Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong

 PC
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 55 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 55
  3. Negative: 4 out of 55
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 29, 2024
    40
    It's a never-ending story, a game with too many half-baked ideas, where the story and mood of the series just hold the door to correctness and superficiality without a deeper gameplay experience or at least uniqueness. [Issue#320]
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  2. Edge Magazine
    Jun 16, 2022
    40
    Too often feels like a predetermined narrative that's indifferent to your involvement. [Issue#373, p.114]
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  3. Games.cz
    Jun 10, 2022
    40
    If you wish to see a game that does basically everything wrong, look no further. Its technical state is a mess, it will overwhelm you with information, the characters are bland. The only thing worth praising is the interesting dialogue system.
  5. GameSpot
    May 20, 2022
    40
    Swansong ultimately has little to recommend it. Its writing is stilted, its storytelling muddled, and its puzzle design is mostly unimaginative. Sadly, there isn't even any kind of worthwhile payoff if you do manage to see it through to its conclusion. I reached a point where I was thinking I'd hit the close of the second act, and then the game ended. Just like this.
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  1. 3DJuegos
    Jun 16, 2022
    Swansong does not always perform at the same level. Its development is a roller coaster of moments lacking in rhythm and some well achieved, characterized mainly by a slow start and some tutorials that do not do their job wisely.
  2. Polygon
    May 18, 2022
    My relationship to Swansong has become almost like my ritual appointment with Passions — until I fully exhaust the entire story, I need my dose of ridiculous people making ridiculous decisions, and the nuclear fallout of their mistakes.
  3. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    May 18, 2022
    As a whole, Swansong is a bit more loose and messy than I'd expected, but with some screws tightened the annoyances would be much less irritating and the game much more fun. It's almost really good as is. I had, I think, a middling run, where I got to enjoy the silly bits and interesting details, and didn't have too many tragic failures. I do want to play it again and try different choices, or make better decisions, but... I'm in the middle of a new TV show. And there's that book I've been reading, you know? And I need to put a wash on. I got attached to my three vamps, but not that attached.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Most Discussed PC Game of 2022

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
3.2

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 79 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 79
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 79
  3. Negative: 54 out of 79
  1. Kharador
    May 20, 2022
    0
    Another SJW (woke) propaganda game. Script is awful, facial animations are terrible and the characters are empty and inexpressive. PureAnother SJW (woke) propaganda game. Script is awful, facial animations are terrible and the characters are empty and inexpressive. Pure clichés and poor execution. Run away from this game.… Full Review »
  2. x6po6go6x
    May 21, 2022
    0
    Extremely disappointing. I love Vampire The Masquerade and I was so excited to play this game, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my hopesExtremely disappointing. I love Vampire The Masquerade and I was so excited to play this game, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my hopes and expectations at all. It is simply bad. The voice acting is terrible, the graphics are dated, the story is disjointed and boring, and there's no combat whatsoever. To be clear I am ok with the lack of combat if the story is interesting and engaging. Disco Elysium is probably my favorite game from the last 10 years. But that game had an amazing story with meaningful decisions to be made. Disco Elysium kept you on your toes from beginning to end. That is not the case here. Anyway as if the game-play and story weren't bad enough, then you have to deal with all the force fed SJW BS on top of that. It's truly awful.… Full Review »
  3. PresCthulhu
    May 23, 2022
    0
    I have no issues with perceived SJW problems, I don't care if most of the cast is female.

    What I do care about however is still very bad. I    I have no issues with perceived SJW problems, I don't care if most of the cast is female.

    What I do care about however is still very bad. I was enthusiastic about this one as I am an avid WoD fan. I play the TTG and did play with everything that was available on PC before. I can see how people who have no prior knowledge of the lore could find it extremely confusing, to me this was not an issue either. Furthermore I love political intrigue, story driven games, a good mystery and I do not mind fixed characters.

    Why is it still 0 then? I usually don't fling it around, but I think this game is an absolute disgrace to the franchise. It had only ONE job to fulfil and it is worse than many indie entries I seen in decades. First off if you make a game based on social interaction you absolutely cannot make the characters ridiculously animated and portrayed. It takes away from the whole experience. If I say the graphics is a decade old I think I understated it. It looks something from the previous century. Now if it would have been done stylistically it could be forgiven, but unfortunately it is comically bad which takes a lot away from said ONE job it is supposed to do.

    Second the voice acting is passable at best, some important characters have very bad voice actors unfortunately. It doesn't help that the writing of the dialogues are mediocre at best.

    It's a shame and I think entries like this are a plague to the already suffering franchise. I know many people potentially put a lot of effort into this one and I feel sorry for all of them as this is not even a polished garbage in the end, but a harmful unpolished one. Whoever was responsible for this product to be released like this should be deeply ashamed.    … Full Review »
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