The Blood of Dawnwalker Review: Ambitious Open-World RPG Undermined by Repetitive Tasks and Underused Vampire Fantasy

The review, based on dozens of hours with the PS5 version ahead of the September 3, 2026 release, praises the prologue as a tight and tense introduction. The story follows Coen, whose village is destroyed and family captured for sacrifice by the vampire overlord Brencis. The main quest encourages players to destabilize Brencis' rule by hunting his generals, but doing so requires engaging with many repetitive tasks, such as clearing camps and destroying supply crates. The vampire lieutenants themselves are described as flamboyant and fascinating, but they rarely appear until their confrontations, which often end just as they become interesting.

The game's strength lies in its lengthier multi-part quests, which feature well-written characters, meaningful choices and consequences, and interconnected world-building. The 30-day time limit and day/night cycle, central to the premise, are criticized as underused. The reviewer notes that while the countdown initially feels pressing, it soon becomes accepted as a background cost, and the requirement to spend time learning skills during leveling is a constant frustration.

TechRadar's verdict acknowledges the studio's ambition but finds that the game struggles under its weight, failing to fully realize its ideas. The review is accompanied by pros and cons, highlighting excellent quests and voice acting alongside repetitive tasks and underutilized mechanics.