New RPG Is Like The Witcher Meets Persona

Rebel Wolves' The Blood of Dawnwalker: A Cinematic Reveal and a Blend of Witcher and Persona Influences

Rebel Wolves, a studio comprised of former CD Projekt Red developers, unveiled a cinematic trailer for their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker. The trailer, primarily pre-rendered but with brief gameplay glimpses, showcases a dark fantasy open-world RPG heavily reminiscent of The Witcher, featuring morally gray choices and an outcast protagonist. A unique twist, however, is the inclusion of Persona-like time management mechanics.

Initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, the game was further revealed on January 13, 2025, in a stream hosted by Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco. The over four-and-a-half-minute trailer introduces the Dawnwalkers – essentially enhanced vampires – and the protagonist, Coen, who becomes one at the game's outset.

Witcher-esque Dark Fantasy

The Blood of Dawnwalker's dark fantasy setting, monsters, and morally ambiguous choices immediately evoke The Witcher series, even without its CDPR lineage. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its vampire elements and complex decisions, will find the premise particularly appealing. The game's morality system allows players to choose whether Coen embraces his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or clings to his humanity.

A Narrative Sandbox with Persona-Inspired Time Management

While echoing The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker innovates with Persona-style time management. Every quest consumes time, forcing players to prioritize tasks. 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 everything in one playthrough is impossible, is intended to foster 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 of a trilogy. While a release date remains unannounced, given its 2022 development start and AAA budget, a 2027 release or later seems plausible. Rebel Wolves promises a gameplay reveal in Summer 2025.