Vampires are everywhere now! The Blood of Dawnwalker, an action-RPG developed by Rebel Wolves and published by Bandai Namco, is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series since September 3, 2026. An open-world dive into an alternate 14th century ruled by vampires. Ready to sink your fangs in?
And what if the 14th century belonged to vampires? The Blood of Dawnwalker, an action-RPGdark fantasy open world, developed by Rebel Wolves and published by Bandai Namco, will launch on September 3, 2026 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series. The game plunges players into an alternate medieval Europe, where the feudal order buckles beneath a new vampiric dominion and where the choices you make directly shape the narrative.
"In a land devastated by bloody conflict, the Black Death comes for the survivors. In the aftermath of disasters that have claimed thousands of victims, humanity struggles to survive. A moment of weakness... That's all they needed. Vampires jump at the chance. They emerge from the shadows to seize what has eluded them for centuries: freedom and the power it brings. Other creatures of the night follow suit. Legends become reality and change the course of history. You play the role of Coen, a young man transformed into a Penumbral: neither quite human nor quite vampire, between the world of day and the kingdom of night. Defend your humanity or drape yourself in your cursed powers to save your family. Whatever your choice, the question remains: are you willing to pay with your soul for the salvation of your loved ones?
Developed under Unreal Engine 5, The Blood of Dawnwalker tells the story of Coen, a young man who has become a Dawnwalker, a creature oscillating between humanity and vampirism. Players will have 30 days and 30 nights to decide the fate of their family, or turn to a quest for vengeance. "Inspired by classic RPGs, we want players to feel a sense of urgency in an open-world game," explains Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, co-founder of Rebel Wolves and director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, in a statement. Each quest influences the time available, offering a unique experience with each playthrough thanks to what the team calls a "narrative sandbox".
The game's universe, set in 14th-century Europe ravaged by the Black Death and bloody conflicts, is a striking one, as its new trailer shows. The opening cinematic, set two years before the events of the game, introduces Coen, his sister Lunka, and the vampire lord Brencis. This context highlights the moral dilemmas and gameplay mechanics based on the passage from day to night, offering varied abilities and scenarios depending on the moment.
Launch trailer for The Blood of Dawnwalker:
With its dynamic storytelling and meaningful choices, The Blood of Dawnwalker promises a genuinely unique experience in the action-RPG sphere. The trailer unveiled on April 28, 2026 offers a clearer sense of this ambition, introducing several characters Coen will encounter on his journey, from potential allies to key adversaries. The Road to Launch presentation also revealed new locations in Val Sangora, a mysterious region in the Carpathians, as well as over ten minutes of PC gameplay, highlighting exploration that is closely tied to the narrative, hidden secrets, and the consequences of the player's actions.
The event also gave Rebel Wolves the floor to outline the behind-the-scenes work on development, with contributions from several team members and a making-of video focused on the motion capture of Jan Błachowicz, former UFC champion, for the character Bakir. Pre-orders for The Blood of Dawnwalker are now open on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series, with multiple editions announced, including an Eclipse Edition featuring digital bonuses and a limited Collector's Edition.
A game we got to test for about 4 hours during a preview. We kick off right from the start (you’ll see the same thing when you begin the game) with the story, plus a small tutorial to learn the basics. Once you’ve got it, you’re dropped into a fairly long narrative. Expect about four hours to reach the end of the introduction.
Our takeaway :
Without drawing direct comparisons, The Blood of Dawnwalker gave us strong vibes of a certain The Witcher III... not surprising, given the devs are former CD Projekt staff who worked on the 2015 GOTY. And the game’s standout feature is its diary-like structure: you have 30 in-game days to complete your mission, no more, no less. A constant sense of urgency that nudges you to prioritize, while ticking clock constraints push you to think carefully. The catch: focusing on some missions can cause others to slip away (time is against you, you know…), and you may not be able to tackle those late quests later. Every choice ripples through the story: kill an important NPC for a quest, and you won’t be able to take the “royal voice” route to succeed, forcing you to improvise. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible. Note that story actions earn one or more “hourglasses,” which track time spent once a quest is resolved.
Two or three things to know before you dive in: combat can be tailored to your playstyle. You have two modes to choose from: traditional combat or directional combat. The former drains more stamina, while the latter grants certain advantages if you execute actions well. Pick what suits you, and you can switch modes at any time in the settings. On the fighting front, combat is fairly dense in both approach and execution. It will take you a short acclimation period for everything to click and feel fluid.
Visually, the game looks pretty striking in its cutscenes (we played on PC at 60FPS/4K). As for the gameplay itself, the title is still a work in progress graphically, so we won’t dig into specifics, but what we did see is promising.
A few extra tips: watch out for certain abilities that unlock before certain times of day (based on how much time has passed). Also pay attention to what characters tell you during quests—the information you gain can be crucial for solving them (think quiz-style checks you must pass, or knowing exact quantities to brew a potion, etc.). And we can’t overemphasize the value of brushing up on your Latin; a NPC even offers lessons during the prologue, which could come in handy.
Note that the controls aren’t always silky smooth, notably when drawing and stowing your sword or when drinking a victim’s blood (not possible during combat to regain health). Restoring health in human form isn’t entirely clear, either. Beyond that, the core gameplay is solid and substantial. Our advice: don’t rush, and manage the flow of time carefully. Keep an eye on your stamina gauge as well. There you have it—roughly everything you need to know… now go form your own opinion when it releases.
