V Rising

Rise and Shine! But try not to shine much.

V Rising (2024) is one of those rare games that took me by surprise in the best way possible. After around 150 hours of play, I can say that it delivers a remarkably well-balanced and consistently engaging experience, especially on default settings.

Its progression system is one of the strongest elements. Instead of traditional levels, your growth comes through unlocking new technology and crafting better gear. This approach feels refreshing, intuitive, and rewarding. The same applies to raising and managing subordinates, who can be sent out on missions to handle repetitive tasks, which becomes increasingly valuable as the game grows more demanding.

The skill and magic system is very simple, very likeable, and so intuitive that I was surprised to realize - “that’s all I need to do?” Stunlock Studios clearly has very talented developers, and the system manages to strike a perfect balance between accessibility and satisfying combat depth.

Base building is actually fun, and just like the rest of the game, the developers thought about progression pacing. When running all over the castle becomes tedious, the game eventually allows you to unlock a teleport system. In many ways, it feels like the game constantly anticipates the player’s needs and evolves alongside them. Actually brilliant.

V Rising also excels at pacing across the broader world. As the map opens up and travel becomes more demanding, the game provides new tools to ease the journey - wolf form, horses, and even more later on. Just when things begin to feel like too much, a new convenience arrives, keeping the progression loop satisfying rather than overwhelming.

The world itself feels alive. Bosses and powerful NPCs roam the land, turning encounters into dynamic and memorable moments. Sometimes you’ll need to retreat and regroup, while other times you push your luck, defeat a much stronger enemy, and get rewarded with meaningful advancement. It keeps the gameplay reactive and constantly engaging.

There are, however, two areas where I would love to see improvement. The story is extremely minimal, offering just the basic setup for the world. If major bosses had more narrative weight (motivations, personal history, or distinct roles in the world) it would make the experience more emotionally immersive. The music, while good, becomes repetitive over long play sessions and eventually fades into the background. Unfortunately, the soundtrack, even when varied and dynamic, sounds very similar.

Aside from that, V Rising is a remarkably well-crafted game with excellent systems and impressive balance. I played entirely on a local single-player server, but there are co-op and competitive servers for players who want a more social or PvP-driven experience.

Overall, V Rising is a fantastic title.