Blood of Dawnwalker takes 50 to 70 hours to complete
Blood of Dawnwalker is the debut dark fantasy RPG from Rebel Wolves, featuring a gameplay length of 50 to 70 hours. Developers have noted that this range represents the time spent completing the game, with players rushing through potentially finishing it quicker. Multiple endings based on player choices encourage replayability, although specifics about a new game+ option remain unconfirmed.
Quick Facts — Blood of Dawnwalker
| Developer | Rebel Wolves |
|---|---|
| Platform(s) | PS5, Xbox Series X, PC |
| Release Date | September 3 |
| Genre | Action RPG |
Time only moves forward when you choose
In a departure from traditional open-world designs, Blood of Dawnwalker allows time to progress only when players make specific choices. Activities that advance time display an hourglass icon, indicating the time cost of each action. This design alleviates the anxiety of a ticking clock, as seen in titles like The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, allowing players to explore at their own pace while still facing trade-offs in gameplay.
Yes, there’s a Blink ability
The game features a teleportation mechanic called Shadow Step, reminiscent of Dishonored's Blink ability. This skill lets players access hard-to-reach areas or evade danger while in vampire form. Players can also walk up and down walls, adding depth to exploration and tactical movement.
You’ll accidentally eat NPCs if you get too weak
Blood Hunger is a mechanic that activates when the player’s health falls below a certain threshold, resulting in bizarre dialogue interactions. When Coen's hunger overwhelms him, players face an option to “give in to hunger,” leading to the consumption of NPCs, including quest givers. This unique twist on survival elements adds tension to interactions and gameplay choices.
Detective mode returns
Players will find a focus mode that allows Coen to uncover hidden clues in the environment, echoing features from titles like Batman: Arkham Asylum and The Witcher 3. This mechanic aids in solving puzzles and navigating quests, enhancing the investigative aspects of the game.
The skill tree is split between daytime and nighttime powers
Blood of Dawnwalker features a unique skill tree system that separates powers into daytime and nighttime categories. Players can develop witchcraft abilities for daylight and vampiric powers for night, alongside a combat branch applicable in both. Combat relies on directional strikes, requiring players to maneuver effectively to break through enemy defenses.
There’s a weather system…
The game includes a weather system, though details about its mechanics remain largely undisclosed. Developers hint that weather conditions may influence quests and secrets, inviting players to explore its implications during gameplay.
Dawnwalker is being developed by a big but not huge team
Approximately 160 people are working on Blood of Dawnwalker, a sizable team for an indie project but still less than the vast teams behind major AAA titles. This balance allows for a focused development approach while leveraging substantial resources.
Some serious PC spec requirements
To run Blood of Dawnwalker effectively, players will need an Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series graphics card for anything beyond the lowest settings. Achieving 60fps at 1080p on high settings requires at least a 5060 card equivalent. For maximum settings in native 4K at 60fps, an RTX 5090 is necessary, highlighting the game’s demanding technical requirements.