What V Rising is
V Rising is a top-down vampire survival action RPG from Stunlock Studios. You wake after centuries of slumber as a weakened vampire and have to rebuild your strength by hunting blood in nearby settlements. The world is open and full of places to explore: lush forests, open countryside, and dark caverns, all holding resources, villages, bandit camps, and supernatural bosses. Drinking the blood of powerful foes lets you steal their power, and you learn weapons and spells as you go. Combat is skillshot-based with WASD movement and cursor aiming, so you aim your attacks and dodge incoming projectiles rather than clicking to move.
Surviving the night
Daylight is the main threat. The sun burns you to ash, so you plan your routes and fights around the rising and setting sun, staying in shadow during the day and hunting in the dark. Blood keeps you going, so raids on villages and camps are not just for loot. Alongside that you gather resources, discover ancient techniques, and craft. The interface has been reworked and the game has native gamepad support.
Playing with your group
You can travel with vampire comrades or hunt alone. Fighting side by side with other vampires gives you an edge against the biggest threats in Vardoran, and you can pillage villages, raid bandit camps, and take on supernatural bosses together. Between runs you raise a castle: store your loot, craft coffins for servants and friends, personalize the place, and fortify it so other vampires cannot walk off with your treasure hoard. You can also convert humans into thralls to serve your growing empire.
Choosing your side
Cooperation is not the only option. Other players' castles can be raided, and the game leaves room for diplomacy, betrayal, and open war between vampires. Make allies or make enemies online, or play solo locally — the choice is yours. Before you start, know that PvP and co-op both exist in the same world, so a quiet building session can turn into a fight, and that your build is defined by the combination of weapons and spells you pick up from defeated foes.