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. A unique twist is the inclusion of Persona-like time management mechanics.

The trailer, primarily pre-rendered but with brief gameplay snippets, highlights the game's Witcher-esque atmosphere. Announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, the game was officially revealed as The Blood of Dawnwalker on January 13, 2025, via a Bandai Namco stream showcasing a four-and-a-half-minute cinematic trailer. The trailer introduces Coen, the protagonist, who becomes a Dawnwalker – essentially, a powerful vampire – at the game's outset.

Echoes of The Witcher and Persona

The Blood of Dawnwalker's dark fantasy setting, monsters, morally gray choices, and the tagline "the world needs what it fears" strongly evoke The Witcher series, particularly The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Blood and Wine expansion. Players face difficult decisions, choosing whether Coen embraces his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or clings to his humanity. This morality system is central to the narrative.

However, the game innovates by incorporating Persona-style time management. Every quest consumes time, with no clear distinction between main and side quests. As co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz explains, players determine how they spend their time, creating a "narrative sandbox" where completing everything in one playthrough is impossible, encouraging replayability.

Development and Release

Currently in development for PC and current-gen consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned as the first in a trilogy. Published by Bandai Namco, the game, with its AAA budget and 2022 development start, is unlikely to launch before 2027. A gameplay reveal is promised for Summer 2025.