New RPG Blends Fantasy and Modernity in Unique Adventure

Rebel Wolves Unveils Cinematic Trailer for The Blood of Dawnwalker

Former CD Projekt Red developers at Rebel Wolves have released a cinematic trailer for their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. The trailer showcases the game's dark fantasy setting, morally ambiguous choices, and an outcast protagonist reminiscent of The Witcher series, but with a unique twist.

The reveal trailer, primarily pre-rendered footage with brief gameplay glimpses, highlights the game's similarities to The Witcher, while also introducing Persona-like time management mechanics. 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 publisher Bandai Namco. The extended cinematic trailer introduces Coen, the protagonist, who becomes a Dawnwalker – essentially, a powerful vampire – at the game's outset.

A Witcher-esque Dark Fantasy RPG

The Blood of Dawnwalker boasts a dark fantasy world populated by monsters, and features an open-world RPG structure with morally gray choices. The tagline, "the world needs what it fears," further emphasizes its Witcher-inspired atmosphere. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Blood and Wine expansion, with its vampires and challenging decisions, will likely find the premise compelling. The game's morality system allows players to choose whether Coen embraces his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or clings to his humanity.

Integrating Persona-style Time Management

While sharing similarities with The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker introduces a unique gameplay element: Persona-like time management. Every quest consumes time, forcing players to prioritize their actions. According to Rebel Wolves co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, "There are multiple approaches to saving Coen’s family with no clear division between main and side quests; you decide on how you spend the time." This "narrative sandbox" approach, where completing all quests in a single playthrough is impossible, is designed to encourage replayability and offer unique experiences.

Development and Release

Currently in development for PC and current-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles, The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned as the first installment in a trilogy. Published by Bandai Namco, the game, with its AAA budget and 2022 development start, is unlikely to release before 2027. Rebel Wolves has promised a gameplay reveal in Summer 2025.