GameCentral got to preview four hours of The Blood Of Dawnwalker, a new open-world RPG from Rebel Wolves, the studio founded by The Witcher 3 co-director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz. The game features a unique day/night cycle and a protagonist who transforms between human and vampire forms.
Gameplay and Setting
The Blood Of Dawnwalker is set in an original 14th-century southeast European world, not based on any existing IP. Players control Coen, a young miner who becomes a Dawnwalker—a hybrid creature that is human by day and vampire by night, due to silver dust in his lungs. The game world is terrorized by vampiric creatures called vrakhiri, who have established a feudal society where humans donate blood weekly in exchange for healing properties.
Time only advances when the player completes quests or story moments, with a total of 30 days and 30 nights before the head vampire completes his coronation and sacrifices Coen's kidnapped family. This creates a sense of urgency, as players can choose to rush the main story or explore side content.
Combat and Mechanics
Combat uses bumper buttons (LB and RB) for attack and defense, with directional inputs required for successful blocking. As a vampire, Coen can teleport short distances, use claws, and walk on certain walls. As a human, he fights with a sword. The game also features interactive dialogue and decision-making similar to Telltale Games, with consequences for player choices.
Interview with Konrad Tomaszkiewicz and Adam Payet
In an interview, Tomaszkiewicz explained the studio's philosophy: “We first create the story. And when the story is good, this is our foundation to create the gameplay features, to create the world.” He emphasized that the 30-day time limit was designed to create stakes and immersion: “We are making video games and for me it’s a piece of art, to create the consistent experience which will pull you in.”
On the combat system, Tomaszkiewicz acknowledged the learning curve: “I was worried that people will hate the combat... but I think that this is the part of the adventure and this is the fun, to take a risk.” He also noted that the game’s 50-70 hour playtime is substantial, but players can finish it in as little as 20 hours if they focus on the main story.
Environment artist Adam Payet highlighted the collaborative culture: “I had quests where I worked directly, one-on-one with Konrad on directly implementing something. In bigger studios, I don’t think people even meet the game director.”
Release Details
The Blood Of Dawnwalker is scheduled for release on 3rd September 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, priced at £59.99. It will be published by Bandai Namco and is rated 18.
