Rebel Wolves is refining the action-RPG combat formula in its upcoming title, The Blood of Dawnwalker, by introducing a directional element to attacks, blocks, and parries. The goal is to foster deeper immersion by demanding player focus on the immediate action, rather than allowing players to fall into a rhythm that can lead to detachment.
While the game incorporates standard attack, block, and parry mechanics seen in titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Blood of Dawnwalker adds a layer of complexity. Players will need to not only time their defensive actions but also consider the direction from which an enemy's attack is originating, indicated by an on-screen icon. Standard omni-directional blocking is available but consumes more stamina than a precise directional block or parry. The developers are also incorporating unblockable attacks that will require players to dodge.
According to Creative Director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, the combat system underwent significant iteration to achieve its current state. The team aimed for a balance that makes the system easy to learn but challenging to master, ensuring enjoyment for a wide range of players through extensive playtesting. "At some point, we reached the conclusion it would be really nice to experiment with directional combat," he stated. "It was a balancing act to get to the point where it feels easy to learn but hard to master, and just enjoyable overall."
Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, game director, noted that playtesters have reacted positively to the directional combat, with many reporting a feeling of being actively within the combat rather than observing it. "People who already played the game from the outside are saying that because you focus on directions, what’s happening in the combat, you feel that you are inside the combat, not that you are watching it from a far distance," he explained. "I think it’s a really good achievement, because in RPGs, the most important [thing] is immersion."
The protagonist, Coen, will feature two distinct combat styles: one for his human daytime form and another for his vampiric nighttime form. In his vampire state, Coen gains claws and fangs, offering a different approach to combat, though he can still opt to use a sword. As players progress, Coen can learn new abilities, including potent vampire skills. These abilities are designed to evolve throughout the game, with new actions and skills being added to combat groups of enemies. Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz highlighted a particularly powerful move that Coen will eventually learn, involving exploding enemies in a pool of blood, as a personal favorite among the diverse abilities available.
The Blood of Dawnwalker will also offer customizable difficulty settings, including Story, Normal, Duelist, and Nightmare modes. The higher difficulties will remove UI indicators for attack directions, forcing players to rely solely on observing enemy movements and reacting accordingly. "In them, we turn off these indicators, and you won't have U.I. showing in which direction you should fight, but you're observing your opponents and reacting to what's happening on screen. It's a really cool and unique experience," Konrad Tomaszkiewicz said.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is slated for release on September 3, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Developed by Rebel Wolves and published by Bandai Namco, the game is rated Mature.