An open-world action RPG with medieval leanings is nothing new for Rebel Wolves, which consists of former CD Projekt RED veterans. With The Blood of Dawnwalker, however, they’re tapping into something different. A more personal journey about Coen, caught between humanity and vampirism, who must save his family within 30 days.
It’s not a strict time limit, of course, and players must manage Coen’s hunger as well, especially when venturing out at night. Among all of this is the notoriety system. As creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz explained to IGN, slaying Brencis’s forces can result in obstacles but may benefit the player in unforeseen ways.
“As you gain more notoriety in the valley, as you do these acts against Brencis, he won’t stay passive. He will enact these edicts that will hamper your progression. So he might send out more soldiers into the streets, or patrolling the roads, or enforce a curfew. So now it’s more difficult to feed at night.”
Other NPCs will take note of your notoriety as well, and it could provide an edge when dealing with certain factions. “It’s not just Brencis and his soldiers, it’s also the people in the valley. They will recognize you and be afraid of you. So, in some quest situations, it actually might be helpful. There are some factions that fight against Brencis; they don’t like him. So building up notoriety is actually a good way to gain a good standing with them.”
Whether the player engages with all this, immersing themselves in the world of Dawnwalker or beelines it to Brencis is up to them. It’s one reason why the title is so intriguing, and the development team’s pedigree is just the cherry on top.
The Blood of Dawnwalker launches in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Head here for more extensive gameplay.
