Explore The Dark World Of Vampires: 10 Must-Try TTRPGs For Enthusiasts

Author Dalboyy 18 Nov 2024

Anyone with a penchant for dark, brooding monsters will be spoiled for choice over the next six months, with the final season of What We Do in the Shadows airing in October, the remake of Salem’s Lot already making the rounds in theatres, Robert Eggers’ remake of Nosferatu slated for December 2024 and the third season of Interview With the Vampire winging its way to us in early 2025.

TTRPG creators haven’t been slacking on the vampire stakes, though: if you are hungrily awaiting the return of Lestat and Count Orlok, consider checking out these ten vampire TTRPGs. Whether you’re playing alone or with your coven, you’ll find something to sink your teeth into!

10) Low Stakes (NerdBurger Games)

Shows like What We Do in the Shadows and Being Human brought a fresh take on the vampire genre by playing up the comedy of vampire existence. In Low Stakes, you too can play a group of mismatched monstrous roommates who constantly struggle to engage with daily life. The challenges in Low Stakes are, as the title suggests, incredibly mundane.

Your characters must master such dangerous situations as getting a new roommate, tracking down a lost pet, or having a very ordinary day. This game offers a hilarious perspective on the often serious vampire lore.

9) Oops All Draculas! (Jessica Marcrum)

In Oops All Draculas!, every character is a Dracula: an archetype based on one of the many depictions of Dracula across the decades. In this world, Draculas are stronger together, but alone, they are a danger to themselves and others, so they team up to solve problems. However, their pack mentality often backfires spectacularly, leading to hilarious situations.

This game is perfect for a spooky one-shot Halloween session, where you can explore the quirks of Dracula’s character while working together to face challenges.

8) Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition (Renegade Game Studios)

The vampire daddy of them all, Vampire: The Masquerade (known as V:tM), keeps returning from the grave and is now in its fifth edition. Originally released in 1991, V:tM tapped into the vampire craze of the 90s and attracted role-players who craved the moral ambiguity of a monstrous protagonist in a world of supernatural politics.

This edition introduces new mechanics for a modern audience while nostalgia fans can check out V20, White Wolf/Onyx Path’s version of the original game’s system and setting. With its complex storytelling and character development, V:tM remains a cornerstone of the genre.

7) SAD VAMPIRE BOYFRIEND (Grant Howitt)

SAD VAMPIRE BOYFRIEND does exactly what it says on the tin: you choose whether your character is a vampire or a mortal, teaming up with others to fight some threat to your existence or that of your love. Your moves are powered by pure angst, and there are even mechanics that can help you regain angst through brooding.

This game is a loving homage as much as it is an ironic take, making it rules-light and fitting onto one page. It’s a fun and unique twist on vampire narratives that embraces the emotional turmoil of its characters.

6) Thousand Year Old Vampire (Tim Hutchings)

One of the solo journaling TTRPGs that popularised the form, Thousand Year Old Vampire by Tim Hutchings, is about the endless slog of immortality. Play through centuries of life as the vampire protagonist loves, loses, and learns that eternity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. This game beautifully captures the nuances of eternal life and the inevitable grief that comes with it.

It’s a unique take on vampire fiction that allows players to reflect on their character's journey through the ages, making it a profound experience.

5) Undying (Magpie Games)

In Undying, vampires are predators through and through. This diceless system guides players through the daily unlife of a vampire trying to survive in a city of predators, feeding on unsuspecting humans and warring over status and territory. The game's mechanics revolve around the idea of territory, control, and the darker aspects of vampire fiction.

Whether player characters succeed or fail against NPCs depends on their status and how much blood they are willing to bet to achieve their goals. Undying models a complex web of backstabbing and survival in the vampire world.

4) Paint the Town Red (SoulMuppet Publishing)

Described as a ‘sad vampire RPG,’ Paint the Town Red from Soulmuppet Publishing focuses on the best part of any vampire fiction: the parties. With an unashamed commitment to the melodrama of vampire romance, the sessions are wild rampages through your hedonistic, blood-soaked unlife. Players are encouraged to make their characters vulnerable, driven by passions that go too far, and revel in the consequences.

This game captures the essence of vampire parties, allowing players to embrace the chaos and drama of their characters' lives while exploring the consequences of their actions.

3) Elegy (Moro de Oliveira)

For those who love Vampire: The Masquerade and Vampire: The Requiem but struggle to find a coven to play with, Elegy is the game for you. It presents a rich urban fantasy world and a variety of vampiric archetypes, allowing players to explore intricate webs of politics and mystical powers.

Based on the Ironsworn system by Shawn Tomkin, Elegy offers a unique solo experience that immerses players in the depth of vampire lore and society.

2) Hunger and Thirst (HyveMynd)

While many other vampire TTRPGs have lengthy tomes, Hunger and Thirst from HyveMynd are two business card-sized RPGs that tell incredible stories within a few paragraphs. Both are solo journaling games about a relationship between a human and a vampire, exploring the tension between desire and danger.

These games embrace mature themes and consent, offering a healthy exploration of the complexities of relationships between humans and vampires while keeping the rules streamlined and simple.

1) Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition (Onyx Path Publishing)

Vampire: The Requiem was originally envisaged as a reboot of Vampire: The Masquerade, but very much became its own thing. It introduces a range of political and religious ideologies that offer a multifaceted take on what a modern vampire society could look like. The game is driven by personal Gothic melodrama, exploring characters' struggles to retain their humanity.

It remains one of the most nuanced explorations of vampires in TTRPGs, allowing players to delve into the darker aspects of their characters while navigating the complexities of vampire society.

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