It’s quite the list, and we’re sure that you share our excitement for a majority of them. Without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

Getting to return to the Caribbean to join Edward Kenway on his epic journey from a callous pirate to a noble Assassin is definitely something we’re very excited about. A revamped combat system, some extra story cutscenes, and those delightful visuals are just icing on the cake. This one comes out on July 9, 2026, for the PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC.

2. EA Sports College Football 27

The College Football franchise has been doing quite well for itself in recent years, and we don’t see why this year should be any different. We already know it’s bringing quite the roster for us to enjoy, with some very attractive goodies for those who pre-order any of its editions. Once again, it releases on July 9, 026, for the PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC.

3. Palworld 1.0 Release

We were blown away by the cinematic trailer that this one dropped recently, and it showcases stunning new locations with fascinating creatures for us to collect over the course of our adventure. It’s touted to be the game’s biggest update yet, and is sure to bring a lot of exciting new additions to the table as it brings us to the story’s finale when it drops on July 10, 2026, for all available platforms.

4. Splatoon Raiders

Getting to join a pirate musician group that’s raiding the Spirhalite Islands for treasure? Sign us up! Yesterday’s Direct showcase gave us quite a good look at this one, and it only made us all the more excited to try out its paint-based weapons, great progression systems, and of course, the Exploration Bot. Talk about the efficient use of tech. It’s slated for a June 30 release on the Switch 2.

5. Halo: Campaign Evolved

We’re still not over that awesome trailer that showed off the new Covenant faction, some very interesting footage from the new prequel missions, and of course, the return of Master Chief. The new weapons are equally intriguing, and we can’t wait to dive in and get blasting when this one releases for the XBOX Series X|S, PC, and PS5 on July 28 this year.

6. Beast of Reincarnation

Any journey that gives you a furry friend for company is definitely worth undertaking, in our book. When you combine that with some parry-focused Soulslike action and a very cool set of powers for Emma, the game’s protagonist, you get the recipe for a game that’s sure to have us grinding our teeth in frustration but determined to end whatever the Hush throws at us. It’s slated to release on August 4 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

7. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls

With a starting roster that brings some of Marvel’s best to the table for an action-packed gameplay loop, this one is definitely going to keep us occupied for quite a while. We’re particularly interested in the Episode Mode, where you participate against the enigmatic Champion in a Tournament where you’re surely going to have to bring your best skills to the table. Look our for this one on August 6 on your PC or PS5.

8. Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honour

An expansion that doubles up on the nostalgia factor that put this one on the map in the first place is certainly welcome. It’s even better when it gives us a look at Don Salieri’s early days before his time in America that set the entire franchise in motion. The trailer was pretty interesting despite being a little to stingy with details, but it did tell us that this one’s releasing on August 14, 2026, on all available platforms.

9. The Sinking City 2

Lovecraftian adventures are always a great combination of thrills and chills, and the Slither is looking like a foe you don’t want to tangle with unless you’re Calvin Rafferty. Of course, the Deep Ones and Shadows are equally credible threats, and we’re quite curious to see how this one has us dealing with them when it comes out on August 18 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S. There’s even a playable demo on Steam if you want to try it before buying it.

10. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam

We were pretty bummed about this one getting delayed to August 13 but do appreciate Team 17 taking player feedback and the results from its own playtests seriously enough to ask for more time to further polish this one before releasing it for all of us. We’re hoping it builds on everything that was good about its predecessor while adding interesting new twists to the table.

11. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2

If you’ve been with us for a while, you probably already guessed that this one is definitely something we’re eager to dive into. The chance to revisit two titles that cemented our love for the franchise is very welcome, and Solid Snake’s final chapter is the one that has us as excited as we are. Of course, Peace Walker is also something we’re eager to play again, and it’s going to be a difficult choice between them then this one drops on August 27 this year for the PS5, PC, XBOX Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and the Switch 2.

12. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy

Sophie was among the more interesting characters in Requiem, and her role in Amicia and Hugo’s adventure in that one presented her as a complex and nuanced character. It’s only logical, then, that a look into her early days as a headstrong young smuggler exploring Minotaur Island has us itching to get started with it already. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait too long until this one drops on August 27, 2026, for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series.

13. Star Wars Zero Company

A ragtag group of mercenaries that include a Jedi, a noble, a droid, and a former Separatist embarking on an adventure set during the Clone Wars is music to the ears of any Star Wars fan, and we’re no exception. The addition of Anakin Skywalker before his turn to the Dark Side is another interesting twist that makes this one a very compelling addition to this list. It’s out on August 27 this year for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series X|S.

14. Elden Ring Tarnished Edition

The wait for this one has been a long one, but it’s finally coming out on August 28 this year on all available platforms and the Nintendo Switch 2. There’s new weapons, armor, and a very welcome option to customize Torrent being added to the base game and its DLC, and it’s as good a reason as any for us to begin a new playthrough in the run-up to its release. We’re pretty excited, even if that means taking on the Blade of Miquella yet again.

15. EA Sports Madden NFL 27

We were already looking forward to this one before EA highlighted how the Persona Engine is gearing up to make each athlete feel quite unique when they step onto the pitch, aside from the Superstar GOAT progression path giving us a reason to keep coming back to it for more. And that’s only the beginning of all the cool stuff this one’s bringing to the franchise when it releases on August 13, 2026, for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series X|S.

16. The Blood of Dawnwalker

We’ve been very eager to play this one ever since it was first announced, and the wait for its September 3 release has been tantalizing at best, and agonizing every time we’ve got a new glimpse of its gameplay. Of course, the latest trailer has only exacerbated those feelings as we got to see Coen and Brencis’s fight transcend the passage of time, just as vampires should, making this one a game we’re going to be diving head-first into as soon as we get the chance.

17. Valheim 1.0 Release

The Deep North update and the end of this one’s Early Access period as it makes its PS5 and Switch 2 debut has us very interested in learning what new additions it’s bringing to the table in a survival crafting gameplay loop that’s also a great take on norse mythology. The snowy weather isn’t the only thing to look forward to, as there are going to be new enemies, places, and faces to engage with when it drops on September 9, 2026.

18. Marvel’s Wolverine

Boy, oh boy, was that look that we got into this one at the recent State of Play a good one. Insomniac made a lot of good choices in its take on Logan, and the inclusion of Jean Grey and some very high stakes for the cast make this one a very engaging title indeed. Wolverine looks like a fresh take on a very familiar character, and the mechanics look like they weave his unique powers into the gameplay loop quite well. It’s out on September 15, 2026, and is exclusive to the PS5.

19.Trials In The Sky Second Chapter

We’ve known that this one is coming for a while, and although a concrete release date is yet to be announced, it’s probably going to be out in late September. Its predecessor ended on quite the cliffhanger and it’s quite a tempting title to consider even in the midst of a very crowded release calendar thanks to one of the big names on our list. We’re definitely keeping an eye out for this one.

20. Trine 6: Together in Time

This puzzle platformer brings a vibrant color palette to a world that’s full of mysteries waiting to be explored, and a charming cast aimed at being memorable by virtue of their unique abilities and the synergies they build based off of them.You get to play it with upto three of your buddies, with a bunch of common abilities and a combat system that lets you make the most of them all thrown in. It’s releasing for the PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2 and XBOX Series X|S on 17 September, 2026.

21. Control Resonant

How did Remedy choose to build on what made the predecessor to this one great? Well, it’s opened up the doors of the FBC and let its protagonist loose in a version of Manhattan that’s been warped beyond recognition. There are enemy designs that range from bizarre to surreal, while the combat takes a more hands-on approach this time around. This one’s out on September 24 for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series X|S,

22. Hot Wheels Infinite Rush

Based on Mattel’s popular line of collectibles, this one is an open-world arcade racer that ditches photorealism in favor of a more amusing take on Hot Wheels, allowing it to bring its own version of the track sets we’ve always wanted to build to life. It also brings full cross-play compatibility to the table, allowing you to set up evenings of racing that could have you very entertained indeed. It’s coming to the PS5, PC, XBOX Series, and the Switch 2 on September 24, 2026.

23. Silent Hill: Townfall

Simon Ordell’s time in St. Amelia is vastly different from Hinako’s adventure in Silent Hill f, but that doesn’t make it any less unsettling in the limited glimpses we’ve got of this one. It has all the staples of the franchise, such as nasty monsters and an intense, moody setting, coupled with new additions that make this one a game to look forward to if you’ve got nerves of steel. It’s coming out for the PS5 and PC on September 24.

24. Valor Mortis

The chance to play as an undead soldier in a story set during the Napoleonic Wars is definitely something that made us sit up and pay attention, and everything we’ve seen of this one so far points to an experience that’s sure to test our skills and our patience in this first-person Soulslike. Once again, this one’s hitting the shelves on September 24 for the PC and PS5.

25. Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Miyamoto Musashi is back, and he’s bringing the Oni Gauntlet back in all its glory in a title that’s as brutal as they come on the gameplay front. The fight against Shuten-dōji in the recently released trailer was reason enough for us to be interested in this one, but the playable demo now has us itching to get into it in earnest. We’re going to have to wait until September 25 for that chance, though, and it’s coming to the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

26. Minecraft Dungeons II

A new evil, two new worlds, and the chance of a closer look at The Nether are all factors that contribute to our enthusiasm for this one. There’s also the new combat that was shown off in a recent trailer to look forward to, alongside the potential for some very cool DLC being added to it after its September 29 release for both iterations of the Switch, PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

27. Phantom Blade Zero

We’ve got high hopes for this one, and a lot of confidence that it isn’t going to disappoint when it comes out on October 29 after a delay that’s using the extra time for some polishing. It’s combat and traversal mechanics all point to a title that’s slick, fast, and challenging, all of which are very attractive features for any game to have. The premise is equally engaging, and we can’t wait to dive into this one when it comes out for the PS5 and PC.

28. Rayman Legends Retold

It’s always great to see Rayman again, and this time around, the classic character is coming back to the spotlight in style. There’s a fully-3D art style that brings a colorful world to life with aplomb, while the story might be familiar to those of you who’ve played through Rayman Legends. This platformer is definitely worth looking out for, and is coming out October 1, 2026, for the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

29. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Taking to the skies in fighter jets is always going to be an exhilarating experience, and the addition of superweapons and the ability to send enemy fighters crashing into one another are all facets that add to the allure of this game. It’s out on October 2 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S and there’s an attractive bunch of content for those of you who pre-order it.

30. Gears of War: E-Day

This one’s been a long time coming and we can’t wait to rejoin Marcus Fenix on an adventure that’s going to take us back to the beginning of the war between mankind and The Locusts. Despite the lack of a PS5 version on its October 6 launch date, you’re still going to get to play it on XBOX and PC. It’s also going to be on Game Pass from day one, so there’s that. It’s as action-packed as you’d expect, going by the trailer from the XBOX Games Showcase.

31. Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Pod racing in a galaxy far, far, away sounds like the perfect way to unwind after a long day, doesn’t it? We doubt we’re going to be doing a lot of relaxing after seeing this one in action at the 2026 edition of Summer Game Fest, though. It comes with a lot of tension both on and off the tracks as you race to become the new champion of the Galactic Racing League. This one’s ready to go on October 6 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

32. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

This 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania puts the Belmont family whip in the hands of a nimble new protagonist who must use it to take on Dracula’s forces in Paris, hitting them where it hurts while getting more powerful in the process. Trailers indicate that exploration is a crucial part of it, along with the potential integration of RPG mechanics into its progression loop. It’s coming to the PS5, PC, XBOX Series X|S, and Switch 2 on October 15, 2026.

33. Grand Theft Auto 6

This one’s certainly one that we’ve all been waiting for with patience (and a fair bit of impatience after last year’s delay), and is sure to take over the discourse around gaming when it arrives. It’s been imposing enough that other developers have done their best to give it a wide berth with some interesting effects on the year’s release calendar that you might have already noticed, even on this list. It’s out on November 19 for the PS5 and XBOX Series X|S, with no news of a PC release at the time of writing.

34. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake

One of the Zelda franchise’s heavy hitters getting a remake is obviously good news. However, Nintendo has been quite cryptic when it comes to details about its gameplay and potential improvements to the Ocarina of Time remake, and there’s no official release date at this time other than a rumored November-December release window. It’s exclusive to the Switch and Switch 2.

35. The Duskbloods

FromSoft has been rather quiet since Nightreign came out, and that’s because it has been hard at work on this PvEvP Switch 2 exclusive that lets you take control of the Bloodsworn, fierce warriors who are competing against each other for possession of the First Blood, although they might find themselves working together when the situation demands it. There are over 12 unique characters to engage with, although we’re yet to get an official release date on it.

And that’s about it for this one. It’s quite a crowded calendar for the second half of the year, but we’re sure a lot of you share our excitement for all the great titles that it’s set to bring. More games, more memories, and more fun is how we’re choosing to look at it.

Well, Coen, the hero of its story, is quite lucky on that front as he still retains enough of his humanity to make adventuring in the daytime a possibility, and we’re thankful for that. That’s because he’s essentially two characters in one, with a gameplay loop that looks like it takes full advantage of his abilities.

And contrary to belief, it’s far from restrictive. Speaking to PAP Bisnez, Tomaszkiewicz spoke about the story allowing you a lot of freedom in deciding your approach to getting revenge on Brencis, the vampire who put Coen in his current predicament. We already know that you’re going to have to work to destabilize his regime before you take him on, and that it’s going to be a battle that could go beyond the game’s 30-day time frame. But it’s delightful to know that the team has drawn inspiration from other franchises that put player agency at the forefront of their experiences.

“The Blood of Dawnwalker will be primarily a narrative sandbox, similar to the classic Fallout games. Our goal is for the player to be able to decide which path they want to take to reach the end of the game.”

For some of you, that might mean attacking Brencis head-on, but we’re going to take a more measured approach that lets us explore Vale Sangora to our heart’s content. Of course, the action doesn’t end at launch, with the studio planning free add-ons for after. With quite a few wishlists ahead of its release, The Blood of Dawnwalker could stand out in a busy month when it launches on September 3rd.

However, much of that will depend on the first game’s success. Studio CEO Konrad Tomaszkiewicz told PAP Biznes that the current goal is to ensure that “Our goal is that after the premiere, the cash balance in the company’s account will allow us to release a sequel and further develop the company. If after the debut of the game it turns out that these financial results are better, we will definitely be happy.” Of course, Rebel Wolves also wants to ensure that that’s a “safe haven that rewards creativity.”

While pre-order numbers haven’t been revealed, Tomaszkiewicz confirmed “about” 1.5 million wishlists. And while happy with the pre-order campaign, he believes it’s “just as important, if not more important for us, to have about 1.5 million wishlist signs, which is a better metric for us, because players tend to be reluctant to pre-order, often waiting for extensive and in-depth reviews.” If anything, this tells us that Rebel Wolves’ immediate future isn’t dependent on selling millions of copies on day one, though that wouldn’t be a terrible outcome.

Of course, for those who pick it up later, there will be smaller free DLCs. The development team is still working on a roadmap with nothing to confirm just yet, but it could follow The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in terms of scale.

The Blood of Dawnwalker launches on September 3rd and will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. You can check out our feature for all the latest details here.

Speaking to PAP Biznes, CEO Konrad Tomaszkiewicz said the team is working on a schedule for free DLC. “As for whether there will be add-ons immediately or not at all, we have recently started talks on this topic so as to plan a roadmap and timeline of smaller, free add-ons, but we have not yet made a decision.”

Considering how much smaller the team is than CD Projekt RED, it makes sense that it’s currently focused on the game. The Blood of Dawnwalker is admittedly smaller in scale compared to Geralt’s swan song, but it’s already grown beyond Rebel Wolves’ expectations. Initially meant to be completed in 30 to 40 hours, it now takes an average of 50 hours, and that can change depending on the difficulty, how you play, etc.

“Lately, a few persons from our team finished the game… and there are big differences between them. It’s like from 50 hours to around 70,” said creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz.

Of course, if you’re good enough, you can complete the game much, much sooner. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible. And if you’ve seen everything that Vale Sangora has to offer on the first playthrough, try replaying it as an evil Coen, running roughshod through most of the local population.

The Blood of Dawnwalker launches on September 3rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out some more extensive gameplay here, including the wolf transformation for getting around faster at night.

We see Coen ordering a very morbid delivery, although it’s one that he desperately needs. He’s in bad shape, and the hapless man who brings his box to him can only watch in horror as he chomps down on a blood bag, his injuries healing quite quickly once he gets his fuel. His vampiric form is on full display, although he’s aged quite a bit.

If you’re wondering if all of this takes place in the present day, it does. But doesn’t this one take place way back in the past? You’re two for one! But it seems that Coen survives his effort to take on Brencis, but that doesn’t mean that the current ruler of Vale Sangora doesn’t put up a good fight. And if the trailer’s any indication, it’s a battle for control of the region that doesn’t end in the thirty days that the game claims, but moves to the shadows as the centuries go by.

How does all of that come together? We’re going to have to wait to find out more about that when this drops in September this year.

“We track your choices individually on a more detailed level,” he told Game Informer. “Because of that, we have a lot of reactivity to your choices in the quests. NPCs might remember certain things you do and react to them in other places.”

“You can build relations in our game, not only through normal dialogue, but also action,” adds game director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz. “We have a lot of different activities and quests in the game. Some of them are flashy and you have combat or magic, and some are subtle or more calm, but you have people with whom you can speak or do some other thing to help them and build your relations.”

Of course, it’s implied that those connections extend to the sub-bosses working under Brencis, like Xanthe the Dark Mistress. We’ve seen Coen try to go toe-to-toe with her in a losing effort, but if you pursue her side quest, the result may change. And the only way to find out is by building Infamy, i.e. doing all the things that she would hate.

We’ll find out how much more reactive the world can be when The Blood of Dawnwalker launches on September 3rd. A typical playthrough will take about 50 hours or so to complete (if you don’t skip everything), much more than Rebel Wolves initially aimed for, but the deadline to save Coen’s family isn’t where things end. For all the latest details, check out our feature.

Noting that he is excited about the modern gaming trend of “maximizing player agency”, Tomaszkiewicz brought up Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3 in particular.

“I love the games that did this in the past, and I loved what they did with Baldur’s Gate 3, for example, with this – kind of mixing this narrative experience and maximizing your freedom of choice: what do you want to do, which plot lines do you want to do or not do, and how does the game world react to this? I think this is very exciting,” he said.

With this emphasis on player agency, Tomaszkiewicz brought up the fact that while other games “can have a super well-crafted, very emotional, cinematic experience,” not giving players enough freedom ultimately means that “you’re basically like an observer with extra steps.” He went on to say, “to me, it’s not as exciting as really participating and leaving my mark on the game world.”

As for the scope of The Blood of Dawnwalker, Tomaszkiewicz said that he has been finding large open-world games tiring, especially since he doesn’t have much free time these days and instead prefers “more condensed experiences.”

“I feel tired with games that are way too big,” he said. “I don’t have that much time, and I prefer more condensed experiences, but I still enjoy open worlds. One of my favorites from the past were the Gothic games, for example, and they were much smaller worlds, but they were so dense with detail, quests, and characters, and it felt like you really inhabited that space. This is something I really enjoy also.”

“Obviously we are kind of also doing it because we wanted to keep the scope contained to the specific size of the team, and we wanted to produce this in a reasonable way and so on,” Tomaszkiewicz continued. “But I think it has this effect of having this smaller world that is dense with content, and you get a lot of the good stuff – you don’t feel like you’re just traversing empty spaces that much.”

Tomaszkiewicz recently also confirmed that The Blood of Dawnwalker will have full support for players who want to run through the game as an evil character, thanks in large part to the level of freedom offered by the RPG.

“Evil run. Generally speaking, you can kill off the majority of NPCs,” he said during a Q&A. “Maybe not every single one; there are specific cases where, for narrative cohesion, we had to limit that. But we tried to make sure you can kill off most NPCs if you want to, and the main story handles it: you get different outcomes, different endings for different plot lines. It was actually a big point of discussion in the studio: ‘Is this true to Coen? Would he do these things?’”

The Blood of Dawnwalker is being developed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, and is slated for release on September 3rd.

Here are some of the coolest things about this interesting take on vampires that might help you decide if it’s worth your time and money.

1. Tailor Your Approach

Vale Sangora is the perfect stage for Coen’s adventures, as he tries to save his family from the clutches of Brencis, a vampiric overlord who uses a deadly plague to bully the populace of the region to submit to his will. Your time with Coen lets you tackle situations as either a human who’s pretty skilled with a blade during the day, or as a vampiric hybrid with some very nifty abilities at night.

The Vale is an open-world that places an emphasis on how you approach your objectives instead of simply focusing on where you go. Typically, you’re going to have varying options depending on whether you try achieving a goal by day or at night, with different avenues opening themselves up to you based on the abilities you have available. It’s a part of the core gameplay loop, and one of the game’s biggest draws in our opinion.

2. A World Full of Possibilities

Coen’s journey through Vale Sangora is filled with opportunities to engage with the game’s systems. You could explore ancient ruins to find blueprints and manuals for new abilities, find cool weapons, or even sabotage Brencis’s Blood Transports as and when you find them out in the world.

There’s also the chance to come across locations that let you discover more about Vale Sangora or the sub-region you’re in, providing more context on Coen’s fight and the world he inhabits in his new form. There’s every chance that digging up new knowledge could send you towards other objectives, and we’re going to be as diligent as we can be when we’re out and about in the world.

3. An Interesting Approach To Combat

Whether you’re using Coen’s sword as a human or his claws as a vampire, combat in Dawnwalker follows an interesting rhythm. You’re going to have to pay attention to which direction your enemy is attacking and respond with the right directional inputs to either block or parry the attack. Doing so lets you accrue Activation Charges, which you can then use to unleash some devastating special abilities that can turn the tide in your favor.

And before we move on to those abilities, know that you can use your sword as a vampire, and that your moves are going to be faster and more fluid as a result of your enhanced abilities while in that form.

4. Active Abilities

Coen’s got an expansive bag of tricks to use against anyone foolish enough to get between him and Brencis. For instance, the Voracious Bite ability lets you chomp down on an opponent to attempt to stun them as you control how much of their blood you drain. There’s also Boiling Blood, a magical Hex that causes a useful damage-over-time effect when you use it in a fight. It does come with the caveat of putting a timer on Coen at the end of which he explodes, so you’re going to have to be smart about using it.

Indeed, most Hexes in the game affect your health, although an ability called Frugal Witchcraft reduces the amount of health you lose per cast. That’s worth making a beeline for if you decide that Vale Sangora is somewhere you want to be, since Coen’s health doesn’t regenerate during the day. We’re also quite eager to try out Artery Attack, which can be a very useful finisher if you use it well in combat.

5. Multiple Skill Trees

Doubling down on the duality between your human and vampiric sides, the game has distinct skill trees for both of them, while another shared tree is also available for you to explore. Your Active Abilities get their own tab, and we think that there’s a lot of scope for creating a build that suits your playstyle.

Want to be a master of the blade, ignoring your vampiric nature? That’s an option. Or perhaps you believe Coen should strike a balance between them? Go right ahead!

6. Your Vampiric Abilities Come With A Cost

When you start each night as a vampire, you’re going to be hungry for blood, which is represented by your vampiric health bar. You can choose to sate that hunger by feeding on either humans or animals, and you’re going to have to pay attention to it, as letting Coen get too hungry is going to erode away at his self-control to the point where he becomes a slave to his base appetites and drain potentially important characters as a result.

But there’s also the fact that you need to feed in order to sustain your vampire powers, which we’re getting to in a minute. Voracious Bite lets you control how much blood you’re draining from your victims, and could be a potentially safe way to balance your hunger out. You could also use it to knock out crucial targets without killing them, draining just enough of their blood to make them lose consciousness.

7. Embodying A Vampire Hybrid

Although story details are understandably scarce at this point, we know that Brencis has turned Coes into something akin to a vampire-human hybrid. It’s the reason why he’s able to walk in the sun while retaining his abilities at night, after all. But when the sun sets, you become a whole lot more mobile with abilities like Planeshift that let you climb walls and ceilings in a jiffy, or Shadowstep, which lets you teleport to out-of-reach places that you couldn’t get to during the day.

You also get to use your claws to slide down from high places in case you spot something interesting on the ground. Of course, all of the powers we’ve spoken about also come into play, making for an interesting dichotomy that you must use to your advantage.

8. The Blood Guards

Early gameplay showcases gave us a peek at Blood Guards, who are individuals given improved abilities by one of Brencis’s cohorts via a ritual that robs them of their free will in exchange. They are loyal to Brencis as a result, and wield their dual weapons with extreme prejudice against those who might oppose their ‘boss’.

Of course, your time in Vale Sangora is bound to put you on a collision course with more than a few of them, and you’re going to have to use every advantage you have if you want to prevail against them. We think Coen’s up to the challenge, though.

9. Brencis Takes An Active Role In The Game

Brencis is quite a unique antagonist. He’s not content to sit idly by while Coen dismantles his operations. The more you act against the interests of his so-called kingdom, the harder you make your travels through it. He ensures that Coen is well-known throughout the land, and guards get more suspicious and aggressive towards you as a result. You could choose to take the vampires head-on, or lie low and prepare yourself for a better shot at victory.

It’s an interesting dynamic that makes your adventure a sort of tug-of-war for control of the regions you explore, and we can’t wait to see how that dynamic plays out in the final game.

10. Finish The Game Early If You Can

This is an interesting one. We already know where Brencis is: he’s at his main castle in Greifberg. You could, in theory, storm the place and try to end him once and for all. That might even be an effective way to circumvent the limited time you’re given to complete Coen’s adventure, but it isn’t going to be an easy fight.

Dawnwalker isn’t kind to those who go into a fight unprepared, but we’re sure that some of the more daring ones among you are going to attempt this direct approach, and might even walk away from it victorious.

11. Coen Isn’t The Only One Who’s Against Brencis

While there is an argument in favor of taking Brencis on early, we’re probably leaning toward a more methodical approach thanks to the presence of people in Vale Sangora whom Coen can recruit to his cause. We’re speculating that getting them on your side takes a bit of effort and is probably going to be an opportunity to see more of Vale Sangora in the process.

Given what we’re about to cover in the rest of our list, that might be the better strategy, given that you get to enjoy more of the game before you take the fight to the vampires.

12. The Capital Of Vale Sangora

Svartrau is one of the bigger cities you’re going to explore, and it’s quite a large one. It’s got different boroughs, and we’re seeing evidence of a social hierarchy that you could possibly get to engage with over the course of your adventures.

The city also has a medic, merchants, a blacksmith, and an armorer, which points to a crafting system that you could then use to give yourself better gear and a distinct edge over your enemies if your claws aren’t getting the job done.

13. A New Approach To Quest Designs

Dawnwalker isn’t interesting simply because it’s an awesome take on vampires. The game doesn’t demarcate main and side quests; instead choosing to present an experience where different stories are constantly woven together, with your choices affecting the world state in ways that are tangible. Aside from having different ways to approach objectives based on the time of day, fulfilling them takes time forward, meaning that you’re going to have to be strategic about what you’re taking on.

What’s more, community events might uncover new information or open up new paths to existing objectives. They could even give you entirely new quests to take on!

14. Explore The World To Learn More About Your Adversaries

Taking on new quests might also let you discover more about Brencis’s operations, and those of his lieutenants. You could also explore the world to find out more about the vampires’ plans, and things like covered-up frescoes are just waiting out there in Vale Sangora for you to discover.

Coen’s mission isn’t just a war of attrition, but one of information, and you’re going to want to track down as much information as you can if you want to dismantle what Brencis has built since he took over the region.

15. Focus Mode

Coen isn’t just a vampire-human hybrid who can tear through enemy ranks. He’s also a reasonably good investigator, which makes him quite a tenacious individual. Your Focus Mode can highlight objects of interest, loot, and even lead you to hidden areas once you get into the habit of using it well.

It’s especially useful when you’re trying to recreate past events, with it letting you zoom in on key clues and save time in a story where it is of the essence.

And that’s about it for this one. We can’t wait to set foot in Vale Sangora and become a thorn in Brencis’s side once we do, and we’re sure a lot of you are as eager to end his reign of terror as we are! Well, all we can do right now is cross the days off our calendars as we wait for more information to drop. Rest assured, you’ll be hearing from us when it does!

Speaking to Eurogamer, lead quest designer Rafał Jankowski confirmed that you can attempt to beat the game after the Prologue. How? It ties into Coen’s mission to save his family within 30 days and 30 nights. That entire process allows him to become stronger, gather allies, and even disrupt the vampire overlords’ infrastructure.

But you’re not beholden to that time limit. “It is possible to miss a lot of content. After the Prologue, there is nothing stopping you from going straight to Brencis’ castle and trying to defeat the big bad vampire and his vampire officers. It is difficult, of course, but it is physically possible – the content is there waiting for the players. The enemies are there waiting for the players. It is absolutely possible to skip everything, like all these quests,” said Jankowski.

“If you are skilled enough… I don’t know, I didn’t personally try it, I’m not exactly sure how difficult that is. But the idea was to make it difficult enough for this not to be a path that we encourage the players to do on their first try. But we are hoping to see this done soon after the release of the game, because with many players out there, many of them are probably skilled enough or patient enough to try and do it. But it is possible.”

While this could mean sub-30-minute speedruns of players completing the game, it’s something that he’s looking forward to. “Again, we do put some thought into making it difficult, but I’m sure if it can be done, it will be done.” The real question is: How will this affect what’s supposed to happen after the 30 days are up? A question for closer to release.

Of course, you might want to play the game as intended on the first run, if only to see what Brencis and his goons will throw at you as Coen’s infamy rises. Bounty hunters are one thing, but creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz also confirmed that “in the extreme version, he can just put the city on lockdown.”

Continuously pushing against the vampire leadership, even if it makes things less convenient, has its upsides, like the rebellion “respecting” you more. Whether this means they’ll lend aid or become more likely to help out in certain scenarios remains to be seen.

The Blood of Dawnwalker launches on September 3rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out the PC requirements and Coen’s cool-looking wolf transformation for getting around at night.

If you’ll recall, creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz revealed last year that the campaign would require 30 to 40 hours to complete. But now? In a Q&A session attended by Gamereactor, he revealed that it takes around 50 hours on average to complete, though it depends on one’s approach.

“It’s funny, because when we first started to work, we planned it for 40 hours. Right now, the average is around 50 hours, but it depends on which difficulty level you play, how picky you are, how much you explore, and how much you upgrade your gear, and so on,” he revealed.

“Lately, a few persons from our team finished the game… and there are big differences between them. It’s like from 50 hours to around 70.” The latter could indicate the amount of side content that players engage with, but with the different ways to approach quests (as illustrated here), there’s more than enough reason to replay. For instance, you can play as an evil Coen throughout, and it is apparently glorious.

The Blood of Dawnwalker arrives on September 3rd, retailing for $69.99 on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Thus far, we’ve seen Coen’s wolf transformation – a callback to Bram Stoker’s Dracula – and how he can earn infamy from different vampire lords. This subsequently opens up quests for them that can influence the ending, but you need to be mindful of the time limit, as even unlocking new perks can advance the day.