New RPG Is Like The Witcher Meets 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 grey choices, and a compelling outcast protagonist. Unique to the genre, it also incorporates Persona-like time management mechanics.

The recently released trailer, primarily pre-rendered cinematic footage with brief gameplay glimpses, highlights the game's Witcher-esque qualities alongside its Persona-inspired elements. Initially announced in January 2024 as Dawnwalker, the game was officially revealed as The Blood of Dawnwalker on January 13, 2025, during a livestream hosted by Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco. The extended trailer (over four and a half minutes) introduces the setting and the Dawnwalkers – powerful beings akin to vampires – and protagonist Coen, who becomes a Dawnwalker at the game's outset.

Echoes of The Witcher

The Blood of Dawnwalker's dark fantasy setting, monstrous creatures, morally ambiguous choices, and the tagline "the world needs what it fears" strongly evoke the Witcher series, even independent of its developer lineage. Fans of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's "Blood and Wine" expansion, with its vampires and challenging moral dilemmas, will find the premise particularly appealing. The game's morality system allows Coen to either embrace his Dawnwalker powers to save his family or retain his humanity, significantly impacting the narrative.

A Persona-Inspired Twist

While sharing similarities with The Witcher, The Blood of Dawnwalker innovates by integrating Persona-style time management. Every quest consumes time, forcing players to prioritize their actions. 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" approach, where completing all quests in a single playthrough is impossible, promotes 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, published by Bandai Namco. 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 trailer in Summer 2025.