With the release of Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 (hereinafter Bloodlines 2) just around the corner on the 21st, the Metacritic scores have finally surfaced. As of 3:00 PM on the 18th, the title sits at a 67 on PC across 21 outlets and a 64 on PS5 across 22 outlets.

The praise centres on the unique world-building, narrative direction, and the ability to craft an atmosphere that only Bloodlines 2 can muster. By blending the classic RPG narrative structure with the iconic nature of vampires, the game weaves a genuinely tense tale. Critics have lauded how it modernises the political tension inherited from its predecessor, awarding it high marks for its narrative polish.

Conversely, the shortcomings are glaring: poor optimisation and a lack of overall polish. Several outlets noted that unstable technical performance hampers immersion, while others labelled the combat system monotonous and the side quests repetitive. The general consensus is that the gameplay fails to keep pace with the compelling story, leading to the prevailing sentiment: "Great atmosphere, but the execution leaves much to be desired."

For those unaware, Bloodlines 2 is an action RPG set in a Seattle rife with conflict between vampire clans, following the life of an elder vampire living in the shadows. Your choice of clan dictates your combat style, and the game maintains high tension through mechanics like the risk of being purged if your true nature is exposed to human society. While there was a bit of a row over the 'Toreador' and 'Lasombra' clans—two of the six available—originally being slated as paid DLC, the developers managed to quell the flames by including them in the base game.