Blud (video game)

#BLUD
DeveloperExit 73 Studios
PublisherHumble Games
ProgrammersCody Greenhalge
Andrew Tavis
ArtistsChris Burns
Bob Fox
WriterGreg Lane
EngineUnity
PlatformsWindows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
ReleaseJune 18, 2024 (2024-06-18)
GenresAction-adventure, dungeon crawler
ModeSingle-player

#BLUD is a 2024 action-adventure dungeon crawler developed by Exit 73 Studios and published by Humble Games. Players control Becky Brewster, a teenage vampire hunter navigating high school life while battling an undead invasion in the fictional town of Carpentersville.

The game features hand-drawn 2D animation inspired by late-1990s and early-2000s Cartoon Network shows. It was released on 18 June 2024 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Critics praised the art direction and writing but found the combat mechanics lacking in depth.

Gameplay

#BLUD is a top-down action-adventure game in which the player controls Becky Brewster across interconnected maps covering a school campus, the surrounding town and underground dungeons.[1]

Becky fights primarily with a field hockey stick, which can be upgraded over the course of the game.[2] New enemy types and weapon upgrades are introduced across the game's progression, with combat built around melee attacks and a dodge roll.[3]

A central feature is Perch, a fictional social media application that serves as both a quest tracker and a narrative device. Missions and side quests appear as posts on the platform, and players can take selfies at specific locations to analyze enemy weaknesses.[4] The selfie mechanic also fleshes out the game's cast of characters, with non-player characters commenting on each photo.

Development

Exit 73 Studios had previously produced animation for clients including Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Disney XD.[5] #BLUD was originally conceived as a pitch for an animated television series. Co-founders Chris Burns and Bob Fox had developed concept art and a short trailer during downtime between client projects, with the idea dating back to at least 2018.[5][6]

The idea took a different turn when programmer Cody Greenhalge saw the pitch materials and suggested the concept would work better as a video game.[7] The team formed Exit 73 Games as a separate entity, bringing on Greenhalge and fellow programmer Andrew Tavis alongside writer Greg Lane.[6]

Development spanned roughly seven years from that early trailer to release.[7] Burns cited The Powerpuff Girls and the work of animator Craig McCracken as key visual influences.[7] The game's animation was produced using traditional hand-drawn techniques rather than the skeletal rigs common in 2D games.[5]

Humble Games announced a publishing partnership with Exit 73 Studios in May 2023.[5] The game was released on 18 June 2024 across PC and consoles. A content update titled "Claws for Alarm" was released after launch.[8] Super Rare Games later produced a limited physical release for the Nintendo Switch version.[9]

Reception

#BLUD received mixed to positive reviews upon release. On Metacritic, the game holds aggregate scores of 73/100 on PC, 75 on Xbox One and 72 on PlayStation 4.[11] On OpenCritic, it has a top critic average of 73/100 based on 31 reviews, with 43% of critics recommending it.[12]

The visual presentation drew widespread praise. Push Square called the aesthetic "superbly realized" and noted it could carry the experience on its own.[1] Siliconera likened the tone to a fun Saturday morning adventure, pointing to genuine laughs throughout the script.[10]

Push Square acknowledged that boss battles were a highlight but found regular combat slow to develop. They also felt the objectives were vague at times, with a reliance on fetch quests in the game's side content.[1]

Zack Zwiezen of Kotaku praised the game's trailer, writing that the game's "impressive style makes up for some annoying jank and boss fights" and that the game perfectly recreates a "late '90s animated look".[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ramsey, Robert (28 June 2024). "#BLUD Review (PS5)". Push Square. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  2. ↑ Gerli, Damiano (17 June 2024). "#BLUD Review – Hashtag Vampire Apocalypse". Twinfinite. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  3. ↑ Tagliaferri, Simone (4 July 2024). "#BLUD, la recensione di un bel cartone animato che manca di profondità". Multiplayer.it (in Italian). Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  4. ↑ Quirk, Tom (18 June 2024). "#BLUD Review – Becky the Vampire Slayer". Checkpoint Gaming. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Salbato, Mike (18 May 2023). "Humble Games & Exit 73 Studios Talk #BLUD". RPGFan. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Developer Interview: EXIT 73 Games". Game Pilgrim. 13 February 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "EXIT 73 Studios: We have a low overhead and it's just the two of us". ASIFA-East. 15 September 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  8. ↑ "#Blud "Claws for Alarm" update out now, patch notes and trailer". Nintendo Everything. November 6, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  9. ↑ Coulibaly, Mohamed Lamine (March 8, 2025). "#BLUD Gets Physical Release on Nintendo Switch". RPGamer. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Review: #BLUD Feels Like a Fun Saturday Morning Adventure". Siliconera. 17 June 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  11. ↑ "#BLUD Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  12. ↑ "#BLUD Reviews". OpenCritic. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
  13. ↑ Zwiezen, Zack (2024-06-21). "New Zelda-Like Is A Fun '90s Cartoon Take On Killing Vampires". Kotaku. Retrieved 2026-06-17.
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