The Blood of Dawnwalker | Review Thread
Game Information
Game Title: The Blood of Dawnwalker
Platforms:
- PC (Sep 3, 2026)
- PlayStation 5 (Sep 3, 2026)
- Xbox Series X/S (Sep 3, 2026)
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 84 average - 87% recommended - 38 reviews
Critic Reviews
AltChar - Semir Omerovic - 7 / 10
Sharp writing, forgettable combat: The Blood of Dawnwalker is a solid vampiric RPG worth playing for its story and quests alone, if you can stomach the gameplay jank.
Atarita - Atakan Gümrükçüoğlu - Turkish - 86 / 100
The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a captivating RPG experience with its rich atmosphere, unique mechanics built around the day-night cycle, and a freeform quest structure in which player choices shape the course of fate.
Bazimag - Hamidreza Ghaneei - Persian - 8.1 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is by no means a flawless experience, but the developers’ ambition in storytelling and in creating a world that responds meaningfully to the player’s choices has ensured that its gameplay shortcomings do not overshadow the overall experience. With its debut title, Rebel Wolves has shown that it has plenty to say, and one can only hope that some of this game’s shortcomings will be addressed in future installments.
But Why Tho? - Michael Murphy - 9 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a fantastic RPG worthy of diving and sinking your fangs into again and again.
Capsule Computers - Travis Bruno - 9.5 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers layered narrative depth, dense worldbuilding, and excellent dual combat that keeps exploration and battles equally engaging in a way that truly shines in today’s age.
Console Creatures - Meghan G - 8 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an impressive debut from Rebel Wolves, with challenging combat and choices that shape the story around you. It breathes new life into a tired genre of vampire action RPGs, using time as a resource and letting players shape the world around them. Despite relatively benign issues that can easily be rectified, it is certainly one to watch within the world of RPGs.
Dexerto - Jessica Filby - 4 / 5
The Blood of Dawnwalker isn't perfect by any means, but its attempts to merge The Witcher's grungy world with an intense time limit make it stand out from Geralt’s masterpiece. Its story is riveting, its characters are expertly written, and its combat combined with the 30-day time limit is utterly unique, making for a thrilling adventure that is as bloody as it is good fun.
Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra, Sami Belhamra - Arabic - 9 / 10
"When time is more precious than blood"
The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a highly ambitious vision of the Action RPG with a compelling time system, real-world choices, a dual identity that shifts gameplay between day and night, and an atmospherically rich and detailed open world. While the combat and some technical aspects could use some polishing, the interconnections of the game's systems and the strength of its quest design make it a very promising experience, and it could well become one of the standout Action-RPGs of 2026.
Digitec Magazine - Simon Balissat - German - 3 / 5
The Blood of Dawnwalker nearly strikes a successful balance between classic open-world design and fresh ideas. Its day-night cycle and time pressure are intriguing additions, but neither is used consistently enough. Fans of open worlds and vampires will find plenty to enjoy, although the game offers few major surprises. Technical issues and the lack of a performance mode (in my review build) also hold it back. On the other hand, the charming story is particularly strong at the beginning and end, while the lively world is a joy to explore. Rebel Wolf's debut is far from a masterpiece, but it shows plenty of talent and leaves me hoping for a sequel.
EmuGlx.org - Vladan Nastanović - Unknown - 9 / 10
Blood of the Dawnwalker is an impressive debut from Rebel Wolves that, despite flaws such as problematic lip-sync and technical issues, manages to overcome and even surpass the initial skepticism carried over from the Cyberpunk 2077 era. For fans of deep storytelling, dark Slavic atmosphere, and thoughtfully implemented vampire mechanics, time spent in Vale Sangora comes highly recommended.
Eternal Games - محمد الأحمري - Arabic - 8.5 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is considered an excellent Action RPG experience that delivers a wonderful, poetic story alongside carefully written characters and a meticulously crafted protagonist, while introducing a new and distinctive time system that serves the experience in a dark world full of secrets and mystery. It features an enjoyable and addictive gameplay system with two different forms—as a human by day and a vampire by night—backed by deep RPG elements that grant you complete freedom in building your character and shaping your story's path through masterfully crafted, unforgettable quests. This blend is completed by a enchanting soundtrack and a stunning art direction to deliver an epic experience that leaves a clear mark, despite a few flaws in enemy variety and side content.
Evilgamerz - Daan Nijboer - Dutch - 9 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker does a lot of things we've seen before. The influence of other major RPGs is frequently noticeable, and comparisons to The Witcher, in particular, are easily made. Yet, Rebel Wolves has added enough of its own ideas to ensure that Dawnwalker doesn't feel like a copy. The time system, in particular, makes a big difference.
GAMINGbible - Kate Harrold - 9 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker deserves to be a new AAA mainstay, and I’d gladly join Coen on future ventures. Rebel Wolves’ debut outing is everything you could want from the former director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but it’s also something entirely new.
GRYOnline.pl - Krzysztof Mysiak - Polish - 8 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker from Rebel Wolves is a grim RPG which, at its best, rivals The Witcher 3 story-wise. The game charms with an excellent prologue, a grounded, down-to-earth atmosphere, mature choices in shades of grey, and memorable characters. Unfortunately, after a brilliant start, the experience suffers due to repetitive, Ubisoft-style open-world activities that you have to plough through to uncover the narrative treasures. It is an ambitious and successful, albeit uneven, title – a must-play for fans of atmospheric games who are willing to overlook some of the rough edges typical of a debut title.
GameOnly - Michał Marasek - Polish - 8 / 10
Video Review - Quote not available
GameRant - Josh Cotts - 6 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker has strong ideas and a compelling story, but repetitive design, uneven systems, and constant jank hold it back.
Gameliner - Claudia Tjia - Dutch - 3.5 / 5
The Blood of Dawnwalker has an interesting identity thanks to its combination of human and vampire gameplay, the day-and-night cycle, the time system and meaningful choices. However, the empty open world, awkward blood and health system, time pressure, uneven combat and several visual and technical bugs keep the experience from reaching its full potential. I enjoyed my time with it, but I often found myself thinking how much stronger the game could have been with a livelier world and a better balance between freedom and time pressure.
Gamer Guides - Echo Apsey - 87 / 100
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a true narrative sandbox with a malleable and flexible structure that allows you to play your way and see where the wind takes you. While its combat isn’t as strong, the game’s narrative framework is consistently mesmerizing.
GamerFocus - Julián Ramírez - Spanish - 8.9 / 10
Comparisons between The Blood of Dawnwalker and The Witcher 3 are inevitable, but it has nothing to fear -even when faced with Geralt's best adventure- because Rebel Wolves' game is excellent. It offers an open world full of secrets and quests—all of them interesting—and the ability to forge a narrative however we want to navigate this world of horror, fantasy, and political intrigue. It has some technical issues, and not all of its mechanics work as well as they could, but it is undoubtedly one of the best games of the year.
Just Play it - Mounir Bensaci - Arabic - 8 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a dark and thrilling journey through a rich open world filled with exploration, featuring an exceptional day-and-night cycle that meaningfully impacts quest design, abilities, and gameplay. Despite several technical issues, including frame-rate drops, inconsistent visual quality, and lengthy loading screens, these shortcomings do not diminish the fact that we experienced a distinctive and bold adventure with plenty of room to improve.
Kakuchopurei - Jonathan Toyad - 80 / 100
Despite its open-world technical issues and certain aspects of its combat, you're in for a bloody good time with this vampire-laced role-playing tale. The Blood of Dawnwalker is this year's spotlight CRPG entry that hit all the right notes with its story, characters, world-building, and overall adventure & capstones.
Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 9 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent open-world fantasy RPG with some unique, interesting ideas.
MondoXbox - Mirko Rossi - Italian - 8 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a high-quality action RPG, built around a unique combat system, a very convincing "dual" gameplay, and an open narrative structure that stays rich and coherent even while leaving almost every choice in our hands. The time limit and the tangible weight of every decision make the whole experience deeper, within a beautifully detailed world; it's just a pity that the technical side and some production limits are not always up to par.
MonsterVine - Spencer Legacy - 5 / 5
The Blood of Dawnwalker is one of the most impressive games I’ve played this generation. The sprawling world and multifaceted story are wonders to behold, while the combat walks the perfect line between complexity and accessibility. Though there is a little bit of open-world jank to contend with, you’d be missing out by choosing not to play this game, as it may already be the best release in an extremely competitive September.
NextPlay - Brad Goodwin - 9 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a familiar take on the RPG genre, but its dense human-Vrakhiri dual gameplay loop and time management, accompanied by a banging story, make this one of the best RPGs of the year.
Novastream - Chris Sutton - 4 / 5
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a game that has been hovering near the top of my 2026 anticipation list. While it has some issues in its package, there are components in story and the vampire abilities that provide exciting moments across 40-60 hours of play. Your enjoyment will depend on your connection to a solid story, combat feel and the use of time segments to progress across 30 days. The sounds can be visceral and stumbling across random occurrences always enhances the lived-in vibe of an open world. There is something here that may just need a few updates to realise its best form, yet I can’t help but be excited for where Rebel Wolves decides to place their time next.
One More Game - Vincent Ternida - 9 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an amazing first effort from Rebel Wolves, proving that open‑world RPGs can still surprise us. By stripping away genre bloat and focusing on meaningful mechanics such as the use of the day and night cycle, a gripping narrative, and morally complex characters, the developers have delivered a dark fantasy experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly new, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Oyungezer Online - Onur Kaya - Turkish - 7 / 10
Fails to live up to its potential and the expectations created by being associated with The Witcher series, but one I could recommend giving a chance during a quieter period.
PSX Brasil - Marco Aurélio Couto - Portuguese - 84 / 100
Although it has some flaws in combat, The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a solid and characterful experience. Its time management system, the freedom to explore, and the choices that shape Coen's journey are its greatest strengths and make Rebel Wolves' RPG stand out from other games in the genre.
Pizza Fria - Álvaro Saluan da Cunha - Portuguese - 9.2 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is well worth playing for those who enjoy narrative RPGs, dark fantasy, vampires, difficult choices, and open worlds populated and created with personality. It has the kind of adventure that makes the player think about a quest while away from their PC or console.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an incredible RPG that sinks its fangs into you from the moment you start playing, signalling an incredibly strong start for Rebel Wolves. Choices feel meaningful, combat is satisfying, and the time system makes you stop and think about just what you're doing when you play games. While some quests drag and there were some technical hiccups along the way, nothing made me want to stop playing this adventure that trades breadth for depth. As such, The Blood of Dawnwalker is easily one of my favourite RPGs in years and well worth a taste.
ReGame It - Taha Omar - Arabic - 8.5 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is more than an attempt to replicate The Witcher’s success, depending on its own unique charm and atmosphere. Its time-limited story system and freedom of choice work exceptionally well, while the gameplay delivers two distinct experiences. Despite some repetition, it lays a strong foundation for what could become a remarkable series.
SECTOR.sk - Branislav Koh�t - Slovak - 9.5 / 10
You will enjoy spending time with the vampire hero as he demonstrates his power, engaging in combat and exploring a perilous open world. With dozens of hours of battles, moving scenes and conversations, the game is sure to win you over.
Saudi Gamer - عبد الله محمد - Arabic - 4.5 / 5
The Blood of Dawnwalker executes its ideas brilliantly, to the point where you barely notice its limited budget, while delivering an RPG experience that can stand alongside The Witcher 3 in terms of its storytelling, atmosphere, and side quests, making it one of the most unique RPG titles of this generation
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a triumphant and uncompromising action RPG that brilliantly combines mature storytelling with ferocious vampire gameplay. The contrast between the human day and the monstrous night works flawlessly, while the breathtaking city of Svartrau will captivate you from the very first moment. If the developers manage to iron out the inconsistent optimization with a Day One patch, we have an undeniable Game of the Year contender on our hands.
The Beta Network - Anthony Culinas - 6 / 10
From key parts of the team that brought us The Witcher 3, The Blood of Dawnwalker turned out to be a disappointing letdown. Repetitive combat, forgettable quests and frequent crashes leave its promising vampire adventure feeling like a major missed opportunity.
The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent dark fantasy RPG that shines thanks to its strong sandbox elements. As a debut title, Rebel Wolves has done a terrific job of finally doing justice to vampires in video games.
The Outerhaven Productions - Jordan Andow - 4.5 / 5
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent dark fantasy RPG that combines meaningful choices, a clever time-management system and satisfying combat with a world that constantly encourages another playthrough. Rebel Wolves wears its Witcher 3 influence proudly, but this is a game with a strong identity of its own.
TheSixthAxis - Gareth Chadwick - 8 / 10
The Blood of Dawnwalker is excellent, if not quite successful in everything it tries. It's fun to teleport around in a cloud of smoke and bats or walk on ceilings, but the story is also fantastic. It's probably even darker and grimmer than you're expecting, and it gripped me throughout and was complimented by equally fascinating side quest stories that I had to choose between. If you like RPGs, vampires, or great stories, you won't want to miss The Blood of Dawnwalker.
Thumb Wars - Liam Magee - 4.5 / 5
While I played through The Blood of Dawnwalker, I had a fantastic time exploring the game’s open world as I fought the numerous monsters and humans in gruelling combat with fantastic abilities that look as cool as they feel. I was also able to enjoy the large story with its numerous consequences and choices that lasted the entire game. Although the gameplay is fun it can get repetitive doing the same side content, but it is very far and few between allowing a break between them.
Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8.5 / 10
In a month packed with big-name releases, The Blood of Dawnwalker might be one of the best games of the bunch. It's a well-crafted adventure with an engaging story, an enjoyable world, interesting powers and a genuinely compelling approach to player choice. The time limit gives every decision weight. The open-ended storytelling makes exploration meaningful. The day/night system gives Coen two distinct ways to interact with the world. Most importantly, the game trusts you to make choices without constantly telling you whether you've made the "right" one.
Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 80%
It's clear from the off that there's a strong RPG pedigree at work in The Blood of Dawnwalker. The work of Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by forme...
