Polish studio Rebel Wolves' upcoming open-world vampire RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker, shows a clear and deliberate influence from The Witcher 3, according to an early four-hour playthrough. While the similarities are unmistakable, the game appears to be more than a mere clone, incorporating its own distinct mechanics and narrative elements.
The game's prologue establishes a grim tone, introducing protagonist Coen in a medieval approximation of Eastern Europe. His village operates under the relatively lenient rule of Brencis, a decaying overlord, yet demands a pint of blood from each citizen every full moon. This oppressive requirement sets the stage for Coen's transformation into a Vrakhiri, essentially a vampire, and foreshadows the difficult choices players will face.
A World of Difficult Choices and Limited Time
Much like The Witcher 3, the prologue serves as a microcosm of the larger experience. Players are given a small open map and a variety of choice-based conundrums to navigate. A key mechanic introduced is a time system, where each in-game day is divided into eight segments. Many quests and activities consume these segments, forcing players to prioritize and make difficult decisions about how to spend their limited time. This system is compared to Persona's calendar but is described as more substantial, offering a feeling of a feature-rich day rather than an endless string of sidequests. The player must balance immediate needs, such as gathering medicine for Coen's ailing mother, with other unfolding village stories.
This narrative structure encourages players to make choices based on their own temperament and interests, rather than simply trying to complete everything. The game presents scenarios where even seemingly logical or