Gripping RPG Fuses The Witcher's Allure with Persona's Persona's Charisma

Rebel Wolves, a studio comprised of former CD Projekt Red developers, unveiled a cinematic trailer for their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. This open-world RPG, reminiscent of The Witcher, features a dark fantasy setting, morally grey choices, and a compelling outcast protagonist. Unique to the game is its incorporation of Persona-like time management mechanics.

The recently released trailer, primarily pre-rendered cinematic footage with brief gameplay glimpses, highlights the game's Witcher-esque qualities while showcasing its Persona-inspired elements. Initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, the game was officially revealed as The Blood of Dawnwalker on January 13, 2025, in a stream hosted by Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco. The extended cinematic trailer (over four and a half minutes) introduces the setting and the Dawnwalkers – essentially, powerful vampires – along with the protagonist, Coen, who becomes a Dawnwalker at the game's outset.

Witcher-esque Dark Fantasy

The Blood of Dawnwalker's dark fantasy setting, monsters, morally grey choices, and the tagline "the world needs what it fears" immediately evoke the Witcher series. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Blood and Wine expansion, with its vampires and challenging moral dilemmas, will likely find the premise captivating. The game's emphasis on player choice is reflected in its morality system, where Coen can either embrace his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or cling to his humanity.

A Persona-Inspired Twist

While sharing similarities with The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker innovates with its Persona-like time management system. Every quest consumes time, forcing players to prioritize. As co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explains, "There are multiple approaches to saving Coen’s family with no clear division between main and side quests; you decide on how you spend the time." This "narrative sandbox" design, where completing all quests in a single playthrough is impossible, encourages replayability and unique experiences.

Currently in development for PC and current-gen consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned as the first installment in a trilogy, published by Bandai Namco. While a release date remains unannounced, given its 2022 development start and AAA budget, a 2027 release or later seems probable. Gameplay footage is promised for Summer 2025.