About The Blood of Dawnwalker
Winter 1349. The Black Death has swept across Europe, and the dead are piling up in the streets. Taking advantage of this hellish chaos, the vampires seize Vale Sangora, a strategic region in the Carpathian Valley. Now masters of the land, the evil Brencis and his army of Vrakhiri impose a blood tax on the inhabitants to protect them from the disease ravaging humanity.
It is against this backdrop that Coen, a young boy from the village of Laslea, struggles to survive. During a terrible incident, he witnesses Brencis kidnapping his family. To make matters worse, he is struck by a curse that forces him to take human form by day and vampiric form by night. Thirty days separate him from his tormentor’s coronation, and every decision he makes will impact his destiny. *The Blood of Dawnwalker* invites you to write the story of the boy—or rather, the hybrid.
Featuring stunning Gothic scenery, The Blood of Dawnwalker is a third-person action-RPG. Contemplative and narrative-driven, which emphasizes a high degree of freedom of movement within a richly detailed open world. You play as Coen, half-human, half-vampire, who can travel on foot or on horseback and interact with the world around him. Just like in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you talk to NPCs, trigger quests, and every decision can impact the storyline, which features multiple branching paths. In short, the game’s structure immediately brings to mind the adventures of Geralt of Rivia or the progression in Skyrim. But The Blood of Dawnwalker doesn’t stop there.
Why Should I Play The Blood of Dawnwalker?
Konrad Tomaszkiewicz and Rebel Wolves Studio present a masterclass. The Blood of Dawnwalker impresses with its polished production and a story penned by Jakub Szamalek, one of the writers behind Cyberpunk 2077. Considered by much of the gaming press to be the spiritual sequel to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Blood of Dawnwalker is an action-RPG set in the Vale Sangora region. As the land is ravaged by the Black Plague, Coen will explore the area, guided by his encounters, to find a way to save his family and eliminate Brencis. Sounds like a charming adventure. He can also choose to follow a much more morally ambiguous path. That’s the whole appeal of a game like this: the player chooses which path to take.
By the very nature of Coen—half-human, half-vampire—The Blood of Dawnwalker introduces a concept that stands in stark contrast to that of Geralt of Rivia, the witcher. During his daytime travels, the character takes on human form and commands a certain respect among the people. When night falls, Coen transforms into a vampire whose thirst for blood becomes overwhelming. This difference becomes apparent during combat: swords and magic spells on one side, vampiric powers and supernatural abilities on the other.
Added to this is a time management element. In the prologue, we learn that Coen has only thirty days and thirty nights to reach Brencis and save his loved ones. Don’t expect a system like Majora’s Mask. Here, time takes the form of segments that are consumed by the major actions you undertake. These can include a major quest, a significant intervention, or a heroic or villainous act. The logic is more about a budget to spend than a ticking clock. Rebel Wolves refers to a “narrative sandbox”: multiple possible endings, mutually exclusive quests, and characters you can permanently miss out on.
In terms of combat, The Blood of Dawnwalker features an impressive system. Like many games of this genre, the player must learn to parry at the right moment to land effective blows on enemies. Positioning plays a crucial role in countering attacks—the four-direction system is reminiscent of that in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Although the start may seem a bit abrupt, The Blood of Dawnwalker takes the time to establish its atmosphere, develop the characters, and gently draw the player into these gothic settings that are as inspired as they are stunning. Undeniably, the years that separate The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt from Rebel Wolves’ game are evident. Detailed textures, volumetric effects, dazzling lighting… The Unreal Engine 5 really shines here. Still, it’s important to keep in mind that the world is somewhat less varied compared to Wild Hunt and its diverse regions (Velen, Novigrad, Skellige…). The overall aesthetic is gothic, with more ochre and gray tones.
Is The Blood of Dawnwalker Free-to-play?
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a paid game sold at full price. The game is available in two versions: Standard and Eclipse. The Eclipse version includes a digital compendium of the game's universe, the complete original soundtrack, and a digital comic book.
Where Can I Download The Blood of Dawnwalker?
Rebel Wolves' RPG is available on three platforms. You can download it for Windows PC (Steam and GOG), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. It supports Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming for players who prefer streaming. There is no Nintendo Switch 2 version.
What Games Should I Play If I Enjoy The Blood of Dawnwalker?
It’s no coincidence that everyone is talking about it. Created by the same team behind it, The Blood of Dawnwalker echoes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It features everything that makes the Geralt of Rivia trilogy so captivating: epic battles, a rich narrative, charismatic characters, meticulous writing, top-notch production values, and choices that shape the fate of the main character and the world around him. Rebel Wolves has drawn on all this experience to deliver a game with a gothic tone—less picture-postcard-perfect than The Witcher 3, but just as compelling.
Among the other alternatives worth checking out, you can’t miss the excellent Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Although its progression can be rather abrupt, this game is incredibly rich and set in the same historical context as The Blood of Dawnwalker. You play as Henri, a blacksmith’s son thrust into 15th-century Bohemia during a time of civil war. With its commitment to historical accuracy, complete absence of magic, demanding melee combat systems, and realistic management of food, sleep, and hygiene—this is a pure, unadulterated medieval RPG. Special mention for the immersion and realism of the recreation.
Finally, if you're looking for an open world that's a little less gloomy but still has a gothic aesthetic, Elden Ring is the dark fantasy action-RPG you won't want to miss. Created by Hidetaka Miyazaki’s team, this FromSoftware game has received the endorsement of George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones) and unfolds against a backdrop of a fallen kingdom, corrupt gods, and broken heroes—a setting that immediately resonates with anyone who appreciates the twilight atmosphere of Vale Sangora. With its polished combat, breathtaking vistas, and expansive world, Elden Ring is a major title to dive into if you enjoyed The Blood of Dawnwalker.
