The Blood of Dawnwalker is the debut video game from the Polish studio Rebel Wolves, composed of former members of CD Projekt Red, the company behind The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. The game places players in the role of Coen de Laslea, the eldest son of a peasant family in the Carpathian Mountains during the 14th century. A group of vampiric creatures, led by the tyrannical Brencis, saves the region from a plague and a corrupt monarchy, only to impose their own authoritarian rule. Coen is transformed into a hybrid being—human by day and a vampire or "vespertine" by night—and has 30 days to rescue his family, who are captured by Brencis. The game's central mechanic is its time-based system, where each day and night is divided into eight time segments that are gradually used up based on the player's actions. Some quests are only available during specific times of day or for limited periods, requiring players to plan and prioritize their choices carefully. The narrative is deeply immersive, set in the war-torn lands of Val Sangora, where players often face difficult moral and ethical decisions. The writing complements the time system, as choices of morality sometimes conflict with the need for practical solutions. The combat in The Blood of Dawnwalker is more realistic than many similar games, drawing inspiration from Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Success depends on timing, positioning, and responsiveness, with players needing to react quickly to perform effective parries or dodges. At night, when Coen transforms into his vampiric form, he gains increased strength and uses his claws in battle. This shift provides new combat strategies, as some quests and areas may be more effectively tackled in this form. While the game does not aim for the largest map in video game history, it focuses on making exploration enjoyable. The world is vast but not overwhelming, with opportunities to explore beyond main paths, uncovering hidden challenges, merchants, and secondary quests. Players have the freedom to choose their approach—whether exploring regions in a specific order, taking missions as they come, or rushing toward the end goal. Despite its strengths, The Blood of Dawnwalker has faced some criticism. The skill tree offers only a few meaningful options that significantly impact gameplay. The crafting system is seen as unnecessary, and upgrades to weapons and armor are considered poorly designed. Coen's inventory can become a problem due to an arbitrary limit that hinders movement. The map also includes too many fast travel points, which can discourage players from walking even short distances. Despite these issues, The Blood of Dawnwalker is praised for its strong writing, innovative time system, meaningful secondary quests, engaging characters, and dynamic combat. It is described as an intelligently designed adventure that offers suspense, variety, and player freedom. Rebel Wolves' debut game has received critical and commercial success, suggesting that their creative approach is worth exploring further. Overall rating: 8.5/10.