Nighthawks Delivers Vampire RPG Vignettes That Flash Brilliance But Struggle to Connect
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Nighthawks is a narrative vampire RPG published by Wadjet Eye Games that features standout individual storylines, but it ultimately stumbles due to uneven pacing, lack of meaningful choices, and a disconnected overall structure.
Publisher Wadjet Eye Games and developer The Curiosity Engine have officially launched Nighthawks, a narrative-focused vampire RPG that draws heavy inspiration from Edward Hopper's iconic 1942 painting of urban isolation. Set across three distinct city neighborhoods, the game casts players as a newly turned vampire rising to power by running a downtown nightclub. Reviewer Jay Castello notes that while the title is built entirely around its writing, the execution tells a mixed story. The game is structured as a series of vignette-driven acts rather than a singular sweeping narrative, leading to uneven pacing and disconnected story threads that struggle to form a cohesive whole.
The high points of Nighthawks arrive in its standout side stories, particularly a pair of quests centered on freeing women from restrictive societal systems. These moments succeed by blending ancient themes of oppression with the fresh reality of a world where humanity has only recently discovered that vampires exist. Unfortunately, these narrative peaks contrast sharply with weaker elements, such as a dull opening act and an unconvincing anti-vampire human supremacist faction that quickly loses its threat level once the player character becomes overpowered. Companions also suffer early on from a lack of clear motivations, leaving players with little initial intrigue during the opening hours.
From a mechanical standpoint, the game struggles to enforce meaningful choices or strategic resource management. Because each act spans a month of in-game time with plenty of spare hours to burn before major story beats occur, players can easily tackle almost every available thread without friction or consequence. Skill checks and roleplaying limitations largely vanish by the later acts as stats max out, rendering gear and companion upgrades feel mostly vestigial. While the atmosphere and atmospheric writing capture moments of genuine brilliance, the overall experience ultimately feels like an uneven sketch rather than a finished masterpiece, as detailed in the original review on Rock Paper Shotgun.
Tags: RPG, Indie Games, PC Gaming, Vampires, Narrative
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun