The gaming community was recently treated to a cinematic reveal trailer for *The Blood of Dawnwalker*, the much-anticipated debut game from Rebel Wolves. Founded by former CD Projekt Red developers, this Polish studio has crafted an open-world RPG that echoes the dark fantasy and morally gray choices of The Witcher series, while also incorporating time management elements reminiscent of Persona.
The reveal trailer, showcased during a special stream hosted by Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco on January 13, blends pre-rendered scenes with brief gameplay glimpses. Clocking in at over four and a half minutes, the trailer sets the stage for *The Blood of Dawnwalker*'s dark fantasy world and introduces the game's protagonists, the Dawnwalkers—powerful beings akin to supercharged vampires. The trailer also introduces Coen, the game's protagonist, who begins his journey after being transformed into a Dawnwalker.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Reveal Trailer Is Reminiscent of The Witcher
With its dark fantasy setting, monstrous creatures, and an open-world RPG framework filled with morally complex decisions, *The Blood of Dawnwalker* strongly evokes the atmosphere of The Witcher. The game's tagline, "the world needs what it fears," further cements this connection. Fans of The Witcher 3's Blood and Wine expansion, with its vampire-centric narrative and challenging choices, will find *The Blood of Dawnwalker*'s premise particularly enticing. The game incorporates a morality system, allowing players to decide whether Coen should fully embrace his Dawnwalker nature to rescue his family or struggle to retain his humanity.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Also Takes a Page From Persona's Book
While *The Blood of Dawnwalker* draws clear parallels to The Witcher, it also introduces innovative gameplay elements inspired by Persona. A key feature is the integration of time management mechanics, where every quest consumes time. "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," explained Rebel Wolves co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz. This design choice aims to boost replayability, as players won't be able to complete every quest and story arc in a single playthrough, creating a unique "narrative sandbox" experience.
Currently in development for PC and next-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles, *The Blood of Dawnwalker* is planned as the first installment in a trilogy, published by Bandai Namco. Although the game doesn't yet have a set release date, given its start in 2022 and its triple-A budget, it's not expected to launch before 2027. Fans can look forward to a gameplay reveal in the summer of 2025, as Rebel Wolves continues to build anticipation for this promising new title.
