Van Helsing Video Game: What Most People Get Wrong

The thing about the van helsing video game—or rather, the entire Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing trilogy—is that it should have been the "Diablo-killer" we all talked about in 2013. But it wasn't. Instead, it became this cult classic that people stumble upon during Steam Summer Sales, play for forty hours, and then wonder why NeocoreGames isn't a household name.

Most people hear "Van Helsing" and think of Hugh Jackman’s flowing locks or the original Bram Stoker character. Honestly, that’s the first mistake. This game isn’t about Abraham Van Helsing. You’re playing as his son, a younger, slightly more sarcastic hunter who’s just trying to live up to a legendary name in a world where steampunk technology and Slavic folklore had a very messy breakup.

Why the Van Helsing Video Game Still Matters in 2026

If you look at the ARPG (Action RPG) market right now, it’s basically a tug-of-war between the massive complexity of Path of Exile 2 and the polished, corporate sheen of Diablo IV. The van helsing video game occupies this weird, cozy middle ground. It doesn’t want your soul or your credit card. It just wants you to shoot some werewolves with a lightning-infused pistol.

The setting, Borgovia, is the real star. It’s gothic-noir, but not in the "everything is just gray and sad" way. It’s full of "weird science." You’ve got mad scientists building giant robots next to ancient forests where spirits will rip your head off. It’s anachronistic. It’s messy. It’s fun.

The Lady Katarina Factor

You can't talk about this game without mentioning Lady Katarina. She’s your ghost companion. Usually, in games, "companion AI" is a polite way of saying "obstacle that gets stuck in doorways." Not here.

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Katarina is arguably the best-written part of the experience. The banter between her and Van Helsing is snappy and genuinely funny. She’s not just a pack mule (though she can go to town to sell your junk, which is a godsend). She has her own skill tree. You can build her as a tanky melee fighter to keep heat off you, or a ranged support who freezes enemies in place. Most players actually find her skill tree more rewarding than their own.

The "Final Cut" Confusion

If you’re looking to jump in, you’ll see Van Helsing I, II, III, and then something called The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: Final Cut.

Get the Final Cut.

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Basically, Neocore realized that releasing three separate games in three years was a bit much. The Final Cut mashes all three campaigns into one continuous 50-hour story. It also bumps the class count up to six.

1. The Protector: Your standard "I have a big shield and nothing can move me" tank.
2. The Elementalist: Basically a glass cannon mage who likes setting things on fire.
3. The Umbralist: A stealthy, rogue-like character that uses shadows.
4. The Phlogistoneer: This is the most "Van Helsing" class. You're basically a steampunk Iron Man with a flamethrower and heavy armor.
5. The Constructor: You build turrets. If you like playing the game while eating a sandwich, this is your pick.
6. The Bounty Hunter: The classic. Pistols, swords, and the iconic wide-brimmed hat.

The original trilogy had some serious balancing issues. Van Helsing III in particular was criticized for being too short and cutting down the skill trees. The Final Cut fixes a lot of that by re-tuning the progression, though it’s still a bit "janky" compared to a $100 million Blizzard production.

What Nobody Tells You About the Gameplay

It’s not just clicking on monsters until they explode. There’s a full-on Tower Defense mini-game buried inside this ARPG.

You have a "Hunter’s Lair" (your hub), and occasionally, waves of monsters will try to invade it. You have to set traps, build defenses, and personally defend the chokepoints. It’s surprisingly deep. In fact, it was so popular that Neocore eventually spun it off into its own standalone game called Deathtrap.

The Rage System

Combat uses a "Rage" mechanic. As you kill stuff, you build up Rage points. You can spend these to "power up" your active skills on the fly. It adds a layer of tactical decision-making to the usual spamming of your right-click. Instead of just "using a fireball," you can use a "fireball that also explodes into three smaller fireballs" by spending your Rage.

The E-E-A-T Reality Check: Is It Actually Good?

Look, let’s be real. This game was made by a relatively small Hungarian studio. It doesn't have the infinite endgame of Grim Dawn. The "fearless" difficulty mode isn't as balanced as it should be, and sometimes the loot feels a bit repetitive.

However, for the price (which is usually less than a fancy latte during a sale), the value is insane.

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• Pros: Atmospheric world, top-tier voice acting for the leads, unique genre-blending (Tower Defense + ARPG).
• Cons: Technical bugs still persist (the "stash bug" is real), the third act feels rushed, and the multiplayer is pretty much a ghost town in 2026.

According to SteamDB data, the player count usually hovers in the double digits daily, spiking whenever there’s a sale. You’re playing this for the single-player or co-op with a specific friend, not to join a massive global community.

Your Next Steps if You Want to Play

Don't go into this expecting a life-changing 1,000-hour odyssey. Treat it like a high-quality action movie.

1. Pick up the Final Cut on Steam or GOG. It's the most stable version and has the most content.
2. Focus on the Banter. Don't skip the dialogue. The interaction between Van Helsing and Katarina is the soul of the game.
3. Don't ignore Alchemy. The crafting system is how you actually survive the later acts. Most people ignore it and then hit a wall around Level 40.
4. Try the Constructor. If you’ve played every other ARPG, the Constructor class feels the most "unique" to this specific universe.

If you’re tired of "Live Service" games that feel like a second job, the van helsing video game is a refreshing reminder of what gaming used to be: a complete story, a cool world, and a ghost who makes fun of your hat.

To get the most out of your first run, stick to "Hard" difficulty rather than "Fearless" for your first playthrough to avoid the frustrating gear-checks, and make sure to spec Lady Katarina into the "Incorporeal" tree early on if you want her to provide the best passive buffs for a ranged build.