Holiday Gaming: Zelda, Robocop, and More Must-Play Titles

Playable Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, Windows, macOS, Linux (Steam Deck performance may vary). Current mission: Expand my vampire clan with more Kindred.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York had been sitting idle in my Steam library, gathering virtual dust. With my recent dive into Vampire, the classic tabletop RPG that Coteries of New York draws inspiration from, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to finally give this visual novel a go.

And wow, am I glad I did. So far, Coteries of New York has been a fantastic source of inspiration for my campaign, keeping the world of the game sharp and exciting in my mind. Vampire, as a tabletop role-playing game, is incredibly layered and complex. It’s a world where the characters aren’t gallant heroes but rather creatures wrestling with a nightmarish existence. And the setting? Loaded with a whole universe of lore and terminology that takes a real commitment to get familiar with. Sure, you could dive into the rulebooks with some atmospheric music playing in the background—I personally vouch for Soma FM’s Dark Zone for those late-night vampire musings—but having an engaging story to interact with definitely enhances the learning experience.

What I’m really enjoying is how Coteries of New York, unlike some other big-name Vampire releases, embraces the visual novel style. It offers a refreshing shift from the fast-paced video games I usually find myself playing. This format lets me really sink into the moody, gothic atmosphere of its World of Darkness setting, which might have been more elusive in a conventional RPG—although, I must admit, I do wish it included more RPG elements, like Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest does. That game, set in the same universe, fuses the visual storytelling of a novel with the interactive role-playing elements beautifully.

Even though I could do with more traditional gaming mechanics in Coteries of New York, it still excels at immersing you in the moody dread and melancholy that is quintessential to a World of Darkness experience. Playing as the Toreador character, Lamar, I’ve mostly been teaming up with his intriguing Malkavian companion, Hope. The game hints at an opportunity to encounter more vampires from different clans. If the writing in Hope’s storyline is any sign, I’ve got a lot of immersive, blood-drenched narratives to uncover in the somber streets of New York City. — Claire Jackson