Blood of Dawnwalkers, an open-world dark fantasy action RPG developed by Rebel Wolves—a studio formed by former developers of The Witcher 3—was officially released today. The game received widespread acclaim from media outlets, with IGN even awarding it a high score of 9/10. However, upon its actual release, players were less satisfied, primarily due to optimization problems.
Set in 14th-century Europe, Blood of Dawnwalkers casts you as Koen, a young man who is human by day and a vampire by night. Your choices and the secrets you uncover while striving to save your family will shape your unique story. The game features a dual-identity mechanic tied to day and night cycles: during the day, you are an ordinary human, but at night, you transform into a powerful vampire. Time is limited; each time you accept a quest, time passes, bringing you closer to the ending.
As of writing, the game has 444 reviews on Steam, with 58% being positive, resulting in a "Mixed" overall rating. Players have mainly criticized the poor optimization, with the most significant issue being severe frame drops during cutscenes, sometimes dropping to just 30 FPS. There are also some basic gameplay issues, such as character movement getting stuck and erratic camera movements. However, players have consistently praised the combat mechanics, noting similarities to Kingdom Come: Deliverance, while other aspects lean more towards The Witcher 3. Additionally, the nuanced character development and the deep integration of vampire themes into the gameplay have also received praise from players.
In summary, Blood of Dawnwalkers is highly recommended for fans of Kingdom Come: Deliverance and The Witcher 3. However, it might be best to wait until the developers resolve the optimization issues before diving in. Blood of Dawnwalkers is now available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.