PlayStation 5 gamers have had to hold on a month longer than their PC counterparts to get their hands on the full release of V Rising, but the wait has certainly been worth it thanks to the top-notch quality of this console port.

Check out some screenshots down below:

V Rising
V Rising
V Rising
V Rising

I loved V Rising when it came out of Early Access and launched on PC last month, with my review stating that:

“V Rising is a tantalising survival action-RPG that’ll keep players wholly invested thanks to its compelling combat, satisfying sense of progression, and brilliant multiplayer mechanics. I’ve adored playing the game with a group of friends and building impressive castle bases to lord over the land of Vardoran from, whilst each enemy I vanquish and piece of progress I make invests me further into the world.”

So yeah, I was a big fan of the game, and even leading into the release on the PlayStation 5, I had still been coming back for online sessions with friends. It’s a rewarding experience where your progression feels meaningful, whilst playing with others (both friendly and hostile) adds a sense of unpredictability to each playthrough that’ll constantly keep players on their toes.

However, whilst I could happily write hundreds upon hundreds of words gushing about the gameplay experience, this review will be focusing on the PlayStation 5 port and how well it holds up. You can read my original review of the PC release through this link if you want a more detailed analysis of the excellent gameplay of V Rising.

“Whilst I don’t doubt that some will struggle with it more than others (particularly those who already played the game on PC), I think the controls are well-implemented and ensure PlayStation 5 gamers won’t struggle during their vampiric endeavours.”


Starting off with a bit of a negative, it is worth noting that V Rising doesn’t offer cross-play or cross-progression, so if you were hoping to freely transition between PC and the PlayStation 5, you’re going to be disappointed. Given the amount of progress I’ve made on the PC release, I was hoping I’d be able to move that straight over to console or jump in with the friends that I’ve already spent a ton of hours with, but I’ve had to make a fresh start. Of course, it’s not a deal-breaker by any means and the team at Stunlock Studios were clear about this pre-release, but it is a bit of a shame if you were hoping to join in with your PC gaming pals who’ve already been enjoying V Rising ever since its Early Access launch.

That’s the only downside of the console experience though, with everything else making a smooth transition that ensures that V Rising feels great to play on the PlayStation 5. One issue that was raised was how well it would play with a controller, but Stunlock Studios have done a good job of mapping your actions and the UI to function well with the DualSense controller. Don’t get me wrong, after playing the game for close to a hundred hours on PC with a mouse and keyboard, it did take SOME getting used to initially (especially with the camera controls). However, I was left impressed by how quickly it clicked into place for and how good it actually felt – so much so that it was a little weird going back to a mouse and keyboard afterwards. Even the fiddlier aspects such as base building or inventory management managed to feel intuitive on the controller, whilst I think I actually preferred traversal and combat on console after a few hours play. Whilst I don’t doubt that some will struggle with it more than others (particularly those who already played the game on PC), I think the controls are well-implemented and ensure PlayStation 5 gamers won’t struggle during their vampiric endeavours.

Check out some screenshots down below:

V Rising
V Rising
V Rising
V Rising

The performance on the PlayStation 5 is fantastic too, with the visuals not only looking outstanding but the 60fps frame rate also consistent throughout. There were a few little stutters here and there, but no issues really stood out or hindered the experience in any way. I haven’t run into any issues in online play either, even after the game officially launched and saw more players dive in. I’ve been left really impressed, with it clear that a lot of effort went into this port to ensure that PlayStation 5 gamers are getting an experience that matches the high standards seen in the PC release – both in how it feels to play and how it looks.

V Rising Review
9/10

V Rising is fantastic on the PlayStation 5, with the gorgeous visuals, impressive performance, and intuitive controls ensuring it’s still a blast to play on console. It is a shame that it doesn’t offer cross-play or cross-progression, especially if you’ve already poured hours into the PC release, but it’s a minor issue – especially since the PlayStation 5 community for the game is already booming.

I’ve just been left really impressed by the port of the game, with it clear that a lot of care went into ensuring that the high standards of the PC release are met. And sure, the controls might take some time to get used to if you’ve played the game already with a mouse and keyboard, but it’ll only take a few hours play to feel comfortable and find yourself fully-immersed in the world of Vardoran.

Developer: Stunlock Studios
Publisher: Stunlock Studios
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), PC
Website: https://www.stunlock.com/