Redfall’s entire world feels dead, and not in the on-brand, reanimated corpse type of way. All told, Redfall is a neat place to explore. A highlight is clearing vampire nests, which teleport you to twisted versions of the town, providing a welcome break from the idyllic landscapes. Missions are structured to slowly reveal new areas of the map, and along the way there are safe houses to unlock, side stories to uncover and special vampires to vanquish. While this is definitely not Prey or Dishonored, Arkane’s DNA runs through Redfall, and the map contains a variety of locales sprinkled with world-building lore - abandoned churches and homes, lootable shops, spooky mansions, hiking trails, farmland, an amusement park. The campaign is spread across two maps, a suburban center and a historic district, each with a distinct vibe. The run mechanic feels like gliding, providing a significant and immediate speed boost that never feels too slow.

Running in Redfall is incredibly satisfying, and this is crucial, considering a large portion of the game is spent exploring neighborhoods on foot. Each character has a skill tree with a few dozen upgrade slots, plus a backpack that can be stuffed full of firearms, and three guns equipped at any time. I also spent some time with Remi, a support-class character with an adorable robot dog. Her final ability summons her former boyfriend, a ghostly vampire who shows up to pull focus and deal damage (typical ex behavior). I primarily played as Layla, a student whose special abilities include a glowing purple umbrella that soaks up bullets and a psychic elevator that propels friends and foes into the sky. The characters represent a bright spot in the game, so let’s start with the good stuff.

Redfall xbox