Game overview
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a single-player open-world dark fantasy action RPG set in 14th-century Europe. Players take on the role of Coen, a Dawnwalker — the result of a failed vampire transformation — who exists as human during the day and vampire at night. The game is developed by Rebel Wolves and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It releases on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on September 3, 2026.
Gameplay
The day/night cycle defines two distinct gameplay loops, each with its own set of abilities and approaches.
- Daytime play centers on swordsmanship and Hex magic. Combat uses a directional blocking and attack system, requiring players to choose one of four directions to parry or strike.
- At night, vampiric powers become available. A Blood Hunger mechanic is active during this phase — if Coen's blood level drops too low, it can alter dialogue outcomes and NPC interactions.
- Certain vampire abilities are locked behind specific enemy types and can only be unlocked by drinking the blood of a vampire of the matching kind.
- A Focus mode allows Coen to examine the environment for clues, used during investigation and quest sequences.
Time and narrative structure
The main quest operates within a 30-day in-game time limit.
- Time advances only through major actions such as completing quest objectives, upgrading abilities, or certain dialogue choices. Open-world exploration does not consume time.
- Players are informed of the time cost before committing to an activity.
- Running out of time does not end the game outright — it leads to story consequences tied to Coen's family.
- The final objective can be attempted at any point, even before the player is fully prepared.
- Estimated playtime for a full run is 55 to 70 hours based on developer playtests.
World and consequences
The game takes place across Vale Sangora, a region set in the Carpathian Mountains. Player actions shape both the story and the open world.
- Raising Infamy — through actions such as clearing enemy camps or confronting vampires — triggers increasingly hostile Edicts, regional laws that introduce elite hunters and alter how the world responds to Coen.
- Most quests can be approached during either day or night, leading to different encounters and outcomes depending on the chosen time.
- NPCs, including named characters, can be killed or consumed, which may change the course of the story.
- Alliances can be formed or broken; the game supports multiple endings.