November 2026, in most people’s minds, equals one thing: GTA 6. Sure, I’m excited for Rockstar’s latest: it’s set to be the biggest videogame launch ever – or certainly of my career. But, if I’m honest, I’m more interested in a little visual novel from Revive the Spark, a Polish indie studio who’s bringing my favorite Vampire: The Masquerade setting to life. Oaths and Ashes, a VTM tale set in Berlin By Night, is now live on Steam, and I won’t lie, I know what I’ll be playing this November.
Following the dual protagonist route of Draw Distance’s New York by Night series (well, the latter two games), Oaths and Ashes lets you take to the night as staunch Camarilla Ventrue, Alice, or rough-and-ready Thinblood Lenz. Despite being polar opposites, the duo will have to work together to either destabilize Germany’s capital, bending it to the Camarilla’s will, or tilt the conflict in favor of the rabble-rousing Anarchs.
On paper, this sounds like a relatively standard Vampire: The Masquerade story. Where it diverges from Draw Distance’s visual novels, however, is in its approach to the action. I spent a few hours with Oaths and Ashes earlier this year, and walked away impressed by its clever translation of the TTRPG’s mechanics, and general sense of identity.
What I find the most interesting, however, is the weight that your choices have on the game’s narrative. Instead of just branching plotlines, the entire political structure of Berlin will shift as you progress, with districts changing hands as leaders forge alliances and shatter old ones. All of this is displayed on an absolutely gorgeous map, whose colors change as the situation does.
When playing as Lenz, you’ll also be able to tinker with Thinblood Alchemy, which is easily the best part of playing a Duskborn on tabletop. You’ll mix together different reagents and blood resonances to craft new, powerful potions, which can balance out your lack of vampiric powers. It’s an interesting translation of one of my favorite mechanics, and I’m excited to see how Reive the Spark imagines it.
But perhaps the most interesting thing about Oaths and Ashes is its setting. Berlin is easily one of the most interesting cities in the world, and as a VTM setting its rich lore allows for immense flexibility. It’s the perfect battleground for the Anarchs and Camarilla, and easily one of my favorite locales. Oaths and Ashes’ demo gave me a little teaser of what to expect from the city, and it’s a faithful recreation of its grit and grime. I can’t wait to see how it changes with my choices.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Oaths and Ashes is out now. You can pick it up on Steam.
2027 is set to be a good year for World of Darkness fans, with sister VTM title Eternal Whispers taking a Disco Elysium-esque approach, while Teyon brings its Robocop excellence to Hunter: The Reckoning with Deathwish. To top it off, Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Rageborn goes down the Metroidvania route, and there is, of course, VTM V6. I’m far too excited, and you should be, too.