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. Unique to the genre, it also incorporates 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. Announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, the game was officially revealed as The Blood of Dawnwalker on January 13th, 2025, by Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco. The extended trailer introduces Coen, the protagonist, who becomes a Dawnwalker—essentially, a powerful vampire—at the game's outset.
Echoes of The Witcher and a Persona Twist
The Blood of Dawnwalker shares significant thematic similarities with The Witcher series. Its dark fantasy backdrop, monstrous creatures, morally gray choices, and the tagline "the world needs what it fears" immediately evoke the Witcher experience. Fans of The Witcher 3's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its vampires and challenging moral dilemmas, will likely find the premise compelling. The game features a robust morality system, allowing players to choose whether Coen embraces his new Dawnwalker powers to save his family or clings to his humanity.
However, The Blood of Dawnwalker distinguishes itself by integrating Persona-style time management. Every quest consumes in-game time, creating a "narrative sandbox" where players must prioritize their actions. Co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explains that multiple approaches exist for saving Coen's family, blurring the lines between main and side quests. Completing every quest in a single playthrough is impossible, encouraging replayability and 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, the game, with its AAA budget and development timeline starting in 2022, is unlikely to release before 2027. A gameplay reveal is promised for Summer 2025.
