Rebel Wolves’ The Blood of Dawnwalker, the new dark‑fantasy action RPG from former CD Projekt Red talent, has just dropped an impressive 11‑minute gameplay demo. Serving as an in‑depth preview of the game’s core systems and world, the demo invites players into the shadowy realm of Coen — the half‑vampire “Dawnwalker” caught between humanity and monstrosity. Powered by Unreal Engine 5 and set in a 14th‑century Europe ravaged by plague and war, this ambitious single‑player title looks poised to capture the hearts of fans craving narrative depth, dynamic combat, and moral tension.
Watch the Gameplay Demo
1. The World and Narrative
Vale Sangora's Gothic Majesty
The setting is a fictional kingdom nestled in the Carpathians, amid political chaos and the grip of the Black Death. Vampires, seeing humanity's weakness, have risen from the shadows to seize control — ruling with an iron grip and enforcing a sinister "blood tax" on mortals.
Coen’s 30‑Day Deadline
Coen, newly transformed into a Dawnwalker, faces a race against time. He has exactly 30 days and nights to rescue his sister Lunka — who has fallen prey to plague symptoms — or swear vengeance upon his sire and the vampire hierarchy. This time constraint adds narrative urgency and emphasizes that every decision consumes precious moments — from narrative choices to side content.
Narrative Sandbox
Rather than forcing a single story path, Rebel Wolves embraces a 'narrative sandbox' philosophy. You chart Coen's course — shaping his alliances, moral code, and ultimate fate while knowing you can’t do everything in one playthrough.
2. Core Mechanics & Systems
A. Time as a Mechanic
Time in Dawnwalker doesn’t pass with movement or exploration — only quest progression advances the clock. With 30 real in‑game days and nights to navigate, every mission matters.
B. Duality: Day vs Night
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Day brings a more human side: ritual magic, stealth, influencing NPCs, forging alliances, and gathering intel.
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Night unleashes vampiric power: red mist cloaks, enhanced stamina, supersonic movement, and gruesome blood magic — especially visceral in combat.
Switching times isn’t just aesthetic — it reshapes your abilities and approaches to obstacles.
C. Skill Trees & Progression
Players customize Coen through three distinct trees:
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Human
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Vampiric
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Hybrid
Each offers unique perks like teleports, wall‑running, toughened melee, or stealth. Vampiric powers consume health, encouraging balanced play.
D. Combat Evolution
The demo presented brutal and dynamic combat:
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Mid‑range swordplay with parries and counters.
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Stealth assassinations and burst kills under cover.
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Vampiric maneuvers like shadow strike, claw attacks, and teleportation.
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Enemy variety includes humans and supernatural foes, culminating in a dramatic boss fight.
E. Stealth, Subterfuge & Choice
Not all encounters need swords. Daytime stealth allows infiltration, blood‑supply sabotage, or non‑lethal feeding on animals to manage your hunger meter.
F. Hunger, Humanity, & Consequences
Coen’s vampiric thirst impacts NPC interactions and moral dynamics. Feeding on animals keeps you humane; feeding on people can unlock darker powers — at ethical costs .
3. Exploration & World Structure
While expansive, the map isn't a limitless sandbox. It focuses on a dense, region‑sized open-world zone — similar in scale to God of War or Fallen Order — supporting depth over breadth .
You'll traverse:
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Medieval towns
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Plague‑stricken villages
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Cursed forests
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Castle ruins
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Vampire strongholds
Traversal is enhanced by verticality — rooftops, wall‑runs, and hidden passages, giving it more in‑world flow than typical RPGs.
Environment plays a functional role: day‑night infiltration, ambush setups, quest context, and exploring story clues.
4. Story, Characters & NPCs
Coen & Lunka
Your central motivation is rescuing Lunka, whose illness and potential transformation drive Coen’s emotional stakes.
Brencis & Vampire Factions
Antagonist Brencis, the formidable vampire lord enforcing the blood tax, looms large. Rebel Wolves signals a world full of rival vampire houses and conflicted NPCs.
Sidequests & Story Arcs
Expect multiple resolutions: sabotage a blood delivery route, broker alliances with human resistors, or embrace darker motives. The story is designed to feel like your own .
5. Presentation & Polish
Visual Fidelity
Unreal Engine 5 delivers lush, moody vistas — from misty Carpathian forests to plague‑ridden hamlets — with dynamic lighting emphasizing horror and beauty.
Sound Design & Music
While we haven’t heard full score, the demo teases ambient dread: echoing footsteps, subtle whispers, tense orchestration — fitting for a gothic horror voyage.
Developer Insights
Co‑founder and director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, fresh off Witcher 3, emphasized the narrative flexibility and consequences of time, teasing more developer commentary during the June 21 stream.
6. What’s Next & Release Info
Demo & Stream Highlights
The full demo provides about 20 minutes of structured gameplay with developer guidance and combat digressions . The official stream on June 21 also promised around 15 minutes of fresh content and mechanics discussion.
2026 Launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series
Targeted release in 2026 across major platforms. No exact date yet, but hope remains high.
7. Final Thoughts
The Blood of Dawnwalker blends gothic aesthetics, time‑bound tension, and dual‑mode gameplay to forge an experience that feels both fresh and familiar. The demo doesn’t overpromise – it delivers:
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High‑stakes narrative: Save your family or turn your back on humanity.
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Dual gameplay systems: Stealth‑oriented daytime vs raw vampiric nighttime.
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Sandbox storytelling: Structured outcomes since quests eat real time.
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Compact yet immersive world: Dense with detail, verticality, and lore.
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Veteran craftsmanship: Led by ex‑Witcher devs, mechanics echo polish and ambition.
For RPG enthusiasts craving tension‑driven story, visceral combat, and moral complexity, Dawnwalker looks like a beast to watch. While it’s early days, the demo makes a compelling case: in a world ruled by blood, your choices shape not just Coen’s fate — but the very soul of humanity.
Stay tuned to the official Twitch stream for June 21. Expect even deeper exploration of customization systems, boss encounters, world events — and perhaps what it truly means to walk the line between man and monster.
I Can’t Wait to Play as a Vampire in Blood of the Dawnwalker
I don’t usually get hyped this early for games, but Blood of the Dawnwalker is different. The moment I saw the first teaser — those glowing crimson eyes, the gothic architecture drenched in moonlight, and that haunting soundtrack — I knew this was something special. I’ve always wanted to play as a proper vampire in a modern game, not the watered-down kind, but the true predator of the night. And finally, it looks like we’re getting it.
There’s something incredibly powerful about the fantasy of being a vampire. The strength, the speed, the immortality… but also the burden. Blood of the Dawnwalker looks like it’s leaning fully into that duality. You’re not just a bloodthirsty monster — you’re a cursed soul trying to survive in a world that fears you. And that makes the experience all the more personal.
From what I’ve seen so far, the game seems to blend stealth, action, and role-playing in a dark and atmospheric setting. Think Vampyr meets Dishonored, with a little Legacy of Kain flair. The environments are dense and dripping with detail — narrow alleyways, candlelit cathedrals, rain-slick rooftops — all perfect hunting grounds. As someone who loves stalking from the shadows and striking when the moment is right, this game looks like a dream come true.
But it’s not just about feeding. What excites me most is the idea that you can embrace or resist your inner monster. Do you become the savior of the cursed, protecting mortals from worse threats? Or do you fully embrace the night, letting your hunger drive your actions? That kind of moral ambiguity is where games thrive — where I thrive as a player. Every decision, every bite, every life taken or spared… it matters.
The combat also looks brutal and elegant at the same time. We're talking claws, blades, vampiric powers, and maybe even transformations. Dashing through enemies, draining them mid-fight, vanishing into a cloud of bats — it looks cinematic but still hands-on, which is a perfect blend for me. I want to feel powerful, but I also want to be challenged to master my skills.
And the story? It already feels heavy with lore. The world of Blood of the Dawnwalker is filled with ancient vampire clans, secret orders of vampire hunters, and mysterious relics from a forgotten war between light and dark. It’s the kind of universe that begs to be explored slowly, where every alley hides a secret and every choice leads to a consequence. I can imagine spending hours just reading journal entries, talking to NPCs, and uncovering the truth about my cursed lineage.
There’s something beautifully tragic about it all, too. As a vampire, you're powerful, yes — but also forever alone, forever hunted. You watch the world change while you remain the same. That melancholic tone, that blend of horror and beauty, is what truly draws me in. It’s not just action for the sake of action. It’s storytelling with teeth.
Honestly, I’ve waited a long time for a game like this. One that doesn’t just throw a vampire skin on a generic action game, but builds a whole experience around what it means to be a vampire. Blood of the Dawnwalker feels like it understands that fantasy on a deep level — and is going to let us live it in full.
I’m ready to slip into the shadows, embrace the hunger, and carve my legend in blood.
Let the hunt begin.
In Conclusion
At 11 minutes long, the Blood of Dawnwalker demo isn’t just a technical showcase — it’s a bold narrative promise. By weaving together time pressure, vampiric duality, and RPG depth, Rebel Wolves presents a dark fantasy ripe with potential. If you enjoy character‑driven choice, stealth‑meets‑combat, and morally gray storytelling, this is definitely one to watch through 2026 and beyond.
Let me know if you'd like a breakdown of specific systems, lore theories, or a comparison with other vampire RPGs!
