Nighthawks: A Vampire RPG That Struggles to Connect Its Narrative Slices

Nighthawks, a narrative vampire RPG from developer Curiosity Engine and publisher Wadjet Eye Games, has some outstanding individual stories but struggles to tie them into a satisfying whole, according to Rock Paper Shotgun’s review. The game released on September 22, 2026, for PC through Steam and GOG, with support for Windows, macOS and Linux.

What Nighthawks is

In Nighthawks, players create a newly turned vampire who rises to power while managing a nightclub, in a world where the existence of the supernatural has been revealed to humanity. The game is set across three city neighborhoods: working-class Cradlebridge, the red light district of Angelbreach and the affluent Fountaincourt. It takes a story-first approach, blending horror and humor across a five-act structure.

The project has been a long time coming. It was funded on Kickstarter in 2018, raising around $136,000, and was originally planned for release in 2021.

What works

The review praises several of the game’s vignettes as outstanding, especially stories about freeing characters from restrictive obligations. It also highlights the atmosphere, with painterly visuals and sound design that give the city a distinct mood.

What doesn’t

Pacing is the main problem. Each in-game month gives players a limited number of nighttime hours to complete tasks, but there is little real time pressure. As a result, players often find themselves with nothing to do but wait for the next story beat.

The broader story arc, about rising tension between humans and vampires, is described as unconvincing, partly because the player becomes powerful enough that anti-vampire mobs rarely pose a real threat.

The RPG systems also lack consequence. Character traits such as brawling and seduction can be maxed out by the later acts, making build choices and equipment feel irrelevant. Because the game gives enough time and resources to pursue every path, there is little reason to make strategic decisions or commit to a role.

The verdict

Rock Paper Shotgun does not give numerical scores, but its conclusion is clear: Nighthawks is uneven. It captures strong moments and some excellent writing, but it does not come together as a consistent narrative experience. The review’s own summary describes it as a series of vignettes that sometimes excel but more often falter.

In short, the pros are the best individual stories, the atmosphere and the art direction. The cons are slow pacing, a weak central conflict and RPG choices that stop mattering as the game goes on.

Why it matters

Vampire RPGs have a dedicated audience, and interest in the genre has been high this year. For players looking for a story-led game rather than combat, Nighthawks may still be worth trying for its strongest chapters, but expectations should be set for an uneven experience.

Because it is a PC-only release for now, players on consoles will need to wait for any port announcement. For PC players, checking other reviews and player feedback on Steam or GOG before buying is a sensible step.