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, immerses players in a dark fantasy setting, challenging them with morally gray choices and featuring an outcast protagonist. A unique element is the integration of Persona-like time management mechanics.
The recently released trailer, primarily pre-rendered cinematic footage with brief gameplay glimpses, highlights the game's Witcher-esque qualities alongside its Persona-inspired time management system. Initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, the game was officially revealed as The Blood of Dawnwalker on January 13, 2025, during a livestream hosted by Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco. The over four-and-a-half-minute trailer introduces the setting and the Dawnwalkers—powerful vampire-like creatures—along with the protagonist, Coen, who becomes a Dawnwalker at the game's outset.
Echoes of The Witcher
The Blood of Dawnwalker's dark fantasy setting, monsters, and morally ambiguous choices immediately evoke the atmosphere of The Witcher series. The tagline, "the world needs what it fears," further strengthens this comparison. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Blood and Wine expansion, with its vampires and complex decisions, will likely find the game's premise compelling. The game features a robust morality system, allowing players to choose whether Coen embraces his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or clings to his humanity.
A Persona-Inspired Twist
While drawing heavily from The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker incorporates a novel gameplay mechanic: Persona-like time management. Every quest consumes time, and players must prioritize their actions. According to Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, Rebel Wolves' co-founder and game director, "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 enhance replayability and ensure unique experiences.
Currently in development for PC and current-gen consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned as the first installment in a trilogy, published by Bandai Namco. While a release date remains unannounced, given the game's 2022 development start and AAA budget, a release before 2027 seems unlikely. Rebel Wolves has promised a gameplay reveal in Summer 2025.
