What do you get if you mix morality, survival and freedom of narrative in a vampire RPG? Back in 2025 at Gamescom, Rebel Wolves announced The Blood of Dawnwalker, a sandbox RPG where every decision — from whether you feed on humans or embrace your vampirism — affects protagonist Coen’s journey.
From its plague-ridden setting, which has roots in the 14th century, to its moral systems, The Blood of Dawnwalker takes the RPG to a whole new level. It’s a chilling probe of power, faith and survival.
A New Take on Vampire Lore
The Blood of Dawnwalker does not shy away from this old trope in vampire fiction, that the bloodsuckers are quite publicly running human society. In Vale Sangora during the Black Plague, vampires hide behind a facade of twisted saints saving souls through their blood, which can heal and protect from disease. They govern not by shadows but by personality, religion, and force.
Coen’s Duality – Human During the Day, Vampire at Night
Leading the way in terms of innovation is the day/night cycle which plays a substantive part in the game. By day, Coen is human and can cast spells. He unlocks vampiric powers at the touch of night — with a catch. His blood bar can be used up to fuel abilities, and, if it runs too low, he’s in danger of losing control, including killing off key characters. This hunger system makes sure The Blood of Dawnwalker is an ongoing examination of the player’s moral humanity versus their survival instinct.
Choices That Truly Matter
Dawnwalker’s Blood loves player choice. Quests can play out differently based on whether you approach them during the day or at night. Some plotlines may even lock or change due to Coen’s bloodthirst. Previously of The Witcher III and Cyberpunk 2077, Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz has also revealed that further embracing his vampiric nature will change Coen’s outlook, or “jadedness,” towards the world, as his brutality will have numbed him to the act of combat.
This dualism grants the game a gigantic replay value, as no two players will live the same adventures.
Combat: Directional or Classic
The Blood of Dawnwalker features combat that combines direction based swordplay with alternative simplified controls. If you’re the kind of player that wants fully immersive CRPG combat you can use “omniattacks” and “omniblocks,” but veterans might just prefer the direction-based combat. Eating your opponent in the midst of a fight will also restore your blood, adding to the tension between staying alive and being aggressive.
Gear, Powers, and RPG Depth
Courtesy the team beind The Witcher III, gear and progression are important. Coen may equip weapons, talismans, and armor to become specialized magic or melee based. Vampire powers are gained by draining other vampires, increasing the layers of choices players must make about who and how they want to play Coen.
A New Witcher, You Say?
With a team boasting numerous CD Projekt RED veterans at Rebel Wolves, comparisons to The Witcher III are natural. But The Blood of Dawnwalker sets itself apart with its narrative sandbox, the moral grayness of what is and isn’t a monster, and its audacious retelling of vampire mythos.
Due on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2026, it’s already among the most anticipated RPGs of the year.
FAQ
The game is set for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2026.
Coen is literally a human by day and a vampire by night, and what he’s able to do in each state, what quests you can complete and who you can talk to, are all dependent on one another.
Yes, accepting Coen’s vampiric nature changes his personality, quests and how other characters react.
Crafted by former Witcher devs, The Blood of Dawnwalker adds new systems, vampire lore, and non-linear storytelling to its world.
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