New RPG Is Like The Witcher Meets Persona

Rebel Wolves Unveils Cinematic Trailer for Debut RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker

Former CD Projekt Red developers at Rebel Wolves have treated fans to a cinematic reveal trailer for their highly anticipated debut game, The Blood of Dawnwalker. The trailer, primarily pre-rendered but with brief gameplay glimpses, showcases a dark fantasy open-world RPG reminiscent of The Witcher, but with a unique twist.

The Blood of Dawnwalker, initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, was described as a narrative-driven RPG with impactful choices. A year later, Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco presented an extended cinematic trailer (over four and a half minutes) on January 13th, 2025. The trailer introduces Coen, the protagonist, who becomes a Dawnwalker – essentially, a powerful vampire – at the game's outset. The world, its creatures, and the Dawnwalkers themselves are vividly portrayed.

A Witcher-esque World with a Persona Twist

The game's dark fantasy setting, morally gray choices, and monster-filled open world immediately evoke the Witcher series. The tagline, "the world needs what it fears," further emphasizes this similarity. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its vampire elements and challenging decisions, will likely find the premise compelling. Coen's journey allows players to choose between embracing his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or clinging to his humanity.

However, The Blood of Dawnwalker distinguishes itself by incorporating Persona-style time management mechanics. Every quest consumes time, forcing players to prioritize their actions. As Rebel Wolves 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, where completing all quests in a single playthrough is impossible, is designed to encourage replayability and unique experiences.

Development and Release

Currently in development for PC and current-gen consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned as the first installment of a trilogy. Published by Bandai Namco, the game boasts a AAA budget and began development in 2022. While a release date remains unannounced, a 2027 release at the earliest seems plausible, with a gameplay reveal promised for Summer 2025.