New RPG Is Like The Witcher Meets Persona

Rebel Wolves, a studio comprised of former CD Projekt Red developers, unveiled a cinematic trailer for their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. The trailer, primarily pre-rendered footage with brief gameplay glimpses, highlights the game's similarities to The Witcher and incorporates Persona-like elements.

Initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, the game was described as a narrative-driven, open-world RPG set in a dark fantasy world, emphasizing meaningful choices. A year later, on January 13th, Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco showcased an extended cinematic trailer (over four and a half minutes) during a reveal stream. This trailer introduced the setting and the Dawnwalkers—powerful vampire-like beings—along with the protagonist, Coen, who becomes a Dawnwalker at the game's outset.

The Blood of Dawnwalker's Witcher Influences

The game's dark fantasy setting, monsters, open-world RPG structure, morally gray choices, and tagline ("the world needs what it fears") strongly evoke The Witcher series, even independent of its creators' background. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its vampires and challenging moral dilemmas, will likely find the premise compelling. The game features a morality system, allowing players to choose whether Coen embraces his Dawnwalker nature to save his family or clings to his humanity.

Persona-Inspired Time Management

Beyond its Witcher-esque elements, The Blood of Dawnwalker introduces unique gameplay mechanics. It incorporates Persona-style time management, where quests consume time, impacting player choices. Co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explained that multiple approaches exist to saving Coen's family, blurring the lines between main and side quests. The limited time mechanic encourages replayability, ensuring each playthrough feels distinct, a concept Rebel Wolves terms a "narrative sandbox."

Development and Release

Currently in development for PC and current-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles, The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned as the first in a trilogy, published by Bandai Namco. While a release date remains unannounced, given its 2022 development start and AAA budget, a release before 2027 seems unlikely. A gameplay reveal is promised for Summer 2025.