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. This open-world RPG, reminiscent of The Witcher, features a dark fantasy setting, morally ambiguous choices, and a compelling outcast protagonist. Unique to the genre, it also incorporates Persona-like time management mechanics.

The recently released trailer, a blend of pre-rendered cutscenes and brief gameplay snippets, highlights the game's Witcher-esque atmosphere. Initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, the game was officially revealed as The Blood of Dawnwalker on January 13, 2025, during a stream hosted by Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco. The extended cinematic trailer (over four and a half minutes) introduces Coen, the protagonist, who becomes a Dawnwalker—essentially, a powerful vampire—at the game's outset.

Echoes of The Witcher

The dark fantasy backdrop, monstrous creatures, and morally gray choices strongly evoke the Witcher series, even without the CDPR lineage. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its vampire-centric storyline and challenging decisions, will likely find the premise captivating. Coen's journey presents a significant moral dilemma: embrace his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or cling to his humanity.

A Persona-Inspired Twist

Beyond its Witcher similarities, The Blood of Dawnwalker innovates with Persona-style time management. Every quest consumes time, creating a "narrative sandbox" where players must prioritize their actions. Co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explains that multiple approaches exist to saving Coen's family, blurring the lines between main and side quests. This design choice fosters replayability, ensuring each playthrough offers a unique experience. Completing every quest in a single run is impossible by design.

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