A new 20-minute gameplay demo for upcoming open-world RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker suggests that developer Rebel Wolves has the magic touch to incorporate the best thing about The Witcher 3. The mere idea of a new game from former CD Projekt Red devs that worked on The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077 is enough to perk up my ears, but while that legacy is valuable, the proof doesn't come until the final product arrives. Fortunately, this extended demonstration of The Blood of Dawnwalker's dynamic and reactive quest system is exactly what I was hoping to see.
For all the many things that make The Witcher 3 rank so highly among our best RPGs, they're underpinned by its incredible mission lineup. Even the smallest side quest feels worth your time to pursue, with lots of them shifting perspective in response to your past actions, and many innocuous-looking asides can suddenly open up fresh entryways into important parts of the main narrative. The Blood of Dawnwalker appears to take this to another level, stripping away the distinction between core and optional objectives entirely.
As a Dawnwalker himself, protagonist Coen's approach to activities can shift dramatically between the daytime, where he walks the streets in human form, and nightfall, when he's able to slink about as a vampire, empowered and feared in equal measure. His main objective is to rescue his family, who are imprisoned in a castle, before their time runs out. You can attempt this at any time, design director Daniel Sadowski explains, but you might be better served by honing your skills, improving your gear, and gathering allies before you storm the gates.
Other than that central objective, Sadowski notes that "there's no difference between main quests and side quests" in Dawnwalker, "just different stories that you weave together into your own unique adventure." The opportunity we're shown here takes Coen to investigate the Svartrau Cathedral, and arriving during the day makes that a simple process. He can walk straight in the door, where he sits down and observes a blood baptism taking place. From there, he's pulled into a conversation with Florin, the monk who carried out the service.
This approach makes questioning visitors straightforward, but it leaves large sections of the building out of Coen's reach. Choosing to instead take a nighttime sojourn means the cathedral gates are locked and guarded, but allows Coen to employ his teleport-like Shadow Step ability, or Plane Shift, which allows him to walk on walls and ceilings with ease. This grants him access to the upper levels, where he notes that the building's old frescos are seemingly being covered up. It also reveals a ritual being carried out by Xanthe, a elderly and powerful vampire.
While Coen can watch events play out from the shadows, a slight misstep and Xanthe's sharp senses will catch him. In the demonstration, this rapidly escalates into a fight; one that proves very difficult, especially given her ability to use Boiling Blood to place a curse on Coen that, once it runs out, causes him to explode in a grim shower of crimson. "Defeating her right here, right now is very much possible, but it would be hellishly difficult," Sadowski remarks, calling it "a fun challenge for hardcore players." Given Xanthe's status, however, perhaps you'd be better served in the long run by keeping her alive and learning more about her.
While Coen's vampiric skills are potent (he can also fight with vicious claw strikes at night, although his sword is still an option), they naturally come at a cost. As a vampire, your health is tied to your hunger, and when dusk falls you need to feed. Tend to it quickly and you can sip just enough from your chosen victim to leave them temporarily unconscious, or even drink from an animal instead. Wait too long, and you might lose control and drain an important character to a fatal extent, removing them from the story altogether.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is set to launch sometime in 2026. Keep an eye on our guide as The Blood of Dawnwalker release date closes in if you want to be kept up with all the details and new reveals in the meantime.
If you can't wait until then to sink your teeth into something juicy, we've got the best vampire games in 2025, along with our pick of the best open-world games on PC right now.
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