Victor Vran Couch Co-op Review: A Short Action RPG That Never Quite Clicks – 2.5/5

Victor Vran – At a Glance

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• Player Count: 1-2 players (local co-op)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
• Playtime: 9+ hours
• Genre: Action RPG, Isometric
• Strategy Level: Moderate
• Overall Feel: Fine. Forgettable. Meh.
• Our Rating: 2.5/5

Victor Vran – Trailer

Review Summary

Victor Vran is an isometric action RPG that looks like it should be a great couch co-op pickup. Dark fantasy setting, fast-paced combat, loot-driven progression, and full local co-op support—it checks the right boxes on paper. In reality, it lands firmly in the middle. Not bad. Not good. Just… fine.

We played Victor Vran start to finish in couch co-op, and while there were moments of mild enjoyment, the experience never rose above “acceptable.” It’s a short game, which works in its favour, because the clunky combat and lack of depth would have worn thin fast if it dragged on any longer.

Go here if you want to try out the game for yourself.

Overall Impressions

Victor Vran feels like a game that wants to be stylish and punchy but lacks the polish to pull it off. Combat never feels as tight as it should, movement can be awkward, and encounters start blending together early. You’re rarely frustrated enough to quit, but you’re also rarely excited to keep going.

The biggest compliment is that it doesn’t overstay its welcome. We finished it, saw the credits, and immediately moved on without any desire to revisit it. That pretty much sums it up.

Gameplay & Combat – 2/5

Combat is the core of Victor Vran, and unfortunately, it’s also where the game struggles most. Attacks lack weight, enemy reactions feel muted, and positioning often feels off. Dodging exists, but it doesn’t feel as responsive or satisfying as it should in a game that clearly wants fast, reactive combat.

Weapon variety exists, but it doesn’t meaningfully change how encounters play out. You’re still circling enemies, mashing attacks, dodging when things get messy, and repeating that loop across most fights. Enemy variety is limited, so once you’ve seen a few encounters, you’ve essentially seen them all.

Boss fights try to shake things up, but they mostly expose the same issues. Hitboxes can feel unclear, spacing is awkward, and difficulty spikes come more from clumsiness than actual challenge. Nothing feels broken—it just never feels good.

Co-op Experience – 2.5/5

Victor Vran supports local couch co-op with a shared screen, and this is both a strength and a limitation. Playing together definitely makes the game more tolerable. Combat feels less dull when you’re coordinating attacks, reviving each other, and pushing through areas as a team.

That said, the shared-screen setup forces players to stay close at all times. If one person wants to explore or reposition, the camera becomes an issue fast. This limits freedom and makes co-op feel more restrictive than it needs to be.

Co-op doesn’t add unique mechanics or meaningful teamwork systems. It simply makes the existing gameplay loop less boring. That’s helpful, but it doesn’t elevate Victor Vran into a standout couch co-op experience.

Story & Characters – 2/5

The story exists mostly to justify moving from one gloomy area to the next. The dark fantasy tone is consistent, but the narrative never becomes engaging. Characters come and go with minimal development, and plot beats fail to leave much of an impression.

The one genuinely memorable moment came from the voice acting. Realizing that one of the characters is voiced by the same actor who plays Raphael in Baldur’s Gate 3 was a fun surprise. That recognition did more to spark interest than the actual writing.

Outside of that, the story is serviceable background noise. You won’t feel lost, but you also won’t care much about what’s happening or why.

Check out our Baldur’s Gate 3 review.

Visuals & Audio – 3/5

Visually, Victor Vran is fine. Environments lean heavily into dark, gothic fantasy aesthetics, which fit the tone but lack variety. Areas start to look similar after a while, and nothing really stands out as visually memorable.

Character models and effects do their job, but they don’t impress. Animations, especially in combat, contribute to the overall clunky feel rather than enhancing it.

Audio follows the same pattern. Music is atmospheric but forgettable. Sound effects are functional. Voice acting is competent, with a few standout performances doing more heavy lifting than the script itself.

Progression & Replayability – 1/5

Progression systems are present, but shallow. You unlock abilities, tweak builds, and collect gear, but none of it feels deep enough to encourage experimentation. Once you settle into a playstyle, there’s little reason to change it.

Replayability is low. After finishing the game, there’s no strong incentive to jump back in. Builds aren’t varied enough, combat doesn’t reward mastery, and the story doesn’t warrant a second run.

This is very much a one-and-done experience.

Pros

• Short and easy to finish
• Local couch co-op included
• Solid voice acting (Raphael fans will notice)

Cons

• Clunky combat and movement
• Forgettable story
• Shared screen limits co-op fun
• Little replay value

Final Verdict – 2.5/5

Victor Vran is the definition of average. It’s playable, mildly entertaining in short bursts, and improved slightly by couch co-op—but it never stands out. The clunky combat, shallow systems, and forgettable presentation hold it back from being something special.

If you’re looking for a short couch co-op game to burn through without commitment, Victor Vran gets the job done. If you’re searching for a memorable co-op action RPG, this isn’t it.

Finish it, shrug, move on. We personally didn’t like it that much but you may have a different take on it. You can get your own copy here.