What happens when you cross a human with a vampire? According to the devs at Rebel Wolves, you get a “Dawnwalker”. Thanks to publishers Bandai-Namco, I had a chance to learn the ways of a vampire-human hybrid when I had a sneak peek at “The Blood of Dawnwalker”, and I’m already thirsting for more.

Coen, a lowly peasant, lives a simple life, aiding his father with his sick mother and caring for his younger siblings in an Eastern European-inspired village in the region of Vale Sangora. The land has been oppressed by Brencis and the Vhakhiri, a vampire order seeking ultimate dominion. As things take a turn for the worse, Coen’s in for a tough few weeks with a lot at stake (pun intended), and his life will be forever altered.

There’s undoubtedly a heavy Eastern European folklore inspiration that feels like a departure from the typical vampire game. The dark fantasy setting with a gothic edge feels distinct, and it’s easy to get absorbed into the hauntingly gorgeous world.

Rebel Wolves is composed of former devs from CD Projekt Red, and you can undoubtedly see the love for folklore, but rather than hunting creatures like in The Witcher, you become one. The Blood of Dawnwalker has all the elements that make a great open-world action RPG, but it feels distinct in its approach.

For one, there’s super satisfying swordplay fused with the ability to freely change to vampire abilities like swiping at enemies with your claws, draining enemies of blood to recover health or even using wiccan magic.

During the night, you can stalk the shadows and satisfy your insatiable bloodlust, and during the daylight hours, Coen can try to blend in with the humans if you so choose to play it that way. Everything comes down to using time to your advantage.

The Blood of Dawnwalker brings in a Day/Night system that makes what you choose to do with what little time you have crucial. Unlike many RPGs, there’s a finite amount of optional quests you can complete during an in-game day, and using what you can of that precious window matters.

With Coen having only 30 days and 30 nights to save his family, choosing what to do is much more direct, requiring a sacrifice of one scenario in favour of another.

I didn’t feel that side quest fatigue I usually find in RPGs with the limited timeframe. The game focuses more on the quality of your in-game experience rather than the quantity of quests you complete. That shift to player choice shaping Coen’s journey opens up a whole new world of possibilities, especially in replayability.

The story only gets pushed along at key moments, so the only things you’ll get locked out of are certain paths not taken.

The Blood of Dawnwalker has a way of holding you within its grasp, and that was all experienced within the first few hours of a preview. There’s so much depth I’ve yet to uncover, but I’m craving the chance to sink my teeth back into it.

Written by: Yasmin Noble