Bithell Games has announced Vampirium: 1997, a new immersive sim that casts players as an assassin operating within a 1997 England ruled by Dracula. The studio, which previously developed Volume, John Wick Hex, and Tron: Catalyst, revealed the upcoming title as a return to development following staff layoffs last August due to funding issues.
Vampirium: 1997 features minimalist point-and-click gameplay. Players will infiltrate various locations to eliminate targets, with objectives offering multiple approaches. These range from a stealth-oriented playstyle that minimizes casualties to a more aggressive strategy employing weapons such as a silver katana. The game encourages players to adapt to dynamic mission conditions.
Environments are designed to be interactive, allowing players to observe enemy patrol routes to plan their infiltration and access restricted areas. Environmental elements, such as lighting, can also be manipulated to the player's advantage. In interactions with non-player characters, players can choose from various dialogue responses to gather information, maintain secrecy, or even use hypnotism to compel characters to follow commands. The game is structured to promote replayability, with new tasks becoming available after initial mission completions. An eight-minute gameplay walkthrough has been released by director Mike Bithell, offering a closer look at the game's mechanics. Vampirium: 1997 is slated to launch into Steam Early Access at a date yet to be announced.