The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 had a solid start and got me hooked with The Blood of Dawnwalker trailer. While it was a rather short and cinematic gameplay showcase, it was enough to hint at what it’s all about. For someone who loves vampires and mythical monsters, this game has massive potential.
In my opinion, this is exactly what Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2 should have been like. Don’t mean to say Paradox Interactive won’t nail it, but it’s the medieval gothic experience that I wanted. Modern vampires are a cool idea, but there’s a charm in old-school settings.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is all I wanted from a vampire game
If you tuned into Xbox Games Showcase 2025, you must have gotten a glimpse of The Blood of Dawnwalker. It’s an RPG game developed by Rebel Wolves and published by Bandai Namco. We’ve already seen some cinematic trailers a few months back, but now we’ve gotten a short look at the gameplay. Lord, behold, it looks fabulous.
What I loved the most about the game is that it adapts some of my favorite features from video games. The teleportation is similar to Dishonored‘s Blink ability, which is really fun to use. Oh, the wall sliding feature as well, which gave similar vibes to Prince of Persia (2008). It’s good to see these fun features in The Blood of Dawnwalker.
Now, many have been calling it a Witcher clone because the protagonist is a mythical creature hunting monsters. But it’s just a medieval story trope, so it shouldn’t be judged so harshly. Regardless, an open-world RPG in a dark-fantasy world seems like a good idea.
If I indeed had to compare the game, it would be Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines. Yes, the game is set in the modern era, but I do have a point here. Bloodlines has a great world, but it could have been better if they approached it with a daywalker, a hybrid who can live through both night and day.
If you’re making a vampire game, daywalkers are a better approach
You are surely aware of vampires being featured in video games many times over. Be it The Elder Scrolls, Vampyr, or The Masquerade: Bloodlines, all have their own way of showcasing the mythical creatures. However, to me, The Blood of Dawnwalker seems like a perfect portrayal.
Vampires are usually rulers of the night, and they are fierce. You probably have seen the same with the Twilight saga and Daybreaker. However, it’s pretty cliche, like, does such an overpowered creature have to be limited to night? Yeah, that’s what I thought of as well.
Also, humans aren’t enough to be a one-man army against them, maybe with some kind of super serum. The best way to tackle them would be one of their own, just like Blade is in Marvel Comics. That’s a cooler way to tackle a problem, and I’m glad The Blood of Dawnwalker is using the same.
To me, daywalkers are a much better way to approach vampires in games, as the idea allows for the day-night cycle. If you’ve played any other vampire-based game, didn’t the immersion break once you realised it’s always night? Exactly, it doesn’t make any sense. But it’s just a video game thing, right?
What are your thoughts about The Blood of Dawnwalker? Do you think it’s just another Witcher-inspired RPG, or do you think it would be a different game after all? Share your thoughts in the comments below, we’d love to know your opinions.
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