In theory, vampires and immersive simulators are as natural a match as bats and caves. Immersive simulators typically involve a balance of stealth, acrobatics, raw power, and cunning manipulation, and vampires are prized for all of these things. Still, true vampire-themed immersive simulators are occasional. My list begins with Vampire: the Masquerade: Bloodlines… and in a way, it ends there. In a devastating betrayal, Arkane Austin’s Redfall wasn’t an immersive simulator, but an open-world co-op shooter (and not a very good one). The much-delayed Bloodlines 2 was recently degraded from immersive simulator to RPG from fresh developer The Chinese Room. Arkane Lyon’s adaptation of Blade seems promising, but still has a long way to go.
Here, to plug the gap in immersive games on the market, is Trust from Byte Barrel, a “new first-person shooter with elements of immersive simulation.” Set in a world where vampires are hunted for their blood, which has become a daily source of energy for humans, used for everything from car batteries to street lights. Ironic! I guess the ideal solution under the circumstances would be for humans to let vampires suck their blood in exchange for vampires letting humans exploit their blood to generate electricity, but that wouldn’t make for a very exhilarating shooter. Anyway, here’s the trailer.
You’ll play as a recently awakened elder vampire trying to survive in quarantine in a central European city. “On your path to regaining power, you can choose to fight humans openly, using their technology and weapons, or remain true to your vampire abilities, allowing you to achieve your goals undetected,” explains the press release. “But remember, either way, you need the most precious substance in the world to function. Hunt for blood and satisfy your endless hunger.”
The press release doesn’t offer much insight into skills and terrain, but susceptibility to sunlight is a factor. “Depending on the time of day, you’ll have to accomplish a different goal in each level,” the developers note. You’ll also apparently be able to exploit objects in the game’s world. Levels are swarming with gun-toting, bat-wielding mooks, and the architecture feels vaguely steampunk, with giant, glowing silos that I’m guessing aren’t exactly balmy strawberry jam. “Each playthrough offers a different experience, allowing everyone to find their own playstyle,” the developers promise.

Barrel Byte are the creators of the critically acclaimed Lovecraftian boomer shooter Forgive Me Father and its sequel, which I’ll henceforth refer to as Cthulhoomer shooters, or maybe even Cthulhooters, oh wait, no, no, no, no. That shared DNA is evident in Trust’s comic book direction.
I’m disappointed that the Trust trailer doesn’t show us more of the game in action, but as a Vlad the Infiltrator wannabe, I’m all for Trust as a concept. I hope we get a proper overview trailer soon, let alone a release date. In the meantime, let me know if there’s any blood-sucking immersive sims I missed. Could we cautiously reclassify Vampyr as an immersive sim?