New Fantasy RPG Blends Epic Quests and Social Bonding

Rebel Wolves, a studio formed by ex-CD Projekt Red developers, unveiled a cinematic trailer for their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. This open-world RPG boasts a dark fantasy setting, morally grey choices reminiscent of The Witcher, and a unique time management system inspired by Persona.

The recently released trailer, primarily pre-rendered cinematic footage with brief gameplay glimpses, highlights the game's Witcher-esque atmosphere. Announced in January 2024 as Dawnwalker, 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 extended trailer (over four and a half minutes) introduces the world and the Dawnwalkers—powerful vampire-like beings—alongside the protagonist, Coen, who becomes a Dawnwalker at the game's outset.

Echoes of The Witcher

The dark fantasy setting, monstrous creatures, open-world exploration, and morally ambiguous 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 find the premise particularly appealing. The game features a robust morality system, allowing Coen to embrace his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or fight to retain his humanity.

A Persona-Inspired Twist

Beyond its Witcher influences, The Blood of Dawnwalker innovates with Persona-style time management. Every quest consumes time, forcing players to prioritize their actions. As co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explains, "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, preventing completion of all quests in a single playthrough, promotes 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 in a trilogy, published by Bandai Namco. While a release date remains unannounced, given its 2022 development start and AAA budget, a 2027 release or later seems plausible. A gameplay reveal is promised for Summer 2025.