At Gamescom 2025, visitors were able to get their first glimpse of The Blood of Dawnwalker throw, the new action RPG from Rebel Wolves. The studio, consisting of former developers of Witcher-Franchise, presented playable scenes on the show floor that gave a glimpse into Coen's dark world in 14th-century Europe, including Gothic cities, gloomy alleys and monsters lurking in the shadows.
Coen, the vampire hero in the day and night cycle
The demo scenes shown depicted Coen with several unlocked abilities. By day, he acts more human, using swords, daggers, and classic RPG options. At night, he transforms into a vampiric form, climbing across rooftops and attacking enemies with claws and teeth. This duality lends the game visual and gameplay depth and makes Coen a memorable character, even in the short showroom sessions.
The day-night cycle was clearly evident: during the day, tactical and investigative approaches are required, while at night the focus shifts to direct combat and vampire abilities. The scenes shown illustrate how different approaches are possible within the same mission without requiring players to completely replay the world. The Blood of Dawnwalker The clock is ticking for Coen. He has 30 days to save his family. The unique aspect is that the countdown... only runs on completed questswhere every decision takes time and forces planning. A mechanic that players might reject.
Combat and gameplay mechanics
The demo gave a good impression of the combat system: dynamic, skill-based, and tactically focused. Enemies can be targeted, defenses must be adjusted, and hits feel noticeably weighty. Even minor visual quirks – like a head reacting unusually when knocked down – hardly detract from the overall impression.
The balance between exploration and combat is particularly interesting. The vertical levels allow for different approaches, while the camera options provided offer a better overview. This makes the world feel organic both in terms of gameplay and visuals.
Coen's mission—saving his family—forms the narrative backbone. The scenes shown introduce early elements of vampire mythology: citizens pay tribute in the form of blood for healing and protection. Dialogues and clues are organically distributed, similar to classic role-playing games, without feeling cluttered. A hinted-at boss fight against Mihai, a trapped soul from the past, demonstrates that the developers are focusing on balanced encounters where Coen's abilities are meaningfully utilized.
Technical impressions
The showfloor demo ran smoothly, and the animations and sound were well-implemented. The balance of the combat and the audio feedback felt appropriate. Overall, the game conveys the impression of a living world where action and story go hand in hand, even if this is only a glimpse of the final version.
Comparisons are inevitable. The Witcher to pull. The interface, combat mechanics, and music feel familiar – no wonder, given that it was developed by a studio with former CDPR developers. At the same time, it brings The Blood of Dawnwalker It incorporates its own ideas. The day/night cycle, vampiric powers, and vertical level designs feel fresh and exciting. Based on the demo shown, the game could become a serious alternative for fans of narrative-driven action RPGs. It's clear that Rebel Wolves knows the strengths of past games while simultaneously adding its own unique touches.
The Gamescom showfloor demo from The Blood of Dawnwalker It makes you want more. Coen's duality, the tactical combat, and the dense, atmospheric world promise an action RPG that will appeal to fans of The Witcher It should appeal to both existing and new players. Whether the game can live up to its potential in its final release in 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC remains to be seen – however, the initial impressions are promising.
