JRPG Draws Inspiration from Witcher, 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 game, however, is the integration of Persona-like time management mechanics.

The trailer, primarily pre-rendered cinematic footage with brief gameplay glimpses, highlights the game's Witcher-esque elements. Initially announced as Dawnwalker in January 2024, the game was officially revealed as The Blood of Dawnwalker on January 13th, 2025, in a stream hosted by Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco. The extended trailer introduces the Dawnwalkers (powerful vampires) and Coen, the protagonist who becomes one at the game's outset.

Echoes of The Witcher, a Twist from Persona

The Blood of Dawnwalker's dark fantasy setting, monsters, and morally gray choices immediately evoke The Witcher series. The tagline, "the world needs what it fears," further solidifies this comparison. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Blood and Wine expansion, with its vampires and difficult choices, will likely find the premise intriguing. The game's morality system allows Coen to either embrace his Dawnwalker nature or cling to his humanity, significantly impacting the narrative.

While drawing inspiration from The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker innovates with Persona-style time management. Every quest consumes time, forcing players to prioritize tasks. As stated by Rebel Wolves co-founder and game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, "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" approach, where completing all quests in a single playthrough is impossible, encourages replayability and ensures unique experiences.

Development and Release

Currently in development for PC and current-gen consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), The Blood of Dawnwalker is planned as the first installment in a trilogy. While a concrete release date remains elusive, given its 2022 development start, AAA budget, and projected gameplay reveal in Summer 2025, a 2027 release or later is anticipated.