Fangs For The Memories: The Best Vampires In Video Games

For many of us, the weather is finally becoming that cool autumn crisp, the days are getting shorter, and the season for gorging on candy and horror movies is in full-swing. While I may be in the camp that believes there aren’t nearly enough vampire video games, these creatures of the night are well represented in games. So what better time to pay tribute to our favorite bloodsuckers? Show off those pearly white fangs; these are the best vampires in gaming:

Astarion - Baldur’s Gate III

One of the best companions of the generational RPG by Larian Studios, Astarion’s charm will win over even the coldest of hearts. Players who choose to engage with his storyline are treated to some of the best storytelling Baldur’s Gate III has to offer. Did I mention he’s a rogue class by default, too? It was incredibly fun speccing his build to stealthily one-shot enemies and retain plenty of action points for his vampiric abilities.

Rayne - BloodRayne

A protagonist of a bygone era, Rayne was the definition of both sexy and deadly. Featuring an outfit that would fit right in an Underworld film, Rayne uses nimble acrobatics to slay and feast on unsuspecting foes such as Nazis and pesky cult members. While she hasn’t had a title since 2011’s BloodRayne: Betrayal, I pray to the vampiric gods that one day Rayne will return.

Blade - Marvel's Midnight Suns

This one feels like cheating. We all know how badass Blade is from the 1998 film, but his portrayal in Midnight Suns particularly stands out among vampires in games, adding a whole new side of humanity to the notorious vampire slayer. As the player, you have access to all of Blade’s vampiric abilities, which make short work of foes, but you also have the ability to get to know him personally (including his secret crush on Captain Marvel). 

Vincent Valentine - Final Fantasy VII

Have you ever just seen a character that is the embodiment of cool? That sums up Vincent Valentine in a nutshell. Hell, when Cloud and company first encounter him, he’s in a literal coffin. Aside from the cool aesthetics, Vincent has one of the best backstories in all of Final Fantasy VII and I can't wait to see how it’s portrayed in the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Revelation. Though not technically a vampire, the fact that he’s a genetically modified immortal human with sick taste in goth clothing qualifies him for this list.

Coen - The Blood of Dawnwalker

One of the more recent characters to appear on this list, Coen is one of the most fascinating vampire characters I’ve come across in all media. Cursed to be a “Dawnwalker,” Coen lives daytime as a human and nighttime as a bloodthirsty monster who’s willing to kill anyone to feed his bloodlust (if he gets hungry enough). With a story centered on trying to save his family, Coen’s decisions influence his humanity and how others perceive him.  The Blood of Dawnwalker may be one of the newest games on this list, but I can’t wait for a sequel to see more of the human/vampire balancing act that developer Rebel Wolves has created.

Alucard - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Perhaps one of the greatest characters on this list, Alucard is the son of Count Dracula himself. Born to a human mother, Alucard retains his humanity in addition to his vampiric powers and rises to the occasion when his father gets out of line. Symphony of the Night is his most famous adventure and sees him out to stop his father in the wake of Richter Belmont’s disappearance (it's also one of the greatest games of all time).

Carmilla - Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

Did you know that, as a literary figure, Carmilla is actually older than Dracula? It's cool that Konami keeps using her in Castlevania games to keep her in public knowledge, and its newest take on the character in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse might be the best yet. One of the minions who guards Dracula’s castle, her design features her wearing a dress made entirely of human blood and holding a mask based on her original NES appearance. It’s a throwback and modern update that makes her one of the most memorable vampires in recent memory, and her gore-filled boss battle, one of the best in the game.

Lady Dimitrescu - Resident Evil Village

A vampire created by unconventional means, Lady Dimitrescu is one of the lords of the titular village that Ethan Winters faces off against in the eighth mainline Resident Evil game. Created by the black mold, Lady D grows to gigantic proportions and guards a gothic castle in true vampire fashion. Her design and portrayal broke away from conventional Resident Evil villains and she became a huge hit with internet fandoms. It’s just a shame that Capcom killed her off so soon.

Orianna - The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine

Orianna is truly one of the most evil vampires on this list. A Bruxa, or vampire lord, that Geralt encountered on his adventures in Toussaint, Orianna had unconventional tastes for a vampire and preferred the taste of children’s blood. To sate her need, she established an orphanage, granting her an endless supply. Her story felt like a Polish fairy-tale take on the tale of Elizabeth Bathory, a real life figure who bathed in the blood of young women in an attempt for endless youth.

The Crimson Court - Darkest Dungeon: The Crimson Court

I love depictions of vampires that see them as members of the aristocracy, but I also love depictions of them as feral beasts. Thankfully, Darkest Dungeon delivered both in a unique spin. In Darkest Dungeon's The Crimson Court DLC, the bloodsuckers are depicted as noblemen and women who willingly succumbed to vampirism but in their effort for eternal life were transformed into insect-like abominations that the adventuring party must face. It was such a unique take on vampire mythos that it hasn’t left my mind since I’ve played it nearly a decade ago.