It has been some time since anyone has had any news on the upcoming Dracula: Dark Reign title for the Game Boy Color. The game has a real pedigree behind it, with retro developers Spacebot Interactive and publishers Incube8 Games teaming up to make this official licensed StokerVerse game. While the game is still slated for a release later in 2025, we have been teased again with a new demo that goes beyond the original one-level demo we had sampled.
The story is set as an almost spinoff to events that take place after the original Bram Stoker book, with the First World War raging. The game plans to dive deep into the lore of the original book, and with the official Stoker family and friends behind the game, it should be a real thrill for fans. From the demo, we don’t have much more to say on the story, it is quite rightly being guarded so as not to spoil the action. However, what we now know from playing the new demo is that the entire game doesn’t focus on Jonathan Harker but will have many other playable characters that feature in Stoker’s novel.
But what about the game itself? Well, the same brilliant control system and responsive controls are still present, as is the same great presentation. Give the host hardware, this game does seem as though it will push the Game Boy Color to its absolute limits. Firstly, there are some amazing effects that you wouldn’t have thought possible, but Speacbot Interactive have done an excellent job capturing that dark feel needed for a game such as Dracula Dark Reign. There is great use of colour throughout, and the way the background lightning just slightly glints off objects is extraordinary.
Dracula Dark Reign feels a lot like a traditional Metroidvania title with lots of exploring, puzzle solving and battling with the undead. It also makes great use of the limited control set-up of the GBC by holding buttons such as up and pressing fire to access a projectile. There is also a big selection of weaponry to choose from, and each one has its strengths and weaknesses. During this demo, we saw a second level and a boss for the first time. The fact we’re left wanting much more once the demo ends says everything we need to know. Dracula: Dark Reign is shaping up to be one of the best indie games released for the Game Boy in some time. Currently, the stock of physical carts has sold out, but no doubt Incube8 Games will be looking to get more up for pre-order as we get closer to release.
