What is The Blood of Dawnwalker?
The Blood of Dawnwalker is an open-world dark fantasy action RPG set in a 14th-century Europe shattered by war and the Black Death — the perfect moment for vampires to step out of the shadows and claim the freedom and power they have been denied for centuries. You play as Coen, a young man turned into a Dawnwalker, human by day and vampire by night, caught between two natures while racing to save his family. What makes it stand out is that the story bends around your choices and the secrets you uncover, forcing you to face one question throughout: is your soul worth the lives of the people you love?
Getting started
Jumping in is straightforward: explore the open world, take on quests tied to Coen’s goal of saving his family, and let your actions push the narrative forward. The day-and-night duality is the heart of the experience — as a human by day and a vampire by night, the way you handle encounters and opportunities shifts with the sun.
New players are best served by following the main thread first, since it teaches the basics while driving the story toward the family at stake. As you progress, get comfortable switching between your human side and the cursed powers of the night, and keep an eye out for secrets scattered across the world — they deepen the lore and can open up new directions in the story. Don’t feel pressured to commit to one path early on; the choice between fighting for your humanity or embracing vampire power is a tension you are meant to carry through the whole game.
Tips for beginners
- Learn the rhythm of day and night. Your capabilities differ by time of day, so plan quests and travel around the sun’s position.
- Make your choices count. The story is shaped by your actions, so treat major decisions like the meaningful forks they are rather than rushing past them.
- Explore beyond the beaten path. The open world hides secrets that enrich the story and can change how events unfold.
- Don’t rush to an extreme. Fighting for your humanity and embracing vampire powers are both valid paths; you don’t have to pick a side in the opening hours.
- Keep the family goal in sight. Saving his family anchors Coen’s journey emotionally and narratively, so let it guide which quests you prioritize.
- Read the world around you. In a plague-era Europe, diaries, rumors, and environmental details can reveal the secrets behind the vampires’ rise.
- Treat failure as information. When an encounter goes wrong, adjust your approach — this is a game that rewards learning from mistakes.
Is it worth playing?
If the premise speaks to you — a human-vampire duality, a family on the line, and a 14th-century Europe rewritten by supernatural horror — The Blood of Dawnwalker is an easy game to be excited about. It is an ambitious open-world RPG from developer Rebel Wolves, published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, built around a branching story that rewards curiosity. The honest caveat is that its quality will hinge on how well the day/night systems and choice-driven narrative are executed in practice. For fans of dark fantasy RPGs who love stories shaped by their own decisions, it is well worth keeping on your radar.