The Blood of Dawnwalker

In The Blood of Dawnwalker, 14th-century Europe is thrown into chaos. Bloody wars ravage the continent while the Black Death wipes out countless lives. A group of powerful vampires exploit this period of weakness to rise to power. Players take on the role of Coen, a young man who has become a Dawnblood — human by day and vampire by night. He embodies the strengths and weaknesses of both worlds. The story follows him on his quest to save his family from Brencis, the vampire lord who rules over the Sangora Valley, a mysterious region in the Carpathians.

During the day, Coen fights as a human, wielding a sword and magic. At night, he transforms into a vampire, gaining the ability to teleport, superhuman strength and claw attacks. His overarching goal is to rescue his family, who have been imprisoned by the Vampire Lord Brencis. This must be accomplished within 30 days, with time moving forward each time Coen embarks on a quest. This time constraint is therefore a key element of the game. Simply walking around or exploring the game world does not make time pass. Instead, almost every significant activity uses up time units.

Each day is divided into time slots, and certain actions – such as progressing through quests, learning or upgrading skills – consume slots. The game clearly and comprehensively visualises when time resources are being used up. Generally, however, the limit is reasonable and not excessive. Nor does it put too much pressure on acting quickly. The system reminds players that the Coen family is still at the mercy of the vampires, and that they won't have time to accomplish everything. However, much of the side content and exploration remains available even after the time limit expires, depending on whether the player chooses to rescue it. The time system is not intended to put pressure on players, but rather to increase the game's replay value by introducing consequences.

The basic gameplay is reminiscent of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Players explore the grim world, interact with characters, follow clues, engage in combat, collect loot and level up their character. During the day, Coen fights like a traditional swordsman, but the combat system focuses on counterattacks, dodging and blocking. Enemy attacks must be blocked in the correct direction (one of four), which is indicated by practical, almost self-explanatory icons.

However, it takes some time to get used to this, as well as the timing, especially when facing multiple enemies. Attacks can also be carried out from four directions, which are mapped to the D-pad on consoles or to customisable buttons on PC. When playing as a human, players exclusively use two-handed swords as well as blood magic. Overall, combat is quite tactical, as players must wait for the right moment to strike after counterattacking or blocking. As soon as night falls, the gameplay transforms into a vampire-powered fantasy, allowing players to unleash potent vampire abilities.

The role-playing system is deeply interwoven with the story and the player's moral stance or choices. Depending on whether the player chooses to act more humanely or embraces their vampire abilities fully, they will either remain pure or become corrupted. The player influences the world and the reactions of non-player characters (NPCs) depending on the choices made. The game world and characters are where The Blood of Dawnwalker really shines. The characters are very well written, the dialogue superb, and there are dark, serious and, at times, profound themes woven authentically into the game world. These themes are not forced upon the player, but rather emerge naturally from the game world, including important choice moments that will affect the story. Above all, it is here where the skill and experience of the development team really shine through. Anyone looking for a gripping vampire story and disappointed by Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, will find exactly what they're looking for here.

"Four years ago, a small group of friends came together and decided to do the impossible: create a truly unique RPG. Thanks to the wonderful people they met along the way, Rebel Wolves Studio was born. Today, there are 160 of us, and we are releasing our very first game, The Blood of Dawnwalker. I want to thank every member of our Pack, all the partners who joined us on this journey, our understanding families, and, of course, the players who have supported us from the very beginning. This game was made for you, and it was shaped by you and your feedback. We are now placing our "child" in your hands, and we hope you will feel that this is a game made by gamers, for gamers. Have fun, and please keep sharing your feedback with us. We can't wait to experience this moment together with you!" - Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, Game Director and Co-Founder of Rebel Wolves

The Blood of Dawnwalker is the first game developed by Rebel Wolves, a game development studio founded in Warsaw in 2022. Konrad Tomaszkiewicz (Game Director of The Witcher 3 and Head of Production/Secondary Game Director of Cyberpunk 2077) assembled the studio with experienced game development colleagues, including Design Director Daniel Sadowski (The Witcher 1, Nitreal Games, Growing Up), Narrative Director and Main Writer Jakub Szamałek (The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Thronebreaker), Animation Director Tamara Zawada (The Witcher 3, Shadow Warrior 2, Capcom Vancouver), Art Director Bartłomiej Gaweł (The Witcher 1–3), CFO Michał Boryka, and Studio Head Robert Murzynowski.

"In order to create truly great games, we won't chase trends or numbers. Our goal is clearly defined: to create memorable games, tell moving stories, and evoke visceral emotions. It's ambitious, true - and I'm glad it is. Art needs ambition. I don't want to create another game. I want to work on titles people will remember," said Jakub Szamałek, Narrative Director and Main Writer, upon the studio's announcement in 2022.

In October 2024, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe announced that it would take on the role of global publisher, responsible for distribution through both high-street retailers and digital channels. Alberto Gonzalez Lorca, VP for Business Development at Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, said this when announcing the partnership: "This is another key milestone in our content development strategy for the Western market. By combining our strengths, we will deliver this first game of the studio to a worldwide audience. We’re excited with the universe being created by Rebel Wolves, thanks to their extremely talented team of developers, resulting in a great addition to our portfolio." Tomasz Tinc, Chief Publishing Officer, Rebel Wolves, added: "Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, a company known for its dedication to the role-playing genre and willingness to engage with new IPs, is a perfect match for our wolfpack. Not only does it share our values, but also its track record in publishing narrative-driven RPGs speaks for itself. We're looking forward to working with them to bring the first chapter of the Dawnwalker saga to gamers worldwide."

Speaking of the Dawnwalker franchise: At Summer Game Fest 2026, the studio presented a CGI teaser offering a glimpse of the future direction of the series. Players can see Coen in surroundings completely different to those they are used to – a modern, 21st-century setting offering a glimpse of the ultimate direction of the overarching plot. As the developers revealed, future instalments of the Dawnwalker franchise will span centuries, continents and cultures around the world. However, The Blood of Dawnwalker will end with a definitive and self-contained conclusion, shaped by players' choices during the adventure. The developers confirmed that the game is set entirely in the 14th century and is free of cliffhangers or unresolved plot threads. "However, I would like to emphasize that each installment in the series will be a standalone game with its own story, without narrative cliffhangers, unresolved plot threads, or time travel ideas. Since forming Rebel Wolves, we have been very clear that we aim for The Blood of Dawnwalker to be a self-contained story, and now, as we approach the release of the first chapter, we wanted to shed a bit more light on our wider perspective and tease where the story ultimately leads," explains Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, Game Director and Co-Founder of Rebel Wolves."

"I love the potential that lies within Coen, as well as his powers and abilities as a Dawnwalker. His journey begins in a dark 14th-century fantasy world - a setting players deeply enjoy - and while it may feel familiar, the unique Carpathian Mountains setting will allow us to surprise them more than once. The next installments of his saga will bring new stories and new characters, but they will take place in different eras, locations, and cultures. Writing the narrative for projects of this scale is an incredibly satisfying undertaking. And while Coen and Brencis' conflict will reach its conclusion in The Blood of Dawnwalker, attentive players will certainly come across breadcrumbs related to the overarching plot spanning the saga," says Jakub Szamałek, Narrative Director at Rebel Wolves

Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe S.A.S. is a publisher and developer of entertainment content for a range of platforms, including all major video game consoles and PCs. The company produces intellectual property for a global audience, including the Little Nightmares series. Based in Lyon, France, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe is renowned for bringing leading entertainment industry brands such as Pac-Man, Gundam, Tekken, Ace Combat, Dark Souls and Elden Ring to markets across Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The Blood of Dawnwalker was released on 3 September 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. It is available in four editions: Standard (digital or physical), Eclipse (digital), Day One (physical) and Collector's (physical).

The game has sold over a million copies. This sales milestone was announced on 5 September, just two days after the release. Planning for the next game has already begun, with Jakub Szamalek looking for a Lead Writer via LinkedIn to craft the next chapter in the Dawnwalker saga.

Conclusion

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a real highlight, boasting an impressively sinister world, outstanding dialogue, memorable characters and thrilling battles. It's a strong start for a new franchise.

Features

• Dual day-and-night gameplay
• Complex character development, great writing, strong world-building
• 30-day mechanic as a consequence system