy of Bloodlines, Jeanette Voerman has earned a reputation over the years as an over-the-top example of sexist eye candy meant to cater to the lowest common denominator. While there’s certainly a conversation to be had about how videogames often use female characters as advertising gimmicks, the game itself actually treats both Jeanette and her slightly less sexualized “twin sister” Therese with a refreshing amount of respect.
You see, the game eventually reveals that this pair of successful business owners are secretly a single vampire suffering from dissociative identity disorder. However, neither sister is aware that the other also inhabits the same body, with these distinct characters becoming fan-favorite NPCs as well as a dual-sided mascot for Bloodlines as a whole.
2. Lady Dimitrescu – Resident Evil: Village
Whether or not Lady Dimitrescu is meant to be sexy or scary is still up for debate, though I’d argue that it’s possible to be both, but I think most fans can agree that this towering Nosferatu is one of the main attractions in Capcom’s penultimate entry in the long-running Resident Evil franchise.
Castle Dimitrescu may only be one small part of Ethan’s sprawling quest to recover his child, and the Lady’s vampiric daughters can be just as threatening as the giantess herself, but Dimitrescu’s imposing figure and classy design (I love that giant fancy hat) make her one of the most iconic creatures of the night on this list.
1. Alucard – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Escaping the shadow of your famous father can be a challenge for any nepo-baby, but it’s especially hard when your dad is literally Dracula. Thankfully, Symphony of the Night greatly expands on the once-supporting character of Vlad’s less-villainous son, who was first introduced in Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse.
Cheekily named after Lon Chaney Jr’s role in the 1943 film Son of Dracula, Alucard was meant to be a mirror opposite of his murderous father in everything from his personality to his iconic appearance. That’s why his design borrows just as much from classic Baroque artwork as it does from bishōnen manga.
Sink your fangs into The Blood of Dawnwalker, now available on all platforms.
