Vampire Therapist

Howdy, y’all! The brief description of the plot of Vampire Therapist is unique even for the creative gaming industry: a 200-year-old cowboy vampire administers therapy to other vampires – and himself – in a room above a fetish nightclub in Leipzig. Behind this lies an entertaining, touching and educational visual novel.
Players slip into the role of Sam Wells, who, with his mentor Andromachos, helps several vampires, some of whom are thousands of years old, with their sometimes equally ancient problems. The characters are eccentric and exaggerated, but this serves to highlight deeply human behaviours and makes them grow on you with each session. The game takes the time to explore their psychological depth. They slowly reveal more about themselves, reflect on their own development and change over the course of therapy. Just like the protagonist, who struggles with his own past.
It is particularly impressive how Vampire Therapist conveys concepts from cognitive behavioural therapy. During the dialogues, players must recognise cognitive distortions such as dichotomy, labelling or illusory control in order to help the vampires. In doing so, Vampire Therapist gently motivates players to question their own thought patterns and behaviours, thereby promoting a more mindful approach to themselves.
Thanks to its centuries-old clientele, the game also manages to weave both current and historical events into its narrative. The story is supported by a darkly humorous graphic style and excellent voice acting. The only thing left to be desired is a German localisation, which could make the game accessible to a wider audience.