Created by some of the talent behind The Witcher 3, this dark fantasy role-playing game takes place in the 14th century in the fictional land of Vale Sangora, a Carpathian valley of wetlands, mountains and forests cut off from the rest of the world and under the rule of a vicious vampire clan. The developers envisage Dawnwalker as a trilogy. And because protagonist Coen is half vampire himself, that trilogy can skip across time, culminating in the modern day.
We want each part of the saga to stand on its own and tell a compelling, engaging, emotive story, while together shaping an epic narrative with a grander plot gradually unravelling.” It’s a fascinating idea for a series where you play as a bloodsucker, doomed to watch those around you wither and die as you persist through centuries. Playing with the concept of time isn’t just a plan for the sequels. When the vampire clan arrives at the start of the game, they take Coen’s family, and you have 30 days and nights to rescue them.
By day, you’re a normal human, fighting with a sword. By night, you can walk on walls, teleport and claw people in half. While you can explore and talk to people at your leisure, time moves forward whenever you complete a clearly marked quest.
You could always attempt to save your family on day one, but you’ll be severely unprepared. You have to manage your time while growing in power, sharpening those claws for the final showdown. You always remember that there is someone whose fate truly depends on your actions.” Take one quest here, and another might progress over there.
The fates of Vale Sangora’s citizens are interlinked, and Dawnwalker’s true depth can only be seen after multiple playthroughs. Even your blood hunger can affect the world. Leave it too long between feeds and Coen will go into a frenzy, draining the person closest to him until they’re a limp sack of skin.
Everything depends on your choices, and in our game, it is not only about the decisions you make, but also whether you choose to do something or not.” It’s a brave approach for a genre where people often save and reload to see how different choices play out. Dawnwalker wants you to come at it with arms open and accept what happens, rewarding players who meet it halfway by opening up new quests and stories when you accidentally – or purposefully – snuff out a life.
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