MeinMMO editor Caro has already spent 4 hours in Rebel Wolves’ The Blood of Dawnwalker and had to seriously consider locking herself in the preview room just to keep playing. Unfortunately, that plan didn’t work out. However, she is writing this review with her first impressions.
Yes, unfortunately, I am no longer sitting in a dark vault in Mainz playing The Blood of Dawnwalker. However, I am now waiting for the debut game of a fresh studio that started a really ambitious project due to its reputation from former developers of The Witcher 3: A cinematic action RPG with open-world and a strong focus on narrative and player influence.
My expectations were high, and so was the fear: Damn, I hope it can deliver. And surprise: It could deliver.
As a fan of an exciting story, characters that you actually want to accompany on the journey, combat that is fun rather than frustrating, and dark vampire themes, I could say after the preview: The Blood of Dawnwalker tastes good. Very good even.
The setting and premise are too cool to resist
During the preview event, I spent 4 hours in the beta version of the game, which included the entire prologue but also the entry into the open world. Accordingly, I was able to test various features and content, including dialogues, cutscenes, missions, fights, the dumb concept of consequences for one’s own actions, and the first urgent thirst for blood, which is much more dangerous than I initially thought.
But let’s start with what stuck in my mind the most: the setting.
The Blood of Dawnwalker takes place in 14th century Europe, where the unrest caused by disease and insecurity brought vampires to power. They can heal all diseases with their blood, but, accordingly, also demand total subjugation of the people and regular blood donations.
And what happens if this “agreement” is not honored kicks off the entire story of the game.
I don’t want to give away too much to not ruin the shock moments for your own playthrough, but vampiric influence is not a sexy bloodsucking cosplay. It certainly offers a monstrously cool appearance, strong moves in combat, a stylish shadow jump, and a very useful healing method through roaming blood donors – but it corrupts.
Vampirism may seem like a blessing but it takes away your loved ones’ trust and your own free will. And no, you cannot just whimsically choose the “evil” solution … the choice is simply taken from you. If you are too thirsty, it doesn’t matter who stands before you. If you need blood, you take it. No matter if you fall apart crying afterwards.
Yes, becoming a Dawnwalker is hard … But it’s also so much fun
Coen, the protagonist from The Blood of Dawnwalker, must first familiarize himself with his new self after the prologue’s events. This comes with many risks due to his thirst for blood, but damn it … if you like vampires and enjoy living it up, you will love the nights.
Vampirism gets its own skill tree in the game among three skill trees (alongside swordsmanship and witchcraft), which provides Coen with buffs and new abilities both in and out of combat. Thus, you slowly grow from a confused vampiric spawn to a strong fighter.
The combat in The Blood of Dawnwalker was, to be honest with you, rather “unimportant” at first compared to role-playing elements and the story, but it quickly became one of the most enjoyable aspects of the game. It is not easy at all and requires a bit of practice at the beginning, but it just feels damn rewarding.
Whether you fight with a sword during the day or with your claws at night, the combat system is primarily focused on well-timed parries, where you not only have to pay attention to the right moment but also to the direction.
You can be attacked by several enemies from four different directions, and you need to parry them while dealing damage. In larger groups, this requires a good portion of concentration and multitasking ability, but in return, you get the coolness effect of a one-man army with vampire flair.
I had so much fun while playing and wanted to improve that I caught myself attacking way too large groups and too strong opponents just to practice the combat. I tried again and again and again and came a little further each time. The process was never frustrating for me but simply – although this word may be a bit broad – damned cool.
Here you have to parry in time and in the right direction.
A time limit that only adds to the immersion
Even if you want to help everyone during your journey like the noblest vampire in a sheep’s clothing, that won’t work out. In 30 days, Lord Brencis, the leader of the vampires, will hold a coronation ceremony. And in the process, your family might quickly be in danger. This means you don’t have unlimited time to pursue all people and tasks if you want to make the necessary preparations to save yourself and your loved ones.
The time limit in The Blood of Dawnwalker works in such a way that there isn’t a continuous timer running. Instead, the game operates in small time segments and a day-night cycle that allows a certain number of tasks.
When you start a mission that takes time, that is indicated by an hourglass symbol. Exploring in the open world, uncovering new places, and escalated conflicts with enemies are excluded from this timekeeping.
However, when it comes to whether you sacrifice your valuable time to help others or strive towards your own goal, that can really lead to difficult decisions.
This was already clear in the prologue, where I helped an elderly lady find a banner and promised a farmer to locate his brother. When a shepherd asked if I could look out for his pig, I had to decline. Because my last important task in the evening was to bring medicine to my mother, and that was indeed the top priority.
The first 4 hours were fun, but they tease even better things
The first 4 hours were more fun for me than I had expected in advance. But much more importantly: The themes the game touches on make me hungry for more.
The theme of vampires is not just that of a ruthless ruling class. They don’t just present themselves as saviors; they believe it themselves. Even in the prologue, the vampires hold a mass, a ritual like a twisted ceremony of Christianity, where the saviors of humanity drink the blood of their flock instead of vice versa. The saving hand did not sacrifice itself for its people; rather, the people sacrificed themselves for the preservation of the savior.
I believe the image of the inverted religion can lead to really exciting stories, encounters, and conflicts within the game.
But Coen’s story could also captivate me more than I initially thought. Very early on, one realizes that Coen’s family means everything to him. He is self-sacrificing and puts the welfare of his parents and siblings above his own, if he is able to do so in any way.
In an interview with Ariana Siarkiewicz, who works as a writer on The Blood of Dawnwalker, I realized what that means for him and his development. When asked if she would choose a more heroic path or one of vampiric corruption for Coen, she replied as follows:
I think his goal – to save his family – is a noble one, but it also brings with it a damn heavy responsibility.
If he is unable to let go even a little bit, it would ultimately make him a very unhappy person.
I think he has the right to think about himself too. Saving the family, of course, but maybe he shouldn’t be an absolutely self-sacrificing person.
And that immediately validates the use of the time limit, not just as a gameplay mechanic but as a storytelling instrument: Coen will never be able to please everyone. He will never be able to save everyone. And if he tries, there will be sacrifices.
I find this approach very exciting and look forward to the character development of a hero who only wants to be a big brother and would do anything to save them.
How could this go wrong?
Now I’m rambling about how The Blood of Dawnwalker could become one of the best games of the year. But how could everything possibly still go wrong?
The biggest hurdle of The Blood of Dawnwalker is also its greatest weakness: the high potential of the contributors who have already created hits and fan favorites like The Witcher 3.
This comparison cannot be overlooked and The Blood of Dawnwalker will be exposed to it, especially at the beginning.
What would make the game a disappointment for me would be absolute immersion breakers in the form of a lack of polishing. A game that captivates me with its story and entire world can quickly lose its magic if Coen suddenly gets stuck with his leg in a wooden plank and can barely save himself with a shaky shadow step. Yes, that did happen to me too.
However, this was a beta version. According to the developers at Rebel Wolves, they want to use the time until release to rid the final game of such bugs and to ship a smooth gaming experience without interruptions.
I also have to mention fairly: aside from the trip into the wooden plank and an animation hitch, the game ran smoothly for me and kept me willingly captivated. If it can still do that at release, I see nothing that could stand in the way of the success of The Blood of Dawnwalker.
My conclusion: If you like dark fantasy RPGs and generally have a weakness for monsters and bloodsuckers, you should mark September 3, 2026, in your calendar. The Blood of Dawnwalker is a game I have been looking forward to even more since the preview event, and I take full responsibility for every recommendation I make to friends and readers about The Blood of Dawnwalker.
I look forward to diving even deeper into the dictatorship of vampires and becoming ever more capable and powerful as Coen to save my family … and perhaps even find my own followers?
Your opinion is important to us!
Do you like the article? Then let us know!