Summary
In video games, supernatural creatures such aswerewolvesare typically the enemies for the player to fight as some deadly hunter or other form of human protagonist. However, occasionally, video games come along to change it by putting the player in the shoes of a lycanthrope.
Werewolves are inherently fascinating creatures due to their dark nature, where a person is compelled to transform into a beastly figure of the night. In some video games, werewolves are a central theme of the experience, while in others, they serve as an enjoyable bonus feature within the overall gameplay.
Updated June 29, 2025, by Melody MacReady:With the release of Leigh Whannell’s modern-day reboot of the classic monster, Wolf Man, from Universal Studios and Blumhouse, werewolf enthusiasts may feel inspired to embody a werewolf after leaving the cinema. Fortunately, the concept of a werewolf is versatile enough to fit into various genres of video games that may suit their tastes, including action-packed adventure games, dramatic storytelling games, and gothic role-playing games. Each game and its developers offer unique interpretations of werewolves, affecting aspects such as the design of the creatures, their twists on the lore, gameplay mechanics, and the different powers they can possess.
The Night Warriorsis the first installment of theDarkstalkersgame series. When the alien Pyron arrives to devour Earth, it falls on ten iconic monsters to defend its inhabitants. As a fighting game, the player must choose a character and fight the remaining nine before facing two bosses. Each character is based on a classic horror figure, from zombie to Sasquatch to vampire.
Part human, part werewolf, Jon Talbain has a history of internal conflict, but he was able to control his form via a devotion to the strict regime of martial arts. Despite his weakness to silver weapons, he is an otherwise ferocious fighter — Jon Talbain’s cartoony yet striking art design establishes him as a worthy playable werewolf in gaming.
A beloved concept is having werewolves and vampires face off and even theCastlevaniaseries played into that withCastlevania: Legacy Of Darkness. It is a prequel to the reboot ofCastlevaniafor the Nintendo 64, focusing on a werewolf named Cornell trying to save his sister from being used to resurrect Dracula.
Castlevania: Legacy Of Darknessremains the only game in the series to feature a werewolf protagonist. It introduced a new combat style, with Cornell’s human form featuring long-range attacks. In contrast, his werewolf form facilitatesa more hack-and-slash approach, all while maintaining the traditionalCastlevaniagameplay.
With the aptly titledWerewolvesDLC expansion toThe Sims 4, the player can have their pre-existing character meet a werewolf and get bitten, beginning the werewolf cycle. However, the easiest method would be to create a new Sim already afflicted with the werewolf curse, allowing them to transform with a button.
It may not be violent or gruesome, but theSims 4version of werewolves provides many humorous opportunities for players to enjoy the life of a Sim. The customization options for a werewolf are arguably even better than they were for theSupernaturalDLC for the previous game.
Altered Beastis a reboot of the classic Sega beat ‘em up title, which brought the game to the modern-day in a darker and grittier style with amplified gore. The main protagonist, Luke Custer, is a genetically altered being with the ability to transform into multiple monsters, such as a merman, minotaur, dragon, and, most importantly, a werewolf.
Ditching the mystical elements in favor of sci-fi elements resulted inAltered Beastbeing judged harshly in 2005. However, years later, more appreciation has been given to the game for still providing an action-packed slasher game. The different monsters provide different gory ways of disposing of enemies, which many can enjoy in the same vein asMortal Kombatfatalities.
Nearly every game inThe Legend Of Zeldafranchisefeatures some kind of gimmick, whether its visuals or gameplay. In the case ofThe Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess, it was a matter of both, with Link traveling between the light kingdom of Hyrule and the dark Twilight Realm. The catch is that Link is cursed, forced to transform into a wolf beast when in the Twilight Realm.
Link’s werewolf form inTwilight Princessknown as Wolf Link has become a beloved concept, with certain quests and puzzles only available in the Twilight Realm for him to complete. Even certain dungeons force Link to transform into his werewolf form to defeat certain enemies.
Sabrewulf has been featured in everyKiller Instinctgame, including the 2013 reboot. The free-to-play game features one truly free character and one free character that is on rotation. Full access to the roster, if a player wants to always play Sabrewulf, requires purchasing them all, which is well worth the price.
Mixing ina plethora of monster characters, Killer Instinct provides a memorable fighting game experience. Sabrewulf is one of the simpler characters, with lots of slashing and biting that is fitting for a werewolf character. Add in enhanced speed-based attacks and special moves, he can be a menace to his opponents.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthbloodis based off of the tabletop RPG seriesWorld of Darkness.The game follows Cahal, a werewolf slash eco-terrorist working freelance after being banished from his tribe. Returning home to make amends, he discovers that his tribe is at war with the oil subsidiary Endron which has created a soldier-enhancing substance: Earthblood.
The player must fight to expose and take down Endron and save his family amid a world full of supernatural beings and otherworldly entities — all while being able to transform into a stealthy tracker wolf or a powerful, rage-filled werewolf.Earthbloodis rife with political commentary, touching on issues such as feminism, class, and technology concerning the environment.
Terrariais one ofthe best 2D survival sandbox games. The player is free to explore a procedurally generated world, full of intriguing enemies, aesthetic biomes, and wacky items. Werewolves are a hardmode enemy, spawning when the moon is full once the player defeats the Wall of Flesh boss. They have a 1.67% chance of dropping an item called the “Moon Charm.”
Once the Moon Charm is equipped, the player is able to turn into a werewolf upon nightfall. In werewolf form, the player gains a multitude of useful buffs, including increased melee damage (with increased critical hit chance), faster movement, and better defense, making it well worth the effort to obtain the charm.
From the developer ofThe Walking Deadgame,The Wolf Among Usis an episodic mystery game based on the comic book seriesFables.The player takes on the role of the reformed Big Bad Wolff, AKA Sheriff Bigby, in New York City’s Fabletown, a secretive community full of familiar fairy tale characters. When the decapitated head of one of their community turns up, Bigby must investigate.
The Wolf Among Ushas a strong, gritty, noir atmosphere throughout the whole game. The quick-time events and dialoguechoices can have life-or-death consequences, a far cry from the traditional happily ever afters. The high stakes, compelling mystery narrative, and unique characters create a world that is easy to invest in.
Diablo 2: Resurrectedis the remake of the dark fantasy dungeon crawler RPG set after the events ofDiablo.The player takes control of a hero in search of the source of destruction by following the demon-corrupted Dark Wanderer. Thanks to being a remake, the playercan choose the Druid character classimmediately compared to needing an expansion in the original.
Not only do Druids possess elemental and summoning skills, but they can also shapeshift into a werewolf among other things. Doing so provides the player with bonuses in attack, health, and stamina that increase with the character’s level, making it more than a simple class gimmick. Thankfully, players can create builds centering around the werewolf transformations and make it their primary form of combat as they fight through the world of Sanctuary.
