Diablo IV vs Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
Blizzard's polished live-service sequel versus a moody, smaller vampire RPG — choose between seasonal grinding and scripted atmosphere.
Updated 7d ago
Skip the $49.99 Standard button — the $69.99 Age of Hatred Collection adds both expansions for twenty dollars more. The 2026 repairs are free either way.
Not the Bloodlines 2 you wanted — the one we got. The Chinese Room's atmosphere and writing are great, but it's a smaller, more linear game than the cult original.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | Diablo IV | Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 wins on value | ||
| Price now | $49.99 Blizzard | $26.36 −56% · GameBillet |
| All-time low | $22.49 | $26.36 |
| Cost / hour | $1.94/hr $49.99 · 26 h main story | $1.64/hr $26.36 · 16 h main story |
| Off its low | +122% low was Aug 2025 | At its low low was Jul 2026 |
| Main story | 26 h | 16 h |
| Health Diablo IV wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 65% 75k reviews | 56% 13k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 68% 927 votes · vs 65% lifetime | 56% 142 votes · vs 56% lifetime |
| Peak players | 42,469 Jul 2026 · ↑ 66% MoM | 480 Jul 2026 · ↓ 50% MoM |
| Launch peak | — | 3% of Oct 2025 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 63,808 May 2026 · now at 67% | 17,047 Oct 2025 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | — | 8 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | — | 1 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Diablo IV
Three years of repairs finally arriving at once. Players who stayed through every season say the endgame is the best it has been.
Paying again. Skills behind an expansion paywall is the complaint that recurs most, followed by an endgame they still call grindy and unbalanced.
from our July 2026 verdict
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
The narrative writing and clan-specific roleplay choices are the core draw for returning players.
Persistent technical issues like crashes and unregistered collectibles frustrate players, along with repetitive combat.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Diablo IV if
- You are a seasonal ARPG player who enjoys fresh leagues and loot filters.
- You want a live-service game with constant updates and an online community.
- You can tolerate always-online and Battle.net requirements.
Pick Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 if
- You value atmosphere and dialogue writing over open-world breadth.
- You are curious about the shipped Bloodlines 2 despite its development troubles.
- You prefer shorter, more linear RPGs with a focused narrative arc.
Bottom line
If you want a deep, ongoing endgame loop, Diablo IV is the choice; if you prioritize story and mood in a shorter package, Bloodlines 2 wins — but know its linearity and combat won't satisfy everyone.