Everyone who has seen the 20-minute gameplay overview of The Blood of Dawnwalker shared by Rebel Wolves tends to have a different opinion about the game. While some have dwelled on the gory aspect, others can’t shake away the close semblance of the parkour system to The Witcher 3.
Coen, the protagonist in the game, is a human by day and a vampire by night—and the gameplay differs slightly in both phases. For those who think it’s gory, it is probably because the way you replenish your health as a vampire is by draining the blood of your opponent or NPCs by lodging your teeth in their neck.
Rebel Wolves has technically thought through the sensitivity of this vampirism system, allowing players to either drain the blood of their victims halfway and leave them unconscious or go all the way and kill them in the process.
It is important to mention that the version of The Blood of Dawnwalker shown was the pre-beta built. This means everything showcased is subject to change. The description under the video mentioned that The Blood of Dawnwalker is the first chapter in the studio’s brand-new role-playing game, suggesting that a sequel could happen if the first game hits some commercial nerve.
“14th-century Europe. Bloody conflicts sweep the lands, and the Black Death comes for the survivors,” read the video description. “Vampires seize their opportunity to walk out of the shadows and claim what they’ve been denied for centuries: freedom, and the power that comes with it.”
“You play as Coen, a young man turned into a #Dawnwalker, forever treading the line between the world of day and the realm of night. Fight for your humanity or embrace the cursed powers to save your family. Whatever your choice, the question stands: is your soul worth the lives of those you love?”
The Blood of Dawnwalker is one of the games where players will not be tied to a linear progression. The story could change depending on your decisions and the missions you complete first. Some missions will be timed, and you will see the number of days you have to get it done.
The Blood of Dawnwalker combat system
The gameplay overview gave players important insights on what to expect when the game launches in 2026. The primary weapon is a sword. After a combat with an enemy, you can loot their weapons too, and equip whichever has better stats.
When attacking, players will need to use the directional buttons to choose the part of the body and the angle they want to attack from—the same applies to blocking. For example, if the opponent has blocked their left side, their right is vulnerable to attack.
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In-between battles, you can also cast spells to either stun one of the opponents—when there is more than one—or to set them ablaze, which deals physical damage over time. As a vampire, you can get to rooftops and areas that are harder to reach as a human.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is being developed in Unreal Engine 5 for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. Rebel Wolves is headed by ex-CD Projekt Red developers, which may explain the close resemblance of the parkour system to The Witcher 3.
The studio is headed by Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, who was the game director for The Witcher 3 and the secondary game director for Cyberpunk 2077. Other members of the studio are Bartłomiej Gaweł (The Witcher 3 art director), game design director Daniel Sadowski (The Witcher 1), Jakub Szamałek (The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077), animation director Tamara Zawada (The Witcher 3), and CFO Michał Boryka.
Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz joined Rebel Wolves as creative director after spending nearly 13 years with CD Projekt. He had previously worked as a lead quest designer on The Witcher 3 and quest director on Cyberpunk 2077.
What was your impression of The Blood of Dawnwalker from the gameplay overview trailer? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
