Van Helsing

Van Helsing is an action game built for js13kGames 2022, whose theme was "Death." You play the legendary monster hunter facing down creatures of the night, and the death theme is woven into both the narrative and the mechanics rather than slapped on as a label.

As a compact action title, Van Helsing distills the monster-hunting fantasy into a tight browser experience. The 13-kilobyte constraint means every mechanic has to earn its bytes — there is no room for filler tutorials or decorative systems. What you get is pure combat: the core loop of identifying threats, positioning, and striking at the right moment.

The game earned top recognition in the 2022 competition, a year with 167 entries. For players who enjoy action games with a gothic horror flavor, Van Helsing offers a focused, no-fat experience that respects both your time and the genre's roots.

Van Helsing uses keyboard controls for movement and combat. Consult the in-game title screen for the exact key bindings, as jam entries often customize their control schemes.

General approach for monster-hunting action games: learn the enemy attack patterns before committing to aggressive play. Most creatures telegraph their strikes — watch for the wind-up animation and dodge before attacking during the recovery window. Prioritize the most dangerous enemies first (ranged attackers, fast movers) before cleaning up the slower ones.