The Blood of Dawnwalker: First Gameplay Reveals Vampire RPG's Bloody Combat

06/23/2025 RPG

Get ready for some serious vampire action! The folks over at Rebel Wolves, a studio formed by ex-Witcher 3 developers, have finally given us a first look at gameplay for their upcoming RPG, "The Blood of Dawnwalker." And let me tell you, it's bloody good.

The developers showcased a pre-beta build during a livestream, featuring about 21 minutes of gameplay. Daniel Sadowski, the design director, walked us through a mid-game quest set in Svartrau, the game's largest city. Imagine a medieval European city with four distinct boroughs and a massive castle called Griefberg. This fortress is ruled by a powerful vampire named Brencis, and rescuing your family from it is central to the game's main quest. It sounds epic, right?

What makes "The Blood of Dawnwalker" stand out is its dynamic day/night cycle. Because the main character, Coen, is half-human and half-vampire, the time of day drastically affects gameplay. For instance, during the day, you might casually stroll into a cathedral and chat with a priest to gather clues. At night, however, you'll need to embrace your inner vampire, using your agility to sneak onto rooftops and infiltrate the building, where you'll probably find some spooky characters doing no good.

The developers emphasized that choices and consequences are pivotal to the game. So, expect multiple paths and outcomes depending on your actions and decisions. The demo concluded with Coen facing off against an elderly vampire named Xanthe and her blood guards. Things got intense, especially when Xanthe used her "boiling blood" skill. If you don't defeat her quickly enough, Coen literally explodes into a pool of blood!

While the combat seems inspired by games like "Kingdom Come Deliverance", the directional attacking and blocking might take some practice. "The Blood of Dawnwalker" is still slated for a 2026 release, giving you plenty of time to prepare for a dark and bloody adventure.