Ahoy Draculads and ladies, V Rising is free this weekend

V Rising puts you in the shoes of a young vampire aiming to rule over a Gothic open world. With a combat system reminiscent of Diablo, the ability to transform into a spider, and your very own castle to explore, the game offers an intriguing premise. However, it also includes survival elements, requiring players to gather resources and craft items.

When our curiosity about a game is matched by our lack of interest, we often hope for a free-to-play weekend to test it out without commitment. Luckily, V Rising creators Stunlock have now offered just that. The game is available for free on Steam until Monday, September 16th.

Several aspects of V Rising have caught my attention, such as the inclusion of sunlight as a threat, the need to drink blood for various benefits, and the ability to summon creatures and move your castle. However, the survival game mechanics seem out of place in a vampire-themed game. Crafting and building gear to increase power feels disconnected from the traditional vampire lore.

If you find the paid version intriguing, V Rising is currently on sale on Steam along with discounted cosmetic DLC. Despite my reservations about the crafting aspect, I plan to give the game a try.