The Autumn Sale on Steam features many exciting offers. Among them is a hardcore action RPG in which MeinMMO author Ody has already slashed his way through a dark world as an anime vampire for 80 hours.
Code Vein was one of those games that really surprised me. I stumbled upon it years ago by chance and had no high expectations for the game. The more it surprised me how solid of a Soulslike you get here.
This surprisingly good Soulslike is now available on Steam for the lowest price ever. Until October 6th, Code Vein is down by 90%. So you can get it for just €4.99 instead of the usual €49.99.
A first look at the game is provided by this trailer for Code Vein:
Awakened as a Vampire after the Apocalypse
The game’s premise is as follows: Code Vein lets you awaken in the midst of a post-apocalyptic world and you have no idea how you got there or what has happened to you. One thing becomes clear quickly, namely that you are no longer a normal human.
- In Code Vein, you play as a “Revenant,” a revenant. At first glance, they look like ordinary humans but are significantly stronger and also immortal.
- However, this power comes at a high price, as revenants must feed on human blood.
Yes, basically you are playing as an anime vampire here. However, this fact is less relevant for gameplay and much more so for the story. One theme of the game is how the coexistence between revenants and humans can actually work when one needs to drink the other’s blood.
For gameplay, your vampiric nature means you gain some really powerful abilities.
- Your revenant possesses powers that you unlock and enhance through the use of ichor.
- Generally, each revenant has their own blood code, but you also have access to a variety of different blood codes.
Some of these blood codes can be found in the game world, while others are collected from the “Lost” – revenants who have lost their minds and become wild beasts. Others are willingly given to you by characters in the game when you befriend them, like by completing quests or giving the right gifts.
This way, over time, a collection of different abilities becomes available to you, allowing you to create your own build: Whether mage, striking enemies from a distance with spells and rifles, agile melee fighter, or tanking opponents with an oversized hammer.
Not the Crème de la Crème, but Worth a Look
The battles in the game demand quite a lot from you: Even ordinary enemies can become dangerous if you’re not careful. And with some bosses, you should be prepared to die frequently. However, you can always take a companion with you who can also help you back on your feet if you are down. This companion can also be a buddy in co-op mode.
Code Vein was never a game that made big waves. The reviews on Metacritic are rather lukewarm, while the reviews on Steam are a bit more lenient. Personally, I was still very taken by the game, which was mainly due to the emotional story and the engaging characters.
According to the website howlongtobeat.com, you need around 35 hours for the main and side stories; if you want to see everything, it takes about 62 hours. I have spent about 80 hours in Code Vein so far and still haven’t seen everything. I have rarely been bored and always wanted to know how the story continues.
If you don’t want to spend money on the game right away, then first download the demo on Steam. However, keep in mind that the discount on the game is only valid until October 6th.
By the way, during the Summer Game Fest 2025, a sequel to Code Vein was announced. MeinMMO author Ody has reported on this as well. He is already quite convinced by what he has seen so far. You can read more about it in the following article on MeinMMO: An anime Soulslike on Steam is getting a second part and after almost 80 hours in the original, I can say: It already looks so much better
