The Blood of Dawnwalker is developer Rebel Wolves' debut game, and the team of former CD Projekt Red developers have found a great solution to The Witcher 3's side quest problem. CD Projekt Red really did something special with The Witcher 3and the game's side quests are still regarded as some of the best ever in the RPG genre. But they can sometimes actually be too good and distract players from the main goal, and The Blood of Dawnwalker has a clever way to combat this.
Even over a decade later, The Witcher 3 side quests are praised for their depth and compelling stories. Every corner of the game can lead Geralt on a path that evolves into a fascinating and surprisingly well-written minor story that is embedded in the larger story. Many action RPGs have struggled to compete with The Witcher 3 since launch, but The Blood of Dawnwalker don't have to. Instead, side quests turn into a limited resource that helps propel players along the path of the main story.
The Witcher 3's wonderful list of side quests may leave fans lost, but The Blood of Dawnwalker keeps players coming
Those who hoped for it The Blood of Dawnwalker was more like The Witcher 3 in a vampire skin might be disappointed to hear that the former doesn't have the same approach to side quests, but that's one of the main features that will really set it apart. Instead of letting players check out any side quest they want, The Blood of Dawnwalkers history runs on a 30-day timer. Protagonist Coen will have 30 in-game days to save his family, and each mission he takes on along the way takes time off the ticking clock. It sounds limiting at first, but it's actually a stroke of genius on Rebel Wolves' part.
The Blood of Dawnwalker's 30-day timer brings serious stakes to the Coens' choices
Some of the best side quests in The Witcher 3 had surprising results, however The Blood of Dawnwalker Turning side quests into a resource makes a player's choice even more important. It turns choice-based gameplay on its head, and it forces players to fully accept their actions and how they affect the overall story.
Many action RPGs have struggled to compete with The Witcher 3 since launch, but The Blood of Dawnwalker don't have to.
Taking on certain side quests affects Coen's journey in a big way, while other optional quests are less so. One good example in particular comes from GameRant's official The Blood of Dawnalker review. During the story, there is a quest where Coen must find herbs to make medicine for his sick mother, but remembering the ingredients in the wrong order will result in a tainted salve, which will actually kill his mother instead of helping her.
The Blood of Dawnwalkers gameplay takes a big risk with this feature, but it has the potential to be one of the key aspects that make it a game worth paying attention to. Some players may be worried about the anxiety that an in-game timer can create, but the good news is that it ultimately makes room for multiple playthroughs.
The Blood of Dawnwalker's 30-day timer gives replayability a new meaning
Since Coen must be strategic with each side mission he embarks on, this means that the outcome of his story will be different each time. Each playthrough provides new paths to take, and it's a really fun way to inspire players to play the game multiple times and experiment with different outcomes. When it comes to The Witcher 3s story, players can spend a wild number of hours simply exploring before getting to the actual meat of the larger story.
The Blood of Dawnwalker's approach to side quests won't appeal to all Witcher 3 fans, but that's a good thing
There are some Witcher 3 fans who probably won't mess with The Blood of Dawnwalkers time limit the same way they did with the previous side quests, and that's totally fine. Explore The Witcher 3s world and getting lost in the different stories Geralt is a part of is an essential part of the experience. The Blood of Dawnwalker must stand on its own though. Both can be story driven open world games, but The Blood of Dawnwalker simply emphasizes story over exploration.
Even if The Blood of Dawnwalker comes from developers who worked on The Witcher 3it is important for the game to have its own unique identity. Another game that just feels like one Witcher 3 clone doesn't push the envelope in any meaningful way. Developers need to take risks and experiment with innovative gameplay, and that's exactly what Rebel Wolves is doing. If The Blood of Dawnwalkers deadline is handled well, then it could help put Rebel Wolves on the map as one of the top upcoming studios to keep an eye on.
The Blood of Dawnwalker also works on an interesting day and night system. Since Coen is a human/vampire hybrid, his gameplay reflects these different sides depending on whether you play during the day or night cycle. During the day, Coen doesn't have his vampire strength, so this time is best suited for sword fighting and interacting with NPCs. But the night unlocks Coen's vampiric abilities, making the battles much more intense and dynamic.
The wait for The Blood of Dawnwalker will still take a little longer, but the good news is that it's one of the many neat games that will end the summer and ring in the fall. There are an unexpected number of games coming out in September, and The Blood of Dawnwalker can hopefully compete with some of the big titles that will also launch in the same month. The Rebel Wolves first game must go up against games that Marvel's Wolverine, Control resonantand Silent Hill: Townfall. It's a stacked lineup, though The Blood of Dawnwalkers unique take on vampire lore and compelling gameplay features give it a real fighting chance. September could turn out to be a fun underdog story, but only time will tell.
- Released
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September 3, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content
- Developer
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Rebel Wolves
