V Rising is an absolute gem if you love survival games, tight and rewarding combat mechanics, constantly unlocking new spells and abilities, and, of course, the vampire theme! I played through the PvE content only - did not play PvP at all.

There are a vast array of bosses to hunt down and defeat, each presenting a unique challenge. Each boss is visually stunning and has distinctive abilities. The bosses serve as stepping stones in your journey to progress. Each victory unlocks something new, be it a spell, weapon ability, resource, or something for your castle, ensuring you always feel a sense of progression.

The atmosphere in V Rising perfectly captures the Gothic, eerie world of vampires, immersing you in dense forests, lively towns, creepy swamps, or simply brooding in a castle of your own design. Vampire themes and mythology are woven throughout every aspect of the game.

I played V Rising solo PvE in early access for about 50 hours, and it was awesome, but playing PvE co-op with friends enhances every aspect of the game, turning each boss battle into a shared triumph. It's one of those games where the more friends you have, the better the experience becomes.

The day/night cycle is brilliantly done. It captures the classic vampire struggle against the sun in a way that isn't overly punishing but is lore-perfect, as daytime adds an extra layer of danger, forcing you to think strategically about when to venture out.

The combat mechanics in V Rising are its standout feature. With a diverse range of spells and weapon skills to experiment with, no two players will approach battles the same way. In PvE, almost any build is viable, giving you the freedom to play the game your way and makes every win feel satisfying.

Building your own vampire castle is a major highlight of V Rising. The extensive customisation options allow you to easily create a castle that reflects your style, whether you prefer a menacing fortress or an elegant look. It's incredibly satisfying to see your home evolve from a simple shelter with no protection from the sun into a sprawling, comfortable stronghold filled with gothic architecture and all the personalised touches you can imagine.

Setting up a private server gives you so many options, so whether you're looking for a gritty hardcore survival challenge or want to focus on the combat by increasing resource yield, you can tailor the gameplay to your liking.

It's hard to find something wrong with this game. I experienced frustration with the RNG nature of the end-game grind, i.e., getting a good supply of perfect blood quality and finding legendary weapons. Secondly, The final boss has a really steep difficulty curve—I would estimate that I lost to the final boss about 30+ times before learning all the patterns and mechanics well enough to beat it.

Overall, V Rising is a fantastic game that delivers on the vampire fantasy in a way that no other media has done for me before.

Highly recommended.

Do you have a fear of the ocean? Do you want one?

Pros:
Some genuinely great jump-scares
Banging soundtrack
Fantastic graphics and lighting
A good mystery to uncover
Fun base-building
Cool vehicles to pilot
Excellent world-building

Cons:
A little bit of janky-ness here and there but ultimately it doesn't distract too much from the fun.

Conclusion:
A survival game experience unlike anything else I've played - I can see why this game has so many positive reviews