Perfect for the Halloween season, Vampire Therapist from Little Bat Games is a super interactive narrative adventure where you play as Sam, a cowboy who is offering therapy sessions to four different vampires with a variety of problems. With beautiful art, laugh aloud dialogue, all of the depth you should expect from a game about therapy, and some of the best voice acting that I’ve heard in a long time, Vampire Therapist is an instant 10/10, do recommend.
After living life as a murderer with way too much cowboy swag, Sam is headed to Germany to meet Andromachos (Andy), a 3000 year old vampire who is going to mentor him in taking on new vampire therapy clients. What could be a really silly premise is lovingly delivered with superb dialogue and even more superb voice acting. As the player progresses through each session both with the clients and between Sam and Andy, since therapists need their own therapists, and getting to know more about Crimson, the bartender who is Andy’s blood partner, an incredibly unique yet familiar world is revealed.
One of the standout features of Vampire Therapist is its cast of clients, each embodying distinct cognitive distortions while feeling fully realized. The game begins with a handful of the cognitive distortions available for Sam to point out for each client, but as Vampire Therapist progresses, the full gamut of distortions are revealed. Is Dr. Drayne dealing with Nosferatu Thinking (black and white thinking), or is he stuck on disqualifying the positive? Does Isabella D’Este have Control Fallacy issues, or is she trying to be Always Right?
This diversity of experiences is essential, especially when considering historical figures like Isabelle d’Este and Edmund Kean, who are brought to life with depth and nuance. Each character’s struggles are not only relatable but also resonate with real psychological themes, making their journeys compelling and meaningful without feeling repetitive or boring.
What artist hasn’t felt like their work has been for nothing? Or that their audience no longer cares about them? Meddy, a super old vampire who has an OnlyZealots (hah) and has been through it, doesn’t believe there’s anything else out there for her but her “fans.”
Of course there’s some overlap to some of these distortions, after all many times one begets another, but Nemati’s masterful writing keeps the sessions from feeling too drawn out.
I mentioned this in my review of the demo, and I am not a licensed professional, but I have had my own share of “therapy” sessions with friends, and I found myself cracking up regularly and sending screenshots to those friends like “see it’s not just you!” There were definitely a few moments where I went “oof, that hits close,” and Nemati himself “got the experience of being much more aware of [his] own distortions, and it’s exciting to see other players having the same experience!”
As for the dialogue, it’s where the game truly shines. Good dialogue can make or break a game, and Vampire Therapist proves to be a shining example of the former. The conversations are sharp, witty, and insightful, effectively driving the plot forward while deepening character development. Nemati’s writing balances humor and gravity, allowing players to navigate serious topics with a lighthearted touch. The voice acting further amplifies this success. Each actor bring their characters to life with remarkable skill, infusing each line with emotion and authenticity.
While a visual novel can and must exist without voiced dialogue, Vampire Therapist demonstrates that it’s the voice acting that transforms a good dialogue into a sensational experience. Each character’s voice feels meticulously crafted, adding layers of depth that enhance the overall immersion. The interplay between the written dialogue and the vocal performances creates a synergy that pulls players into the world, making it all the more engaging.
Usually I listen to the dialogue in a game for the first hour or so and turn it off since I read faster than the dialogue, but I kept it on for signification portions of each session and would recommend that you listen to all of it! Before I wrote this review, I went back through the game to listen to the ending again, which genuinely almost brought me to tears, and I am NOT a crier.
There are also multiple reveals and hints about Vampire Therapist 2 and I am so excited to find out more about Sam’s maker and the absolute scammy scams going on in the US related to him. However, the game does not feel cliffhangery at all and is a complete experience all on its own!
Moreover, the game’s art style complements its tone beautifully. The visuals are striking, with a gothic aesthetic that enhances the narrative’s themes. Each scene reflects the mood and emotions of the characters.
Vampire Therapist successfully tackles complex themes while ensuring that players remain entertained and engaged throughout. And it’s anti capitalist, as it should be!
Creator and developer, Cyrus Nemati of the game himself voices Sam, Andromachos, Dr. Drayne, and Edmund Kean. If it wasn’t for the fact that I obviously knew this going in, I would have had no clue it was the same person! The cast also includes Francesa Meaux (Crimson), Sarah Grayson (Meddy), Kylie Clark (Isabelle d’Este), and Matthew Mercer (Reinhard and others).
For the review, I played through the first full length portion of the game, but there’s already one bonus content portion, and more to come. I can’t wait to dive in and learn more about Andy and Sam as more becomes available. You can play Vampire Therapist now!
Images and review copy courtesy of Little Bat Games
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