Brocula Is an Indie Game About a Vampire Working Odd Jobs To Fix His Castle
/During the ID@Xbox digital event we attended, we were shown gameplay of an upcoming indie game that revolves around a vampire working modern-day jobs to make ends meet and fix up his run-down castle.
It’s a silly concept from Prateek Jadwani, a solo developer from India that have been working on this game for four years on the side as he worked a full-time job. Brocula is yet another cozy game with retro-style art style that greatly reminds me of Stardew Valley.
Each day, you go off to town to find whatever you can do to slowly build your castle to its former glory. But with the vampire having limited stamina each day (required to do anything in the game), the player will have to choose how to use the limited energy each day as you can do odd jobs for money, gather resources, grow crops, or even raise farm animals like chickens. Thankfully, Brocula has his trusty bats to help guide him through this unfamiliar world.
Here’s a quick description of the game from the developer:
Embark on an epic journey as Brocula, a vampire awoken from a 500-year slumber in a world unrecognizable to him. Stripped of his wealth, he must navigate the daunting maze of capitalism, taking on part-time jobs at the local garage, coffee shop, and restaurant to earn a meager living. But that's not all—his ancestral castle, now in ruins, poses another challenge. Work tirelessly to repair the dilapidated fortress, all while facing the bureaucratic hurdles of reclaiming its ownership from the town's mayor.
Engage in a captivating gameplay loop that revolves around money and societal struggles. Tend to your crops, cultivate a flourishing farm right next to the castle, and sell your harvest for profit. Immerse yourself in the art of fishing, honing your skills to reel in a bountiful catch that can be used for cooking delicious meals.
Yet, as a vampire, your responsibilities extend beyond mundane chores. Manage your cult, restoring the once-forgotten church and conducting regular sermons to gather the lifeblood you crave. Venture into the treacherous depths of the everchanging forest, an enigmatic dungeon teeming with monstrous creatures and valuable treasures, ripe for the taking.
The current state of the game is rather impressive considering this is a solo affair with support with outside help lending their hand in areas such as sound effects and more. There’s no release date just yet and based on the game’s Steam page, the developer experienced technical issues recently.
You can try out Brocula via Steam as there’s a playable demo available.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure brings back Max Caulfield with new time-manipulation powers, but struggles to capture the original’s emotional weight. While the dual-timeline mechanic is engaging, the story’s weak twists, forgettable characters, and technical issues hold it back. A nostalgic revisit, but not a standout entry in the series.