Immersive Fantasy RPG Blends Grit and Glamour

Rebel Wolves, a studio comprised of former CD Projekt Red developers, unveiled a cinematic trailer for their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. This open-world RPG, reminiscent of The Witcher, features a dark fantasy setting, morally ambiguous choices, and a compelling outcast protagonist. A unique twist is the inclusion of Persona-like time management mechanics.

The trailer, predominantly pre-rendered, offers brief gameplay glimpses. It highlights the game's Witcher-esque qualities, while also showcasing its Persona-inspired elements. Initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, the game was officially revealed as The Blood of Dawnwalker on January 13, 2025, during a stream hosted by Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco. The over four-and-a-half-minute trailer introduces the setting and the Dawnwalkers, described in the game's lore as powerful vampires. The protagonist, Coen, is transformed into a Dawnwalker at the game's outset.

The Blood of Dawnwalker's Dark Fantasy and Moral Choices

The dark fantasy setting, monstrous creatures, open-world exploration, and morally gray choices immediately evoke the Witcher series, even without the involvement of former CDPR developers. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its vampires and challenging decisions, will likely find the premise compelling. Coen's journey allows players to choose whether he embraces his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or clings to his humanity. A robust morality system underpins these choices.

Time Management Inspired by Persona

While sharing similarities with The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker introduces innovative gameplay mechanics. Its Persona-inspired time management system adds a layer of strategic depth. Every quest consumes time, and there's no clear distinction between main and side quests. As Rebel Wolves co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz stated, players decide how to allocate their time, making complete story completion in a single playthrough impossible. This "narrative sandbox" approach is designed to enhance replayability and ensure unique experiences.

The Blood of Dawnwalker is currently in development for PC and current-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Planned as the first installment in a trilogy, it will be published by Bandai Namco. While a release date remains unannounced, given its 2022 development start and AAA budget, a 2027 release or later seems probable. A gameplay reveal is promised for Summer 2025.