Games to Enjoy Over the Holiday: Zelda, Robocop, and More

Available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, Windows, macOS, and Linux (though experience may vary on the Steam Deck), my current mission: expand my Kindred crew.

I finally got around to diving into Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York, a game that’s been gathering digital dust in my Steam collection. Recently, I dusted off my tabletop Vampire game, and that seemed like a sign to explore this intriguing visual novel adaptation.

Boy, am I glad I did. So far, Coteries of New York has been a goldmine of inspiration for my ongoing tabletop campaign. It’s not just keeping the rich lore of the game world fresh in my mind; it’s also breathing new life into it. Vampire, for those unfamiliar, is a complex tabletop RPG. Instead of heroes, you’re dealing with monsters grappling with their own cursed existence. There’s a lot of lore and specific jargon to wrap your head around, often making the rulebooks feel a bit dense. Sure, you could pore over them while letting some eerie tunes wash over you—I highly recommend Soma FM’s Dark Zone for those late-night, Kindred-filled musings—but experiencing it through a story-driven game makes all the difference.

What I find refreshing about Coteries of New York is its visual novel format, which breaks away from my usual action-packed gaming sessions. It allows me to soak in the dark and gothic vibe of the World of Darkness setting in a way that’s different from your typical RPG. Still, I can’t help but wish it had some extra RPG elements, similar to what you find in Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest. That game marries the visual novel style with RPG mechanics perfectly.

Despite longing for more interactive elements, Coteries of New York delivers the haunting atmosphere and despair that any World of Darkness game should. I’m playing as the Toreador character, Lamar, who’s been hanging out with a Malkavian buddy named Hope. There’s a whole host of other vampires to meet, each from different clans, and if Hope’s storyline is any indication, there are many more captivating tales awaiting discovery in the shadowy alleyways of New York City. — Claire Jackson