Sink Your Teeth In
Vampires have been prowling the world of video games for decades now. Over the years, there have been many memorable characters who have left their mark on the medium. These vampires helped set the standard for what a digital vampire is supposed to be. From brooding antiheroes to truly terrifying final bosses, the style, power, and even lore of these 20 vamps have shaped the entire genre.
Victoria Romanova a.k.a. Milligan Vick on Wikimedia
1. Jeanette/Therese Voerman (Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines)
Activision, Troika Games on Wikimedia
Jeanette and Therese Voerman are two of the most interesting and unsettling vampires in the game. With two personalities inhabiting the same body, players are treated to a number of high points, from tongue-in-cheek flirtations to icy bloodlust. Whatever happens, players must choose who to side with and deal with the aftermath of their decision. They must make a choice as to which one of the Voermans to eliminate, should they so choose, before tackling the more traditional aspects of a vampire.
2. Lady Dimitrescu (Resident Evil Village)
Lady Dimitrescu was a sensation even before the release of Resident Evil Village thanks to early character-focused trailers. Her elegance, mysterious aura, and unnerving height make her both alluring and terrifying. When her true monstrous and dragon-like form is revealed in the final battle, players see just how dangerous she can be. For her in-game terror and massive cultural impact, she is one of the most iconic vampires of all time.
Victoria Romanova a.k.a. Milligan Vick on Wikimedia
3. Carmilla (Castlevania: Lords of Shadow)
The elegant and mannered Carmilla's superficial grace contrasts her true nature, which is surprisingly malicious. In Lords of Shadow, Carmilla relentlessly hunts for new sources of blood while repeatedly confronting Gabriel Belmont. Thousands of years of experience in the afterlife have made her a master manipulator, preying on her victims' emotional weaknesses. Her failures are inconsequential, as she is one of the most powerful and ominous vampires in Castlevania.
Michael Fitzgerald (fl. 1871 - 1891) on Wikimedia
4. Vincent Valentine (Final Fantasy VII)
Vincent Valentine is a vampire-like character whom players might miss entirely if it were not for the puzzles hidden throughout Shinra Mansion. He quickly becomes vital when he reveals his horrific metamorphosis into a monster during battle, substantially raising his profile. The shrouded aura of his past further deepens the overall plot, particularly regarding the mystery of Sephiroth's origins. Vincent's brooding style, veiled power, and plot importance made him an instant fan favorite.
5. Vamp (Metal Gear Series)
Vamp was never officially titled a vampire, but the fact that he has been a blood drinker since birth with a host of supernatural powers all but confirms it. His traumatic backstory, along with drinking the blood of his family and millions of others, grants him an otherworldly, almost mythical presence within the Metal Gear universe. He can heal himself, run at incredible speeds, walk on water, and climb sheer surfaces with ease. Odd, unsettling, and unforgettable, Vamp remains one of the series' most iconic villains.
6. The Unseen Elder (The Witcher 3)
Few players will ever encounter the Unseen Elder, but those who do will never forget the fear he inspires. Pursuing him in the Blood and Wine DLC results in one of the darkest endings in the game and reveals just how savage and ancient this beast truly is. His grotesque design, unsettling calm, and thirst for blood make him an anomaly in a world already overpopulated with terrors. The Unseen Elder is one of the most fearsome creatures in the Witcher universe.
7. Cole MacGrath (inFamous: Festival of Blood)
In the Festival of Blood DLC, Cole MacGrath briefly becomes a vampire (sort of, as far as Zeke's tall tale goes), resulting in a ludicrously fun alteration to his abilities. Able to vampirically drain civilians, leap around the city with otherworldly speed, and unleash new vampire-based attacks, the DLC offers a darker, entertaining take on Cole. While non-canon and framed as a tall tale, it was embraced by fans as a devil-may-care version of Cole and a rare instance of a "what-if" moment becoming iconic.
8. Jurgen (Sam & Max)
Jurgen is one of gaming's most unique vampires. Rather than being bitten, he was cursed after drinking a corrupted slushie. He comes off as obnoxious but harmless, yet beneath the hip, party-boy facade is a hulking maniac who wants to suck the life out of party-goers.
9. Serana (Skyrim: Dawnguard DLC)
Serana is a fan-favorite companion in Skyrim, partly due to her rich characterization and personal story. Recently awakened from centuries of slumber, she sets out to stop her father from plunging the world into darkness. Unlike most of her vampire kin, she resists the darkness overtaking her family and assists the Dragonborn in preventing eternal night from befalling Tamriel.
10. Demitri Maximoff (Darkstalkers)
Mechanically, Demitri resembles Ryu, being a vampire of suave, aristocratic demeanor, and coldly ruthless when crossed. A gentleman in every sense, he is a charming antagonist with supernatural flair and a signature taunt, Midnight Bliss, in which he turns opponents into glamorous women with his magical cloak before vampirically draining their life in a comedic way. Stylish and dangerous, Demitri remains one of fighting games' most memorable undead characters.
11. Kain (Legacy of Kain)
Starting as a tragic hero, Kain ultimately defies all odds and embraces damnation rather than self-sacrifice, rising as a tyrannical vampire god. This unexpected plot twist challenged gaming morality and established Kain as a notorious antihero who sits on a corrupted throne of power. He has since become one of the most iconic, ruthless, and charismatic undead characters in gaming history.
Niranjan _ Photographs on Unsplash
12. Smiling Jack (Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines)
Smiling Jack is a charismatic hedonist and rebel with the kind of mentor role every player remembers. Voiced by John DiMaggio, he combines razor-sharp wit with genuine menace and unpredictability, undermining vampire society's strict rules at every turn. Powerful enough to attack untouchable enemies while grinning, Jack is a scene-stealing vampire.
13. Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3)
Astarion is a smooth-talking trickster whose vampiric affliction fuels both his seduction and suffering. Sold into slavery by his family and abused by his master, he now flirts, charms, and connives his way through Faerûn free of past bonds. Helping Astarion find a path to healing, or fueling his cruelty, makes for one of BG3’s most engaging character arcs. Mischievous, menacing, hilarious, and pitiable, Astarion is a contemporary vampire archetype.
14. Rayne (BloodRayne)
Rayne is everything you could want from a vampire: beautiful, lethal, and totally impractical. She dispatches Nazis with athletic, sensual grace. Whether devouring foes face-first or twining her legs around them, Rayne's acrobatic combat style was one of gaming's earliest femme-fatale action hero examples. Abject, charismatic evil, the ultimate action-hero power fantasy vampirism can offer. Rayne remains legendary, defined by attitude, aesthetics, and violence.
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15. Alucard (Castlevania Series)
The half-human son of Dracula, Alucard is the perfect mix of power, tragedy, and rebellion. Able to shapeshift, wield magic, and more, he still takes up arms against darkness and fights for humanity. His tragedy, emotional complexity, unique look, and role in beloved games like Symphony of the Night have made him the standout hero of the franchise; some fans even claim he outclasses Dracula himself.
Bastian Stein (farbfilm) on Wikimedia
16. Rachel Alucard (BlazBlue)
Rachel Alucard is an insufferable diva with a heart of ice, yet immense raw power underlies her perfect style. As one of the few who understand the time-looped hellscape central to BlazBlue's story, she drives the plot forward mysteriously. In combat, she is a tasteful mistress of shapeshifting familiars and black magic. Her story role and potential abilities make her one of the series' most powerful icons.
17. Valvatorez (Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten)
Valvatorez used to be a vampire lord but stopped drinking blood after failing to scare a little girl hundreds of years ago, proudly honoring this promise ever since. Noble, perversely principled, and obsessed with sardines, he champions fish with zeal, making him one of Disgaea's wackiest and most lovable heroes. Despite frailty from abstaining from blood, he is honorable and deceptively strong.
18. Remilia Scarlet (Touhou Project)
Appearing as a pink-haired girl in a kimono with bows and ruffles, one might not immediately realize the power beneath Remilia Scarlet's perky exterior. A force of nature 500 years in the making, she debuted as the final boss of Touhou 6. Her bratty personality and powerful magic mark her as one of Gensokyo's most formidable characters. Elegant, snarky, and destructively chaotic, Remilia remains a fan favorite as madam of the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
19. Nitara (Mortal Kombat)
Nitara is an archetypical Mortal Kombat vampire, featuring both sensuality and brutality. Her movements are distinctly vampiric, and she will rip foes in half whenever possible. Despite appearing in only one game, Nitara is one of the most iconic Mortal Kombat winged characters, with a dedicated following and established lore. The right revamp could easily return her to the spotlight.
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20. Dracula (Castlevania)
Dracula is the ultimate gaming vampire, spouting classic quotes like "What is a man? A miserable little pile of secrets!" while pantomiming his words with wild gesticulation. Elegant, magical, and horrifying, he balances regal beauty with monstrous force across all incarnations. His repeated returns from the grave have cemented him as the cornerstone of the Castlevania series. More than just a villain, Dracula is a genuine multimedia vampiric icon.
