Finding the best vampire games on the PS2 can be daunting, mainly due to the scarcity. Unlike the PS4, Sony’s PlayStation 2 hasn’t enjoyed many vampire games that lets you wear the Dracula coat. Only a few managed to capture the feeling of a true vampire as he hunts down his enemies in the dark — feasting upon their warm blood and tearing them apart as blood splashes all over the place. One franchise that comes to mind when vampires are mentioned is the Legacy of Kain franchise.
As the vampire Kain, players can experience what it feels like to be the lord of the night. Using shadows to their advantage as they watch their prey cluelessly approaching them, unaware that they’re about to be devoured. Before Zombies became the dominating trend, vampires used to be in our faces everywhere; from movies, tv shows, to anime, and, of course, video games. However, that momentum slowed down, and games featuring vampires have become a rare commodity.
We’ve picked the best vampire games on the PlayStation 2. Featuring various games from different genres, you’re bound to find something enjoyable to quench your blood thirst. Even if some of these don’t offer vampires as playable characters, you get to play as characters who will wipe them out of existence. Without further ado, here are the best vampire games on the PS2.
Legacy of Kain Blood Omen 2 / Legacy of Kain: Defiance2002 / 2003 |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date March 20, 2002 | |
 | Developer Crystal Dynamics |
 | Publisher Square Enix |
 | Franchise Legacy of Kain |
| Genre Hack & Slash | |
| Concept Vampire | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
 | Country of Origin United States |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2002-03-26 |   |
| 2002-03-28 |   |
| 2002-03-29 |   |
| 2002-04-26 |   |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date November 11, 2003 | |
| Developer Crystal Dynamics |
| Publisher Square Enix |
| Franchise Legacy of Kain |
| Genre Hack & Slash | |
| Concept Vampire | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin United States |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2003-11-11 | |
| 2004-02-06 |   |
Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2 & Defiance are two amazing instalments from the emblematic Legacy of Kain series. Starting with Blood Omen 2, this is a direct sequel to the Blood Omen entry, essentially released on the original PS1. It puts you in the shoes of the self-absorbed Kain in his pursuit of complete domination of Nosgoth. The game is played from the third person view, and it sees you taking on various enemies ranging from ordinary human knights to creatures and the army of the Sarafan Lord.
Since the game suffers from outdated controls, players will have to approach their enemies strategically. Instead of being offensive at all times, players will have to rely on guarding most of the enemy’s attacks. Some attacks cannot be guarded, but can thankfully be evaded to avoid losing blood. Much like its predecessor, Soul Reaver, Kain can collect weapons from his fallen enemies, however, these weapons tend to break after a while. Thanks to this new presentation of young Kain, his abilities are some of the best in the series. If only the developers carried some of them over to Defiance.
Legacy of Kain: Defiance on the other hand is a huge step above the games that came before it in every possible way. The overall controls have been completely overhauled, offering an exhilarating hack and slash experience ala style of the original Devil May Cry. The graphics were greatly improved as well with much better facial expressions and animations when executing your enemies. Thanks to the impeccable voice-acting and well-written story, Legacy of Kain: Defiance still feels fresh to go through today. Fans of the hack and slash genre should definitely try this franchise, at least once in their lifetime.
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence / Castlevania: Curse of Darkness2003 / 2005 |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date October 21, 2003 | |
 | Developer Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo |
 | Publisher Konami |
 | Franchise Castlevania |
| Genre Metroidvania | |
| Concept Vampire | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
 | Country of Origin Japan |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2003-10-21 | |
| 2003-11-27 |  |
| 2003-12-01 |   |
| 2004-02-11 |  |
| 2004-02-13 |  |
| 2004-02-20 |  |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date November 01, 2005 | |
| Developer Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo |
| Publisher Konami |
| Franchise Castlevania |
| Genre Hack & Slash | |
| Graphics 3D | |
| Perspective Third-Person | |
| Interaction Real-Time | |
| Concept Vampire | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin Japan |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2005-11-01 | |
| 2005-11-15 | |
| 2005-11-24 | |
| 2006-02-16 | |
| 2006-02-17 | |
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence & Curse of Darkness are labelled as the pinnacle of vampire gaming series. The blend of rich lore and epic storytelling with addictive gameplay makes the entire series an enduring experience with a lasting effect on the player. Some of the best-overlooked instalments in the franchise are these two games, and that’s a shame because they held the potential to revolutionize the Metroidvania genre.
Lament of Innocent is considered the prequel to the events of Castlevania. It sees players controlling one of the first Belmonts to walk the earth, Leon, in his quest to find his kidnapped betrothed. Most of the game is spent battling an array of enemies ranging from ordinary creatures to zombies and, you guessed it already, vampires. Equipped with a potent whip, Leon is ready to bash and smash his way through Dracula Castle. Thanks to an RPG system-like, Leon will learn new moves and power-ups along his journey, a feature that keeps the gameplay addictive.
Curse of Darkness, on the other hand, is a new spin on the tin. Breaking free from the focus on the Belmont clan this time around, the game introduces a new protagonist to the field, Hector. He may not wield a potent whip, nor the ability to cast holy water on his enemies — but he does possess a gift that allows him to summon mythical demons to his side. Summoning demons by your side makes the journey less lonely, offering an addictive hack and slash gameplay to keep you hooked. Add to that the legendary music score made by Michiru Yamane, and there you have one of the best vampire gaming experiences ever.
BloodRayne / BloodRayne 22002 / 2004 |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date October 15, 2002 | |
 | Developer Terminal Reality |
 | Publisher Majesco Entertainment |
 | Franchise BloodRayne |
| Genre Hack & Slash | |
| Concept Vampire | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin United States |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2002-10-15 | |
| 2003-05-02 | |
| 2004-08-26 |  |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date October 12, 2004 | |
| Developer Terminal Reality |
| Publisher Majesco Entertainment |
| Franchise BloodRayne |
| Genre Hack & Slash | |
| Concept Vampire | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin United States |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-12 | |
| 2006-02-17 | |
Bloodrayne and the sequel were some of the best depictions of vampirism, and they still do to this day. Players take control of a dhampir named Rayne in the hunt for her wicked father, Kagan. She is deadly, beautiful and not too merciful when it comes to hunger for blood. She knows how to provoke her enemies only for them to end up as corpses under her legs.
The first game is a fast-paced third-person shooter laden with lots of creatures to slash, and nazis to shoot. However, the first instalment suffers from a major issue. At times the gameplay may feel all over the place due to the aged controls, excessive spamming of the same buttons, and the camera which may sometime annoy you.
The second game has a more refined gameplay style than its predecessor. Offering different styles to tackle your enemies: Grab and throw, execute a series of combos, and other cool tricks to keep you entertained. The graphics are a huge step above the previous game, presenting Rayne in a way that suits her looks.
 | Van Helsing2004 |    |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date May 06, 2004 | |
 | Developer Saffire® |
 | Publisher Sierra Entertainment |
| Genre Hack & Slash | |
| Concept Vampire | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin United States |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2004-05-06 |  |
| 2004-05-14 |  |
| 2004-09-09 | |
Van Helsing is an overlooked hack and slash, which is based on the 2004 horror film of the same name. As criminally underrated as it sadly is, Van Helsing was one of the few PS2 games to run at 480p with consistent frame rates.
Van Helsing’s gameplay is reminiscent of Rygar: The Legendary Adventure by Tecmo. Players take control of the legendary monster hunter Van Helsing, who
 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds2003 |  |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date August 26, 2003 | |
 | Developer Eurocom |
 | Publisher Vivendi Games |
| Genre Beat 'Em Up | |
| Concepts Vampire, Zombie | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin United Kingdom |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2003-08-26 | |
| 2003-10-24 |  |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds is set during the fifth season of the show. For a game based on a tv-show, Chaos Bleed is a nice treat to fans of the series, acting as something more than mere fan service. Even if you haven’t watched the show before, this game will be a great introduction to you.
In this 3D beat’em up, players control Buffy as she beats the hell out of any creature that comes her way. The plot revolves around the “First”, an impending evil that’s threatening the world. To stop him, Buffy along with her friends will unite their strength, fighting an array of demons, zombies, and vampires.
 | Vampire Night™2001 |  |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date November 14, 2001 | |
 | Developer Wow Entertainment |
 | Publisher Namco |
| Genre Rail Shooter | |
| Concept Vampire | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin Japan |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2001-11-14 | |
| 2001-12-06 |  |
| 2002-06-14 |  |
Vampire Night is a rail-shooter, essentially released to the arcades before being ported to the PS2 a year after. Set in 2006, the game sees you controlling a group of vampire hunters as they journey to France to stop a vampire invasion that’s been wreaking havoc and terrorizing its citizens.
Equipped with a GunCon, players will face off against an army of vampire creatures, ready to jump from your TV screen (literally). With a gameplay style reminiscent of Sega’s The House of Dead, rail-shooter aficionados will feel right at home with this one. Fun fact you should know is that Vampire Night was a collaboration between The House of the Dead developer WOW Entertainment, Sega, and Namco. So, there you have it, the reason to play this game.
 | Vampire Panic2004 | |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date June 24, 2004 | |
 | Developer Alfa System |
 | Publisher Sammy |
| Genre Hack & Slash | |
| Concept Vampire | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin Japan |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2004-06-24 | |
Vampire Panic is an obscure game you probably didn’t know existed, and you’re not to blame as the game was released exclusively in Japan. Although it was launched exclusively in Japan, there’s a fan English patch that enables you to play the game from start to finish.
In this third-person brawler, players control one of the three ISLA agents. Their task is to infiltrate vampiric dungeons and escort as many residents as possible all while avoiding a showdown with count Dracula himself, who does show up occasionally. Vampires can attack residents by biting them, infecting them with a curse that cannot be lifted until they’re escorted to safety. If somehow those residents aren’t saved before the timeout, they’ll turn to vampires, hence it will be a game over.
Blood+ One Night Kiss / Blood+ Sōyoku no Battle Rondo2006 / 2006 |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date August 31, 2006 | |
 | Developer Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Genre Hack & Slash | |
| Concept Anime | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin Japan |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2006-08-31 | |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date July 27, 2006 | |
| Developer Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Genre Hack & Slash | |
| Concept Anime | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin Japan |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2006-07-27 |  |
Blood+ One Night Kiss and Sôyoko no Battle Rondo are two hack-and-slash games based on the once-popular Blood+ anime. Add to that the fact that both of these games haven’t received any fan English Patch as of yet, which makes it hard for those unfamiliar with the language to get into.
One Night Kiss is an over-the-top hack-and-slash with open-world elements developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and directed by Suda51 himself. Set after the events of Episode 7 in the anime, One Night Kiss isn’t considered canon as far as things go. However, one can quickly catch a glimpse of Suda51’s magical touch all over the game. One striking detail can be the identical art style to Killer 7, and the inclusion of punk philosophies he used in his previous games. All of this makes this game in dire need of a fan English translation in the future.
Sôyoko no Battle Rondo, on the other hand, is a completely different game with no involvement from Grasshopper Manufacture this time. This purely hack-and-slash experience is developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, and unlike One Night Kiss, the former loosely follows the events of the original anime.
If you’re a fan of Goichi Suda 51 games, why don’t you check the best games he has to offer?
 | Vampire: Darkstalkers Collection2005 | |
| About | |
|---|---|
| Release Date May 19, 2005 | |
 | Developer Capcom |
| Publisher Capcom |
| Genre 2D Fighting | |
| Concept Vampire | |
| Players Single Player | |
| Monetization Buy to Play | |
| Country of Origin Japan |
| PS2 Releases | |
|---|---|
| 2005-05-19 | |
Vampire: Darkstalkers Collection is a compilation of 5 games from the storied Darkstalkers franchise in one package. While this is actually a great treat from Capcom, this collection was sadly released exclusively in Japan. Though, fans of fighting games can play this instalment in the series without any issues as the game doesn’t require understanding the language to play. So, go on ahead and enjoy your time.
That’s it for the list, thank you for reading.
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FreeckyCake
I'm just your average gamer who enjoys hunting hidden gems and underrated games. My love for Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams is like a truck and I recommend that you play it.
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