Do you yearn for the chance to live the life of a bloodsucker? Disappointed with a certain vamp-themed legacy sequel? Look no further than Nighthawks-Night One, developed by The Curiosity Engine and published by Wadjeteye Games. Nighthawks places you in the shoes of a young vampire, sent to the city of Cradlebridge to search for a traitor to the one that turned you. Unfortunately, nothing’s ever easy, and you’re chewed up and spit out as your hunt begins.

A High-Stakes Game

Nighthawks is, at its core, a visual novel. There’s no in-depth gameplay loop to speak of, but there is a lot of depth to the RPG mechanics you’re presented with. Upon starting a new game, you name your character and choose from several options that will determine your starting stats.  Your sire, origin, knowledge, and vampiric gift are all customizable and will change your experience significantly.

With my choices, I excelled in detective and mechanic work, with my fighting skills at less than subpar. You start off in the abandoned apartment of your target, looking desperately for any hint of where they might be. Here, the skill check system makes its debut. You’re given a breakdown of your chances of success with each option, some numbers are thrown around out of sight, and voila. Pass or fail. It’s a simple enough system to be welcoming to newcomers. There’s nothing complicated, but it does allow for vast replayability, even just in the demo.

Visuals to Sink Your Teeth Into

Of course, none of the gameplay matters if it’s awful to look at. In that respect, I’m happy to say Nighthawks is a gorgeous game. The stylized yet realistic art pops. Like a mix of cartoon vampire and urban folklore. The UI is crisp, clean, and easy to understand. Good news though, if any element stumps you, you have a little gargoyle friend ready and willing to explain.

The dialogue window being on the right side of the screen is a nice touch, letting you more fully see the scene as it’s presented to you. The countdown between lines is handy, and skippable if you’re a quick reader. The choices you’re given are clearly explained and the outcomes clear.

Fangs for the Memories

The absolute standout of Nighthawks, though, is the cast of characters. Each one fully voiced, incredibly so, diverse, nuanced, and intriguing. They all feel like fleshed out, fully realized parts of the world that help to bring Cradlebridge to life. Or unlife. The mystery that drives the plot is set up very well in the short time before everything hits the fan, as well. There was zero question to my motivations, goals, and actions. I was more than happy to fully immerse myself in the world of Nighthawks just so I could watch events unfold.

Rest assured I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for the final product. Exploring the lives of these intriguing characters is a wildly exciting prospect, and more than deserving of a wishlist. I highly recommend you give the demo for Nighthawks a try and keep your eye on the future development. I personally can’t wait to see where this goes.

Nighthawks is developed by The Curiosity Engine and published by Wadjeteye Games. The full release date is as yet unannounced. The demo was playable on Steam for their Next Fest: October 2025. It is still available as of this publication.