Redfall

Redfall PC is a first-person open-world vampire shooter from Arkane Austin and Bethesda Softworks. It remains listed under the original Redfall name on current PC storefronts, with no verified rebrand or replacement edition. The finished game combines solo exploration, four-player online co-op, hero abilities, stealth options, randomized weapon loot, and repeatable psychic vampire encounters.

Open-world vampire hunting from a first-person view

Redfall takes place on an island town cut off from the outside world after vampire gods and their followers seize control. The playable perspective stays in first person, making gun handling, close-range staking, stealth positioning, and environmental hazards central to every encounter.

The core loop moves between campaign missions, optional objectives, Safehouse activities, civilian rescues, named vampire hunts, and unscripted encounters across Redfall Commons and Burial Point. You can investigate interiors, search for supplies, disable defenses, hack turrets, use flare guns as distractions, or push through human and supernatural enemies with direct firepower.

Redfall is not built around a rigid class system. Instead, each of the four heroes has a distinct ability kit and skill tree, while weapons provide additional build variation through randomized stats, rarity tiers, and special traits.

Four heroes, distinct powers, and flexible combat

Players choose between Layla Ellison, Jacob Boyer, Remi de la Rosa, and Devinder Crousley. Their abilities encourage different approaches without locking the whole squad into fixed MMO-style roles.

Layla can create a supernatural elevator for vertical movement and deploy a defensive vampire-related ability. Jacob uses a spectral raven and a cloak that supports long-range or stealth-focused play. Remi travels with Bribón, a combat robot that can distract or shock enemies, while Devinder uses technology and cryptozoological equipment such as his javelin, arc throws, and teleportation tool.

Every hero has three active powers. Two recharge over time, while the ultimate ability uses Psychic Residue, primarily collected by destroying vampires or finding blue residue containers. This creates a useful rhythm between ordinary gunfights and saving a powerful ability for a tougher encounter.

Weapons include pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, stake launchers, and other vampire-hunting tools. Silenced weapons reduce noise, melee attacks can finish vulnerable enemies, and UV equipment can petrify vampires so they can be shattered before they recover.

Vampire Nests, Safehouses, and progression loops

The most distinctive repeatable activity is the Vampire Nest. Each Nest leads into a psychic space with altered layouts and encounter modifiers, followed by a heart-destruction objective and a timed escape sequence. Escaping successfully improves the reward outcome, while the Nest structure gives Redfall a more deliberate dungeon-like break from open-world missions.

Elder Nests add boss-focused variations built around specially modified vampires. Completing one grants a temporary Heart Shard effect, which can change how ammunition, healing, UV damage, or vampire resistance works during the next part of a run.

Safehouses are more than fast-travel points. Unlocking them, completing their missions, rescuing civilians, and defeating Underbosses contributes to Community Standing. Its six-rank Safehouse Skill Tree grants permanent utility and combat benefits, including improved hacking, stronger rewards, better medical-item efficiency, and more reliable support from friendly defenses.

The game also includes New Game Plus, difficulty options including Story Mode, Rook Storm events, dynamic vignettes, environmental storytelling, and one-shot encounters. These systems reward players who enjoy map completion and build experimentation more than those looking for a tightly linear campaign.

Campaign structure and current content model

Redfall is a paid base game on PC and has also been available through PC Game Pass. The standard product contains the four launch heroes, both open-world districts, the main campaign, side missions, Safehouses, Vampire Nests, Elder Nests, and the game's full progression systems.

The separate Bite Back upgrade was marketed as additional content rather than a replacement for the base game. Its advertised package includes the Redfall Hero Pass, outfits and backpacks for the four base heroes, a multi-weapon skin, and a Tactical Knife Stake attachment.

The advertised Hero Pass promised two additional heroes, but development on Redfall ended after the final major update. Players should therefore distinguish between the original Bite Back product description and content that is actually part of the completed game. There is no verified current rebrand into a definitive or classic edition.

The final update added offline single-player play, solo pausing, Community Standing, Elder Nests, additional encounters, Story Mode difficulty, AI improvements, and a new Unrivaled weapon. That makes the current version materially different from the always-online launch configuration described in older guides.

Who should play Redfall on PC?

Redfall suits players who want a relaxed first-person co-op shooter with a supernatural setting, character abilities, open-world scavenging, and repeatable loot activities. It works best when the group treats the map as a playground and combines hero powers rather than rushing only from objective to objective.

Solo players can complete the campaign and now have offline access, but the game still emphasizes team-oriented abilities and shared exploration. The co-op structure supports up to four players, with cross-platform multiplayer between supported PC and Xbox versions.

Players seeking Arkane's tightly authored immersive-sim design should set expectations carefully. Redfall contains stealth routes, hacking, environmental hazards, readable spaces, and optional exploration, but its primary loop is shooting, looting, upgrading, and clearing activities rather than solving elaborate systemic scenarios.

PC features, accounts, and localization

On Steam, Redfall supports single-player, online co-op, cross-platform multiplayer, Steam Cloud, achievements, trading cards, HDR, and Family Sharing. The PC version requires a linked Bethesda.net account and uses Denuvo Anti-Tamper as third-party DRM. No separate anti-cheat system is listed on the current Steam product information.

Game Update 4 added offline play for solo sessions, but co-op remains an online activity. If a connection is lost during co-op, the host can continue in a solo offline session rather than being forced to abandon the entire game.

The PC release includes keyboard and mouse controls, controller settings, remapping options, voice-chat controls, text-to-speech support, screen narration features, scalable text, subtitle options, and contrast adjustments. Interface and subtitle localization covers 14 languages, while full audio is available in a smaller selection that includes English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian.

For a different open-world shooter with a stronger emphasis on tactical planning and co-op infiltration, open-world squad shooters such as Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint provide a useful comparison point, although Redfall is more supernatural and ability-driven.

Similar PC games for different priorities

Redfall's closest comparisons depend on which part of the formula matters most. Its four-player structure, first-person combat, open map, and loot progression overlap with several PC shooters, but its vampire factions and hero powers give it a distinct tone.

For a more survival-focused co-op experience with crafting, base building, and persistent world progression, small-scale cooperative survival games like Grounded offer a deeper resource-management loop but less emphasis on shooting and hero abilities.

For a traditional open-world first-person shooter with stealth routes, skill progression, hunting, and enemy outposts, story-driven island shooters such as Far Cry 3 Complete Collection are a closer match for players who prefer a more focused solo campaign structure.

Redfall FAQ

Is Redfall still called Redfall on PC?

Yes. Current PC storefront and Bethesda catalog listings continue to use Redfall. No verified rename, rebrand, or replacement edition has superseded the original title.

Can Redfall be played offline?

Yes. The final major update added an offline option for solo play and allowed solo sessions to continue after an internet disconnection. Co-op still requires an online connection.

How many players support Redfall co-op?

Redfall supports online co-op for up to four players. Cross-platform multiplayer is supported between compatible PC and Xbox versions, and each player can select a different hero or build.

Does Redfall have paid DLC?

The Bite Back upgrade was sold separately and included cosmetic items, a weapon skin, a stake attachment, and the Redfall Hero Pass. Because development ended after the final update, players should not assume that every originally advertised future-hero item became available in the completed game.

Does Redfall require a Bethesda.net account on Steam?

Yes. The Steam version requires a third-party Bethesda.net account linked to the Steam account. It also lists Denuvo Anti-Tamper as third-party DRM.

Is Redfall a campaign game or a repeatable loot shooter?

It is both. The main and side missions provide a campaign framework, while weapon rarity, hero skill trees, Safehouse progression, Vampire Nests, Elder Nests, Rook Storms, and New Game Plus create the repeatable mastery and loot loops.