"Blood Bar Tycoon" - from cocktail shaker to vampire lord

Kim Muntinga

13.2.2025

Translation: machine translated

In "Blood Bar Tycoon", I dive into the dark world of vampires. As a bar manager, I have to look after the well-being of my bloodthirsty guests and at the same time tap fresh blood reserves from my human visitors. But can this mix of games be captivating in the long term?

In a world full of generic tycoon games, it takes a special concept to stand out. "Blood Bar Tycoon" aims to be just that: a business simulation in which I don't just manage a nightclub, but run a bar for vampires - with everything that goes with it. From choosing the right blood type to discreetly dealing with human guests and expanding a dark empire.

But is the fresh idea enough to really inspire? I'm curious and have tried it out for you. Enclosed you will find the launch trailer for the game.

Welcome to the nightlife of the immortals

The game begins innocuously enough: as the newly minted manager of a small, hidden vampire bar in the junk alley of Blutrotstadt (Crimson City in the original), I learn not only to mix the right drinks, but above all to develop the right strategies for setting up my bar. In addition to beer, gin and tonic, wine and vodka, I also have A, B and AB positives on the menu.

It soon becomes clear: the secret to a successful nightclub lies in the right blood procurement. While harmless blood donors are enough in the beginning, I later have to be more skilful in order to satisfy our clientele - and at the same time not attract the attention of the human world. My goal is always to win the favour of the elders and ultimately become more powerful by building a bar empire. This is how I rise to become an Elder myself.

The campaign takes me through various districts where I transform run-down bars into trendy meeting places for vampires. I not only have to satisfy the needs of the vampire clientele, but also attract and discreetly "process" the unsuspecting human guests. Of course, I also earn money from their drinking sessions, but I also have to fulfil their needs: If they don't end up as corpses or victims.

Creepy melodies and cartoon style create a harmonious atmosphere

The soundtrack and sound effects contribute significantly to the atmosphere. The music is a mixture of creepy and humorous melodies that perfectly match the atmosphere. The sound effects, such as the clinking of glasses and the gurgling of blood, are well realised and add to the immersion.

The cartoony graphic style of "Blood Bar Tycoon" fits well with the humorous but dark topic of the game. I like the character designs, the developers have clearly made an effort, but they could be more individualised in places. The environments are merely okay. They have a few details, but are nothing special overall. Overall, the game reminds me visually, but also in terms of humour and structure, of "Two Point Hospital".

The colour palette of dark reds, purples and blacks enhances the gothic atmosphere and creates an immersive environment that is both charming and eerie. I particularly like the variety of topics that I can unlock as I progress through the game. There are 14 topics in total so far: from cyberpunk to piratesque to kawaii. Each style brings its own visual specialities with it.

However, the different styles do not prevent the game from dragging on in the middle of the campaign. The different game mechanics and varied challenges don't help either.

From Management game to bar defence

I manage entire networks of suppliers, invest in better cooling systems and bribe the authorities to avoid unpleasant inspections. If I'm not careful with my business, I run the risk of the vampire hunters' secret alliance finding out about me and my bar. If that does happen, my Management game turns into a kind of tower defence. Here I have to defend my bar with traps and loyal servants.

In return, I get partial superpowers. I can create a black hole under people to suck them in and eliminate them. I like this surprising mix. However, I hope that the developers will expand this in future updates. So far, it seems very rudimentary.

In general, many areas offer potential, but in my opinion could be expanded even further. For example, the research tree only consists of twelve categories: Seven in the area of blood collection machines, one in the area of corpse utilisation and four in trapping machines. The latter are fun traps, such as an arcade machine with a trapdoor that leads directly to a holding cell.

I use the different blood collection machines to draw different drinks for my blood bank: smoked or on ice, for example. The game sometimes feels like an early access title due to the few research areas and the not yet fully developed game mechanics, which should be worked on for another two to three years to become a fully-fledged title.

A bar doesn't run itself

Another highlight of "Blood Bar Tycoon" is the dynamic economic system. Different vampire clans have different preferences: while old aristocrats are only satisfied with the finest vintage blood, the modern youngsters will sometimes settle for "fast food dispensers". So I not only have to set up a functioning supply system, but also attract the right clientele. However, the game should also be more extensive here.

I also like the Minion Management, but it could be expanded. This is about navigating my minions. I can control my vampiric helpers individually or automate them, depending on my playing style. This flexibility makes it possible to satisfy both detail-loving micromanagers and players who prefer to keep an eye on the big picture. When it comes to character design, however, I still miss more customisation options, which are only partially available.

Black humour meets powerful vampire lords

What makes "Blood Bar Tycoon" special is the mixture of humour and strategy. The developers have managed to add a pinch of black humour to a dark atmosphere. The Minions' comments and the bizarre machines for extracting blood are always good for a laugh. Compared to other games, such as the good old "Dungeon Keeper", there is still room for improvement here too.

The background story of "Blood Bar Tycoon" is deep for a tycoon game and well integrated into the gameplay. I learn more about vampire society and its hierarchies as I work my way through the campaign. The lore adds an extra dimension to the game and keeps me interested. Particularly exciting is the interaction with the powerful vampire lords, whose favour I have to win in order to progress through the game.

These elements ensure that the game doesn't just remain a pure Management game. I can well imagine that the vampire stories will interest and inspire many a vampire fan.

Not all that glitters is gold in the bar

Unfortunately, the game suffers from minor technical problems. Sometimes guests just stand around stupidly, sometimes in front of the (open) entrance doors to the rooms of the vampires or my minions. They might even see treacherous and not-so-nice things: for example, caged people, corpses, blood or people who are currently in blood collection machines. But nothing happens. Likewise, my minions sometimes stand around emotionlessly, even though there are enough tasks for them and I have set them automatically.

In addition, the bar counter doesn't seem to be working properly yet. My guests simply ignore it, which is a shame. Another problem is the building system. I can't build new walls afterwards. If I've planned incorrectly, I have to tear everything down if I want the layout to be different. That can't be what the inventor had in mind.

So far, I've also been at a loss as to how to achieve the objective in some missions. For example, immediately after unlocking the third district in my second bar, I have to get 30 blood preserves of "smoked blood quality 6". However, I can't unlock this in the research tree, build the necessary machine or buy it on the black market.

I first have to start the next district and unlock the "Bloody Smoker" option in the research tree in this level. I find that unnecessary and cumbersome. I don't want to start the next level in games like this to unlock something there and then have to go back later and continue my progress there. That disrupts the flow of the game enormously.

"Blood Bar Tycoon" was provided to me by Clever Trickster Productions. The game has been available for PC since 4 February.

Kim Muntinga

Editor

Kim.Muntinga@galaxus.de

My interests are varied, I just like to enjoy life. Always on the lookout for news about darts, gaming, films and series.

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