r/rpg_gamers 7d ago

Release The Blood of Dawnwalker | Review Megathread

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The Blood of Dawnwalker

**Platforms**:

- PC (Sep 3, 2026)

- PlayStation 5 (Sep 3, 2026)

- Xbox Series X/S (Sep 3, 2026)

**Developer**: Rebel Wolves

**Publisher**: Bandai Namco Entertainment

OpenCritic - 84 average - 90% recommended

Critic Reviews

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**[MonsterVine](https://opencritic.com/outlet/334/monstervine)\*\* - [Spencer Legacy](https://opencritic.com/critic/2164/spencer-legacy) - [5 / 5](https://monstervine.com/2026/08/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is one of the most impressive games I’ve played this generation. The sprawling world and multifaceted story are wonders to behold, while the combat walks the perfect line between complexity and accessibility. Though there is a little bit of open-world jank to contend with, you’d be missing out by choosing not to play this game, as it may already be the best release in an extremely competitive September.

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**[Multiplayer First](https://opencritic.com/outlet/826/multiplayer-first)\*\* - [Alex Co](https://opencritic.com/critic/2487/alex-co) - [10 / 10](https://mp1st.com/news/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-first-blood)

>In The Blood of Dawnwalker, Rebel Wolves gambled on a new IP and didn’t hold back in their ambition. Thankfully, it has paid off in spades, and from the looks of it, this is the start of a new RPG franchise. It might not have the same notoriety as The Witcher series for now, but if Rebel Wolves can produce the sequels with the same level of quality, then The Blood of Dawnwalker might just be the next great RPG series.

>

>Simply put: The Blood of Dawnwalker is an all-new, AAA action-RPG that manages to impress in every way, and one that’s our frontrunner as the Game of the Year. We might possibly be witnessing the birth of a new powerhouse IP, and I, for one, am all for it.

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**[Capsule Computers](https://opencritic.com/outlet/858/capsule-computers)\*\* - [Travis Bruno](https://opencritic.com/critic/9157/travis-bruno) - [9.5 / 10](https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/2026/09/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers layered narrative depth, dense worldbuilding, and excellent dual combat that keeps exploration and battles equally engaging in a way that truly shines in today’s age.

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**[SECTOR.sk](https://opencritic.com/outlet/615/sector-sk)\*\* - Branislav Koh�t - *Slovak* - [9.5 / 10](https://www.sector.sk/recenzia/40790/the-blood-of-dawnwalker.htm)

>You will enjoy spending time with the vampire hero as he demonstrates his power, engaging in combat and exploring a perilous open world. With dozens of hours of battles, moving scenes and conversations, the game is sure to win you over.

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**[SomGeek](https://opencritic.com/outlet/1067/somgeek)\*\* - *Slovak* - [95%](https://somgeek.eu/index.php/2026/08/31/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-karpatsky-mor-ktery-si-dobrovolne-pustite-do-zily/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is a triumphant and uncompromising action RPG that brilliantly combines mature storytelling with ferocious vampire gameplay. The contrast between the human day and the monstrous night works flawlessly, while the breathtaking city of Svartrau will captivate you from the very first moment. If the developers manage to iron out the inconsistent optimization with a Day One patch, we have an undeniable Game of the Year contender on our hands.

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**[Pizza Fria](https://opencritic.com/outlet/915/pizza-fria)\*\* - [Álvaro Saluan da Cunha](https://opencritic.com/critic/10794/-lvaro-saluan-da-cunha) - *Portuguese* - [9.2 / 10](https://pizzafria.ig.com.br/analises/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is well worth playing for those who enjoy narrative RPGs, dark fantasy, vampires, difficult choices, and open worlds populated and created with personality. It has the kind of adventure that makes the player think about a quest while away from their PC or console.

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**[But Why Tho?](https://opencritic.com/outlet/722/but-why-tho-)\*\* - [Michael Murphy](https://opencritic.com/critic/10866/michael-murphy) - [9 / 10](https://butwhytho.net/2026/08/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is a fantastic RPG worthy of diving and sinking your fangs into again and again.

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**[ComingSoon.net](https://opencritic.com/outlet/845/comingsoon-net)\*\* - [Tyler Treese](https://opencritic.com/critic/65/tyler-treese) - [9 / 10](https://www.comingsoon.net/games/news/2183884-the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-vampire-action-rpg)

>Rebel Wolves’ debut action role-playing game is one of the most unique and ambitious games to come out in 2026.

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**[Digitale Anime](https://opencritic.com/outlet/944/digitale-anime)\*\* - [Raouf Belhamra](https://opencritic.com/critic/11073/raouf-belhamra), [Sami Belhamra ](https://opencritic.com/critic/11074/sami-belhamra-) - *Arabic* - [9 / 10](https://ar.digitaleanime.dz/games/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>"When time is more precious than blood"

>The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a highly ambitious vision of the Action RPG with a compelling time system, real-world choices, a dual identity that shifts gameplay between day and night, and an atmospherically rich and detailed open world.

>While the combat and some technical aspects could use some polishing, the interconnections of the game's systems and the strength of its quest design make it a very promising experience, and it could well become one of the standout Action-RPGs of 2026.

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**[EmuGlx.org](https://opencritic.com/outlet/930/emuglx-org)\*\* - [Vladan Nastanović](https://opencritic.com/critic/10932/vladan-nastanovi-) - *Unknown* - [9 / 10](https://www.emuglx.org/recenzije-igara/the-blood-of-the-dawnwalker-2026/)

>Blood of the Dawnwalker is an impressive debut from Rebel Wolves that, despite flaws such as problematic lip-sync and technical issues, manages to overcome and even surpass the initial skepticism carried over from the Cyberpunk 2077 era. For fans of deep storytelling, dark Slavic atmosphere, and thoughtfully implemented vampire mechanics, time spent in Vale Sangora comes highly recommended.

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**[Evilgamerz](https://opencritic.com/outlet/878/evilgamerz)\*\* - [Daan Nijboer](https://opencritic.com/critic/10035/daan-nijboer) - *Dutch* - [9 / 10](https://evilgamerz.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker does a lot of things we've seen before. The influence of other major RPGs is frequently noticeable, and comparisons to The Witcher, in particular, are easily made. Yet, Rebel Wolves has added enough of its own ideas to ensure that Dawnwalker doesn't feel like a copy. The time system, in particular, makes a big difference.

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**[GAMINGbible](https://opencritic.com/outlet/983/gamingbible)\*\* - [Kate Harrold](https://opencritic.com/critic/11604/kate-harrold) - [9 / 10](https://www.gamingbible.com/reviews/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-rebel-wolves-315284-20260831)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker deserves to be a new AAA mainstay, and I’d gladly join Coen on future ventures. Rebel Wolves’ debut outing is everything you could want from the former director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but it’s also something entirely new.

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**[Gameblog](https://opencritic.com/outlet/450/gameblog)\*\* - *French* - [9 / 10](

https://www.gameblog.fr/jeu-video/jeux/tests/test-the-blood-of-dawnwalker-pc-721943)

>Quote not yet available

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**[GamingBolt](https://opencritic.com/outlet/297/gamingbolt)\*\* - [Stuart Glover ](https://opencritic.com/critic/8831/stuart-glover-) - [9 / 10](https://gamingbolt.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-gimme-the-night)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is a fascinating action-RPG, where every choice to save Coen's family feels rightly consequential.

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**[Loot Level Chill](https://opencritic.com/outlet/948/loot-level-chill)\*\* - [Mick Fraser](https://opencritic.com/critic/572/mick-fraser) - [9 / 10](https://lootlevelchill.com/reviews/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent open-world fantasy RPG with some unique, interesting ideas.

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**[NextPlay](https://opencritic.com/outlet/897/nextplay)\*\* - [Brad Goodwin](https://opencritic.com/critic/10643/brad-goodwin) - [9 / 10](https://next-play.com.au/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-ps5-pro/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is a familiar take on the RPG genre, but its dense human-Vrakhiri dual gameplay loop and time management, accompanied by a banging story, make this one of the best RPGs of the year.

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**[One More Game](https://opencritic.com/outlet/811/one-more-game)\*\* - [Vincent Ternida](https://opencritic.com/critic/8412/vincent-ternida) - [9 / 10](https://onemoregame.ph/2026/08/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is an amazing first effort from Rebel Wolves, proving that open‑world RPGs can still surprise us. By stripping away genre bloat and focusing on meaningful mechanics such as the use of the day and night cycle, a gripping narrative, and morally complex characters, the developers have delivered a dark fantasy experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly new, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

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**[Press Start](https://opencritic.com/outlet/491/press-start)\*\* - [9 / 10](https://press-start.com.au/reviews/xbox-series-x-reviews/2026/09/01/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-bloody-and-tasty/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is an incredible RPG that sinks its fangs into you from the moment you start playing, signalling an incredibly strong start for Rebel Wolves. Choices feel meaningful, combat is satisfying, and the time system makes you stop and think about just what you're doing when you play games. While some quests drag and there were some technical hiccups along the way, nothing made me want to stop playing this adventure that trades breadth for depth. As such, The Blood of Dawnwalker is easily one of my favourite RPGs in years and well worth a taste.

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**[Saudi Gamer](https://opencritic.com/outlet/455/saudi-gamer)\*\* - [عبد الله محمد](https://opencritic.com/critic/11497/-) - *Arabic* - [4.5 / 5](https://www.saudigamer.com/review/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker executes its ideas brilliantly, to the point where you barely notice its limited budget, while delivering an RPG experience that can stand alongside The Witcher 3 in terms of its storytelling, atmosphere, and side quests, making it one of the most unique RPG titles of this generation

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**[The Nerd Stash](https://opencritic.com/outlet/884/the-nerd-stash)\*\* - [Julio La Pine](https://opencritic.com/critic/10143/julio-la-pine) - [9 / 10](https://thenerdstash.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-dark-fantasy-done-right/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent dark fantasy RPG that shines thanks to its strong sandbox elements. As a debut title, Rebel Wolves has done a terrific job of finally doing justice to vampires in video games.

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**[The Outerhaven Productions](https://opencritic.com/outlet/335/the-outerhaven-productions)\*\* - [Jordan Andow](https://opencritic.com/critic/8998/jordan-andow) - [4.5 / 5 ](https://www.theouterhaven.net/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent dark fantasy RPG that combines meaningful choices, a clever time-management system and satisfying combat with a world that constantly encourages another playthrough. Rebel Wolves wears its Witcher 3 influence proudly, but this is a game with a strong identity of its own.

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**[Thumb Wars](https://opencritic.com/outlet/935/thumb-wars)\*\* - [Liam Magee](https://opencritic.com/critic/11090/liam-magee) - [4.5 / 5 ](https://thethumbwars.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-ps5/)

>While I played through The Blood of Dawnwalker, I had a fantastic time exploring the game’s open world as I fought the numerous monsters and humans in gruelling combat with fantastic abilities that look as cool as they feel. I was also able to enjoy the large story with its numerous consequences and choices that lasted the entire game. Although the gameplay is fun it can get repetitive doing the same side content, but it is very far and few between allowing a break between them.

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**[GamerFocus](https://opencritic.com/outlet/971/gamerfocus)\*\* - [Julián Ramírez](https://opencritic.com/critic/11401/juli-n-ram-rez) - *Spanish* - [8.9 / 10](https://www.gamerfocus.co/juegos/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-resena-critica-ps5/)

>Comparisons between The Blood of Dawnwalker and The Witcher 3 are inevitable, but it has nothing to fear -even when faced with Geralt's best adventure- because Rebel Wolves' game is excellent. It offers an open world full of secrets and quests—all of them interesting—and the ability to forge a narrative however we want to navigate this world of horror, fantasy, and political intrigue. It has some technical issues, and not all of its mechanics work as well as they could, but it is undoubtedly one of the best games of the year.

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**[GAMES.CH](https://opencritic.com/outlet/762/games-ch)\*\* - [Olaf Bleich](https://opencritic.com/critic/7459/olaf-bleich) - *German* - [88%](https://www.games.ch/the-blood-of-dawnwalker/test/review-mh9b/)

>Quote not yet available

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**[Gamer Guides](https://opencritic.com/outlet/733/gamer-guides)\*\* - [Echo Apsey](https://opencritic.com/critic/10474/echo-apsey) - [87 / 100](https://www.gamerguides.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker/reviews/a-true-narrative-sandbox)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is a true narrative sandbox with a malleable and flexible structure that allows you to play your way and see where the wind takes you. While its combat isn’t as strong, the game’s narrative framework is consistently mesmerizing.

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**[Atarita](https://opencritic.com/outlet/885/atarita)\*\* - [Atakan Gümrükçüoğlu](https://opencritic.com/critic/10246/atakan-g-mr-k-o-lu) - *Turkish* - [86 / 100](https://www.atarita.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-inceleme/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a captivating RPG experience with its rich atmosphere, unique mechanics built around the day-night cycle, and a freeform quest structure in which player choices shape the course of fate.

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**[Eternal Games](https://opencritic.com/outlet/999/eternal-games)\*\* - [محمد الأحمري](https://opencritic.com/critic/11764/-) - *Arabic* - [8.5 / 10](https://www.eternalgamesweb.com/reviews/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is considered an excellent Action RPG experience that delivers a wonderful, poetic story alongside carefully written characters and a meticulously crafted protagonist, while introducing a new and distinctive time system that serves the experience in a dark world full of secrets and mystery. It features an enjoyable and addictive gameplay system with two different forms—as a human by day and a vampire by night—backed by deep RPG elements that grant you complete freedom in building your character and shaping your story's path through masterfully crafted, unforgettable quests. This blend is completed by a enchanting soundtrack and a stunning art direction to deliver an epic experience that leaves a clear mark, despite a few flaws in enemy variety and side content.

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**[IGN Italy](https://opencritic.com/outlet/477/ign-italy)\*\* - Stefano Castagnola - *Italian* - [8.5 / 10](https://it.ign.com/dawnwalker/227690/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-la-recensione)

>A new and intriguing action RPG that doesn's stray far away from The Witcher III's template, but delivers an engaging narrative experience full of memorable characters in a fascinating setting.

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**[PPE.pl](https://opencritic.com/outlet/642/ppe-pl)\*\* - [Wojciech Gruszczyk](https://opencritic.com/critic/5528/wojciech-gruszczyk) - *Polish* - [8.5 / 10](https://www.ppe.pl/recenzje/424361/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-recenzja-gry-tworcy-wiedzmina-rozpoczynaja-nowy-swiat.html)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellent start to a new universe, one that draws on the experience of the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but which, thanks to the 30-day system, Coen’s transformation and the consequences of your decisions, quickly finds its own identity. The game’s greatest strengths are its superbly written quests, interesting characters and a world you’ll want to return to in order to experience completely different versions of events. The underdeveloped combat and technical issues can be irritating, but they do not detract from the fact that Rebel Wolves has created a large, ambitious RPG that is well worth checking out.

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**[ReGame It](https://opencritic.com/outlet/988/regame-it)\*\* - [Taha Omar](https://opencritic.com/critic/11656/taha-omar) - *Arabic* - [8.5 / 10](https://regameit.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is more than an attempt to replicate The Witcher’s success, depending on its own unique charm and atmosphere. Its time-limited story system and freedom of choice work exceptionally well, while the gameplay delivers two distinct experiences. Despite some repetition, it lays a strong foundation for what could become a remarkable series.

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**[Worth Playing](https://opencritic.com/outlet/64/worth-playing)\*\* - [Chris "Atom" DeAngelus](https://opencritic.com/critic/289/chris-atom-deangelus) - [8.5 / 10](https://worthplaying.com/article/2026/8/31/reviews/150861-ps5-review-the-blood-of-dawnwalker/)

>In a month packed with big-name releases, The Blood of Dawnwalker might be one of the best games of the bunch. It's a well-crafted adventure with an engaging story, an enjoyable world, interesting powers and a genuinely compelling approach to player choice. The time limit gives every decision weight. The open-ended storytelling makes exploration meaningful. The day/night system gives Coen two distinct ways to interact with the world. Most importantly, the game trusts you to make choices without constantly telling you whether you've made the "right" one.

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**[XGN.nl](https://opencritic.com/outlet/810/xgn-nl)\*\* - [Luuc ten Velde](https://opencritic.com/critic/8359/luuc-ten-velde) - *Dutch* - [8.5 / 10](https://www.xgn.nl/review/review-the-blood-of-dawnwalker-om-je-tanden-in-te-zetten)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is a fantastic open world RPG with a sharply written story, great characters and meaningfull choices throughout. It wears it's Witcher 3 inspirations on it's sleeve, but isn't afraid to add some twists to keep it fresh.

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**[Zoomg](https://opencritic.com/outlet/478/zoomg)\*\* - [Afshin Piroozi](https://opencritic.com/critic/3546/afshin-piroozi) - *Persian* - [8.5 / 10](https://www.zoomg.ir/playstation/417354-the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is the kind of ambitious RPG that invites you to lose yourself in its world, where your choices play a major role in shaping the story and allow you to experience it on your own terms. This freedom is the game’s biggest strength, while its deep RPG mechanics and engaging combat complement the experience nicely.

>Despite some shortcomings, Dawnwalker ultimately delivers a satisfying and memorable experience. With plenty of replay value and different paths to explore, it’s a game you can return to and experience in a whole new way. If you’re a fan of open-world RPGs with deep stories and meaningful choices, The Blood of Dawnwalker is a journey worth taking.

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**[Cerealkillerz](https://opencritic.com/outlet/465/cerealkillerz)\*\* - [Steve Brieller](https://opencritic.com/critic/9606/steve-brieller) - *German* - [8.4 / 10](https://cerealkillerz.org/review-the-blood-of-dawnwalker-rebel-wolves-debut-hat-biss/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is an excellently written ARPG whose roots in The Witcher are unmistakable. The consistently high quality of the voice acting and sound design contributes greatly to an atmosphere that makes the player genuinely care about the fates of its characters and the world they inhabit.

>

>Unfortunately, the gameplay—particularly the combat—becomes rather repetitive and tedious after a short while, while the crafting system feels somewhat tacked on and is rarely, if ever, actually necessary. On the other hand, we really enjoyed the concept of time as a resource, which has been implemented in a very player-friendly way.

>

>Despite its gameplay shortcomings, we will definitely embark on a second playthrough, because the stories Dawnwalker has to tell are absolutely worth hearing. They ultimately rise far above any of the game's shortcomings and are easily its greatest strength.

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**[PSX Brasil](https://opencritic.com/outlet/514/psx-brasil)\*\* - [Marco Aurélio Couto](https://opencritic.com/critic/9629/marco-aur-lio-couto) - *Portuguese* - [84 / 100](https://psxbrasil.com.br/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>Although it has some flaws in combat, The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a solid and characterful experience. Its time management system, the freedom to explore, and the choices that shape Coen's journey are its greatest strengths and make Rebel Wolves' RPG stand out from other games in the genre.

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**[Bazimag](https://opencritic.com/outlet/594/bazimag)\*\* - [Hamidreza Ghaneei](https://opencritic.com/critic/4840/hamidreza-ghaneei) - *Persian* - [8.1 / 10](https://bazimag.com/review/15691-blood-of-the-dawnwalker-review)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is by no means a flawless experience, but the developers’ ambition in storytelling and in creating a world that responds meaningfully to the player’s choices has ensured that its gameplay shortcomings do not overshadow the overall experience. With its debut title, Rebel Wolves has shown that it has plenty to say, and one can only hope that some of this game’s shortcomings will be addressed in future installments.

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**[Console Creatures](https://opencritic.com/outlet/798/console-creatures)\*\* - Meghan G - [8 / 10](https://www.consolecreatures.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is an impressive debut from Rebel Wolves, with challenging combat and choices that shape the story around you. It breathes new life into a tired genre of vampire action RPGs, using time as a resource and letting players shape the world around them. Despite relatively benign issues that can easily be rectified, it is certainly one to watch within the world of RPGs.

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**[Dexerto](https://opencritic.com/outlet/863/dexerto)\*\* - [Jessica Filby](https://opencritic.com/critic/9424/jessica-filby) - [4 / 5 ](https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-a-must-play-rpg-for-witcher-3-fans-3402953/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker isn't perfect by any means, but its attempts to merge The Witcher's grungy world with an intense time limit make it stand out from Geralt’s masterpiece. Its story is riveting, its characters are expertly written, and its combat combined with the 30-day time limit is utterly unique, making for a thrilling adventure that is as bloody as it is good fun.

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**[GRYOnline.pl](https://opencritic.com/outlet/559/gryonline-pl)\*\* - [Krzysztof Mysiak](https://opencritic.com/critic/4433/krzysztof-mysiak) - *Polish* - [8 / 10](https://www.gry-online.pl/recenzje/recenzja-the-blood-of-dawnwalker-rebel-wolves-stworzylo-rpg-pelne/z84992)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker from Rebel Wolves is a grim RPG which, at its best, rivals The Witcher 3 story-wise. The game charms with an excellent prologue, a grounded, down-to-earth atmosphere, mature choices in shades of grey, and memorable characters. Unfortunately, after a brilliant start, the experience suffers due to repetitive, Ubisoft-style open-world activities that you have to plough through to uncover the narrative treasures. It is an ambitious and successful, albeit uneven, title – a must-play for fans of atmospheric games who are willing to overlook some of the rough edges typical of a debut title.

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**[GameOnly](https://opencritic.com/outlet/912/gameonly)\*\* - [Michał Marasek](https://opencritic.com/critic/10763/micha-marasek) - *Polish* - [8 / 10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUoX37_IwTg)

>Video Review - Quote not available

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**[Just Play it](https://opencritic.com/outlet/936/just-play-it)\*\* - [Mounir Bensaci](https://opencritic.com/critic/11101/mounir-bensaci) - *Arabic* - [8 / 10](https://justplayit.info/reviews/review-the-blood-of-dawnwalker/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker delivers a dark and thrilling journey through a rich open world filled with exploration, featuring an exceptional day-and-night cycle that meaningfully impacts quest design, abilities, and gameplay. Despite several technical issues, including frame-rate drops, inconsistent visual quality, and lengthy loading screens, these shortcomings do not diminish the fact that we experienced a distinctive and bold adventure with plenty of room to improve.

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**[Kakuchopurei](https://opencritic.com/outlet/788/kakuchopurei)\*\* - [Jonathan Toyad](https://opencritic.com/critic/7505/jonathan-toyad) - [80 / 100](https://www.kakuchopurei.com/2026/08/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-kkp/)

>Despite its open-world technical issues and certain aspects of its combat, you're in for a bloody good time with this vampire-laced role-playing tale. The Blood of Dawnwalker is this year's spotlight CRPG entry that hit all the right notes with its story, characters, world-building, and overall adventure & capstones.

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**[KonsoliFIN](https://opencritic.com/outlet/942/konsolifin)\*\* - [Tommi Viitanen](https://opencritic.com/critic/11062/tommi-viitanen) - *Finnish* - [4 / 5 ](https://www.konsolifin.net/peliarvostelu/puolihirvion-paivakirja-hyvaa-vampyyriroolipelia-kannatti-odottaa-blood-dawnwalker)

>The former Witcher 3 developers show how a dark fantasy setting should be handled.

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**[MondoXbox](https://opencritic.com/outlet/794/mondoxbox)\*\* - [Mirko Rossi](https://opencritic.com/critic/7624/mirko-rossi) - *Italian* - [8 / 10](https://www.mondoxbox.com/recensione/3909/the-blood-of-dawnwalker.html)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is a high-quality action RPG, built around a unique combat system, a very convincing "dual" gameplay, and an open narrative structure that stays rich and coherent even while leaving almost every choice in our hands. The time limit and the tangible weight of every decision make the whole experience deeper, within a beautifully detailed world; it's just a pity that the technical side and some production limits are not always up to par.

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**[Novastream](https://opencritic.com/outlet/1079/novastream)\*\* - [Chris Sutton](https://opencritic.com/critic/12171/chris-sutton) - [4 / 5 ](https://novastreamnetwork.com/games/game-review-the-blood-of-dawnwalker/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is a game that has been hovering near the top of my 2026 anticipation list. While it has some issues in its package, there are components in story and the vampire abilities that provide exciting moments across 40-60 hours of play. Your enjoyment will depend on your connection to a solid story, combat feel and the use of time segments to progress across 30 days. The sounds can be visceral and stumbling across random occurrences always enhances the lived-in vibe of an open world. There is something here that may just need a few updates to realise its best form, yet I can’t help but be excited for where Rebel Wolves decides to place their time next.

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**[Rocket Chainsaw](https://opencritic.com/outlet/348/rocket-chainsaw)\*\* - [David Latham](https://opencritic.com/critic/2648/david-latham) - [4 / 5 ](https://www.rocketchainsaw.com.au/review/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>We loved the fact that you can just give in to the feed and kill main characters along the way, and that there were many different ways to end the story. It was great to hear that this is just chapter one of Coen’s story, as we can see Rebel Wolves growing and becoming a real powerhouse in this genre.

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**[TheSixthAxis](https://opencritic.com/outlet/68/thesixthaxis)\*\* - [Gareth Chadwick](https://opencritic.com/critic/317/gareth-chadwick) - [8 / 10](https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2026/08/31/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is excellent, if not quite successful in everything it tries. It's fun to teleport around in a cloud of smoke and bats or walk on ceilings, but the story is also fantastic. It's probably even darker and grimmer than you're expecting, and it gripped me throughout and was complimented by equally fascinating side quest stories that I had to choose between. If you like RPGs, vampires, or great stories, you won't want to miss The Blood of Dawnwalker.

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**[Twisted Voxel](https://opencritic.com/outlet/795/twisted-voxel)\*\* - [Salal Awan](https://opencritic.com/critic/7629/salal-awan) - [8 / 10](https://twistedvoxel.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker makes an impressive debut with compelling writing, meaningful day night mechanics, and versatile combat. Repetitive enemies, awkward traversal, and technical roughness undermine its ambitious open world, but Rebel Wolves establishes a promising foundation for the new IP.

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**[Xbox Achievements](https://opencritic.com/outlet/152/xbox-achievements)\*\* - [Richard Walker](https://opencritic.com/critic/679/richard-walker) - [80%](https://www.xboxachievements.com/game/the-blood-of-dawnwalker/review/)

>It's clear from the off that there's a strong RPG pedigree at work in The Blood of Dawnwalker. The work of Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by forme...

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**[MeuPlayStation](https://opencritic.com/outlet/977/meuplaystation)\*\* - [Raphael Batista Cabral Xavier](https://opencritic.com/critic/11540/raphael-batista-cabral-xavier) - *Portuguese* - [78 / 100](https://meups.com.br/review/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-vale-a-pena/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker is a compelling action RPG with solid directional combat, engaging time management, and an intriguing duality between human and vampire abilities. Repetitive activities and technical issues hold it back, but Rebel Wolves delivers a promising and enjoyable debut.

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**[AltChar](https://opencritic.com/outlet/820/altchar)\*\* - [Semir Omerovic](https://opencritic.com/critic/8557/semir-omerovic) - [7 / 10](https://www.altchar.com/reviews/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-biting-more-than-it-can-chew-ae4x75q4Rayy)

>Sharp writing, forgettable combat: The Blood of Dawnwalker is a solid vampiric RPG worth playing for its story and quests alone, if you can stomach the gameplay jank.

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**[Gameliner](https://opencritic.com/outlet/767/gameliner)\*\* - [Claudia Tjia](https://opencritic.com/critic/7470/claudia-tjia) - *Dutch* - [3.5 / 5 ](https://gameliner.nl/reviews/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review-is-tijd-je-grootste-vriend-of-vijand/6603-1-1-181)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker has an interesting identity thanks to its combination of human and vampire gameplay, the day-and-night cycle, the time system and meaningful choices. However, the empty open world, awkward blood and health system, time pressure, uneven combat and several visual and technical bugs keep the experience from reaching its full potential. I enjoyed my time with it, but I often found myself thinking how much stronger the game could have been with a livelier world and a better balance between freedom and time pressure.

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**[IGN Spain](https://opencritic.com/outlet/471/ign-spain)\*\* - [Mario Seijas](https://opencritic.com/critic/10061/mario-seijas) - *Spanish* - [7 / 10](https://es.ign.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker/233139/analisis-de-the-blood-of-dawnwalker-vanpiro-esiten-y-eres-uno-de-ellos)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker has an interesting core, but it throws too many obstacles in your way before you can get to it. Rebel Wolves builds a rich universe with many stories worth discovering, but its clunky mechanics and various issues with its main systems are hard to ignore.

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**[Oyungezer Online](https://opencritic.com/outlet/487/oyungezer-online)\*\* - [Onur Kaya ](https://opencritic.com/critic/6977/onur-kaya-) - *Turkish* - [7 / 10](https://oyungezer.com.tr/inceleme/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-inceleme)

>Fails to live up to its potential and the expectations created by being associated with The Witcher series, but one I could recommend giving a chance during a quieter period.

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**[Push Square](https://opencritic.com/outlet/25/push-square)\*\* - [Robert Ramsey](https://opencritic.com/critic/932/robert-ramsey) - [7 / 10](https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/the-blood-of-dawnwalker)

>According to Rebel Wolves, The Blood of Dawnwalker is just the first instalment in a planned series. And honestly, that's what it feels like: a starting point.Fans of vampire fiction or choice-driven RPGs should still gel with Dawnwalker based on the strength of its world building, characters, and deliciously dark tones. But you'll need to stomach some of the most serviceable, yet frustratingly stunted gameplay I've encountered in quite some time.

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**[Digitec Magazine](https://opencritic.com/outlet/887/digitec-magazine)\*\* - [Simon Balissat](https://opencritic.com/critic/10265/simon-balissat) - *German* - [3 / 5 ](https://www.digitec.ch/de/page/43636)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker nearly strikes a successful balance between classic open-world design and fresh ideas. Its day-night cycle and time pressure are intriguing additions, but neither is used consistently enough. Fans of open worlds and vampires will find plenty to enjoy, although the game offers few major surprises. Technical issues and the lack of a performance mode (in my review build) also hold it back. On the other hand, the charming story is particularly strong at the beginning and end, while the lively world is a joy to explore. Rebel Wolf's debut is far from a masterpiece, but it shows plenty of talent and leaves me hoping for a sequel.

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**[GameRant](https://opencritic.com/outlet/60/gamerant)\*\* - [Josh Cotts](https://opencritic.com/critic/10459/josh-cotts) - [6 / 10](https://gamerant.com/blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>The Blood of Dawnwalker has strong ideas and a compelling story, but repetitive design, uneven systems, and constant jank hold it back.

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**[The Beta Network](https://opencritic.com/outlet/844/the-beta-network)\*\* - [Anthony Culinas](https://opencritic.com/critic/8928/anthony-culinas) - [6 / 10](https://thebetanetwork.net/articles/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-review/)

>From key parts of the team that brought us The Witcher 3, The Blood of Dawnwalker turned out to be a disappointing letdown. Repetitive combat, forgettable quests and frequent crashes leave its promising vampire adventure feeling like a major missed opportunity.

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r/rpg_gamers May 04 '26

Developer Posting Practices

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Hello Developers!

Please use this post a reference of what rules and guidelines you need to follow in order to post in r/rpg_gamers

When You Can Post

  • When the game is initially posted to a storefront (Steam, NSO etc.)
  • When the game launches

What Needs to be in the Post

  • Title of the game must be included in the title of the post
  • A description of the game (including the anticipated or actual release date
  • A link to the Storefront Page (Steam Page, etc)
  • Please do not include links to other pages (Discord, etc)

Other Requirements

  • We don't allow posts for mobile games, browser games, Discord based games etc.
  • We remove posts for games that use Gen AI in development. (assets generation, voice acting, etc.)
  • Please use the Developer Post Flair (We figured out why it wasn't previously available as a option).

Questions?

  • If you're not sure if you qualify, please send a mod mail before posting. If you post without asking and it gets removed, you risk a ban.

We'll update these rules if and when any changes occur, the industry evolves fast so sometimes adjustments are required to keep up.

  • Thank you for all your support, we want to support indie developers but we need to make sure that everyone gets equal opportunities and the subreddit doesn't get overrun with advertising.

Thanks!


r/rpg_gamers 33m ago

News “We all expected it to be directly after Fallout 4” – Skyrim co-lead explains no one expected The Elder Scrolls 6 to be pushed for Starfield

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r/rpg_gamers 48m ago

News After Persona 3 Reload and Persona 4 Revival, remakes of the first two JRPGs are "something we'll probably eventually do," series producer says

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r/rpg_gamers 4h ago

Recommendation request RPGs where you play as an animal?

Upvotes

It's a simple request so I don't know what more to add. I basically want an RPG where your main character (preferably if you can customize them/ make one from scratch) can be something other than a humanoid creature, so I'm also excluding orcs, elves, dwarves, and most other fantasy races. Yes, that also goes for humanoid looking cats and lizards (looking at you Argonians and you sneaky sneaky Khajit)

Simple request, but I myself haven't found anything like this, so I'm beginning to wonder if it even exists. Maybe I just haven't dug deep enough.


r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

News Fable Handcrafted Every NPC Instead of Using Randomizer

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r/rpg_gamers 9h ago

Recommendation request My next big adventure (PS5)

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Various preliminaries info. I usually don't buy games at full price... but for once I've decided to treat myself and I want a game to play from now until the end of the year. Time-wise I usually get a couple of hours on weekday evenings (work permitting) and longer sessions on weekends. I've added a bit of context for each game. Platform-wise I'm on PS5, since my old gaming computer is kaput and my current PC is a working laptop with no graphics card. Taste-wise I lean toward single player (mostly RPGs, action RPGs and soulslikes, but I'm happy with a bit of everything).

BG3. I had this on PC too and completed about 3/4 of it. Then I lost my saves 😭 I really want to finish it, but the thought of starting over from scratch is a bit demoralizing.

Elden Ring + DLC. Also had this on PC, but right now I can't play it decently anymore. And lately I'd been getting the itch to do a nice full run.

Armored Core. The only FromSoftware game I've never touched. Giant robots appeal to me a lot (childhood Gundam influence) but I have doubts about the game's structure.

Kazan. I heard some content creators speak very highly of its combat, and that's mainly what draws me to it.

Dragon's Dogma 2. I tried the first one years ago but the combat didn't win me over. I've always wanted to give it a chance, and the second one has a decent reputation. Plus the DLC is coming out now, so I'd go straight for base game + DLC.

Starfield + DLC. I know it has all its limitations... but I love space exploration. And I grew up in elementary school on a steady diet of Oblivion. With all its flaws, I like the Bethesda formula. But I've heard it runs poorly on PS5 and various people told me it's not worth the price.

Crimson Desert. I've seen all the hype and I'm aware of its limitations... but I find it fascinating, and I like the sense of spectacle and freedom the trailers give off. Plus they're about to push out the update now.

System Shock (Remake). Prey is one of my favorite games. I guess this is more immersive sim than rpg.

(Other games I'd like to play but not strictly rpg : Astrobot, black myth wukong, Stalker 2)

Games I'd avoid

MH Wilds. I really liked MH World and I've thought several times about getting Wilds, but at this point I'd wait for the DLC (I know it's more a multiplayer game but I play it usually as a single player rpg)

Gothic Remake. I really appreciated Gothic 3 back in the day, and later Risen and Elex. Especially the "roughness" and the sense of progression. But for the remake I can wait for a price drop.

Hell is us, Lord of Fallens. I already have them through PS Plus

Also if you have any other suggestions I'm happy to hear them.

Thanks for all your suggestions

P.s. a short (incomplete) list of games I already played. Nier Automata, factorio all From Software games, TBOI, Kotor 1 and 2, mewgenics, all the borderlands games except the 4, all modern fallout, Hollow Knight and Hollow Knight Silksong, all piranha bytes games, GOW, GOW ragnrock, Last of Us 1 and 2, Dyson Sphere Program, XCOM and XCOM 2 (the modern one), Morrowind, Skyrim, Oblivion (and the remake), Cyberpunk, all the witecher games, Divinity Original Sin 2


r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

Recommendation request RPGs with writing on the level of Planescape: Torment?

Upvotes

I recently made my way through the entire Fromsoftware catalogue and found myself wowed by the depth of storytelling in their games. I'm now getting into classic CRPGs and I think I made a mistake by starting with the unbelievably excellent Planescape: Torment.

I tried to start the original Baldur's Gate today and quickly got extremely bored with its initial setting and story, especially its neverending expository dialogue. It certainly doesn't help that I tend to be easily bored by generic high fantasy settings. Is it worth pushing through this moderate tedium to reach the rest of the game? Should I try its sequel instead, perhaps?

Beyond that, I'm planning to give Fallout 1 & 2 a shot, as I'm a long-time fan of the modern Fallout games, and now that I'm primed for something a touch older and more tactical, I think they'll be perfect. Other similar games/series on my radar are Deus Ex, Divinity, Pathfinder, and Shadowrun. Should any of these be next on my list to play?

I'm specifically looking for something that will really make me think while also managing to have fun moments. For example, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, Fallout New Vegas, and Disco Elysium. Comparable but not quite as good are games such as BG3, RDR2, PREY (2017), Hades, Papers Please, Cyberpunk 2077, Mouthwashing, Slay the Princess, and plenty of others.

So, are there any other RPGs that are written quite as well as Planescape: Torment, Fallout New Vegas, or Disco Elysium? Or are there games in other genres you'd recommend instead? I am open to playing games from any era, of any genre, for any platform, so hit me with recommendations as well-known or as niche as you please. Thanks!


r/rpg_gamers 19h ago

Question What are your favorite aspects of NPCs/ side characters in RPGs?

Upvotes

Generally speaking, what makes a good NPC and side character? Their personality traits, quests or items they can give, if you can romance them, befriend them or add them to your party? How about their influence on the world in game, interactions with them deciding future paths?
Currently trying to build my own story game RPG, and am curious what other gamers think.
Thanks in advance!


r/rpg_gamers 32m ago

Question Which of these games easily offer thousands of hours: BG3, TW3, DS3, ER, BB, Sekiro, CT, BotW, RDR2, PoE2?

Upvotes

The games are Baldur's Gate 3, The Witcher 3, Dark Souls 3, Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Chrono Trigger, Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Path of Exile 2 (early access).

A game staying fun on subsequent replays is a really cool element of most RPGs. For example, with mods, Skyrim is a practically infinitely replayable RPG you can easily sink thousands upon thousands of hours into. Likewise for some games in other genres like Minecraft as well as lot of strategy games.

Now, they don't need to be as replayable as Skyrim, but I'm wondering if any of these other games also provide thousands of hours of replayability for most people? And which probably don't? Not easily any way. I'm on PC, so you can factor in mods.

If you've played any of them, can you weigh in? To make it simple, you can categorize the games you've played as: "Easily Thousands," "Possibly/Probably Thousands," and "Probably Not Thousands," and "Definitely Not Thousands." Or your own way of categorizing them. That would really help give me the right idea.


r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

Discussion What's an rpg that flopped on release but is an absolute banger?

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Maybe it was released at the same time as another game. Maybe a popular streamer gave it a bad review. Maybe they didn't spend enough on advertising. There are many reasons a game can slide under the radar. Fortunately, with the awesome power of the internet, we can bring these games to light. I'm not talking about hidden gems.....

We're talking flops


r/rpg_gamers 16h ago

Question tale of legends (2017, by Gemini Stars Games)

Upvotes

in the game "tale of legends" (2017, by Gemini Stars Games), i noticed that sometimes i enter the maze and the chests are already open.

AI say it's a bug but I'm not sure..

and i also notice that some levels have events

so my questions are:

  1. is it a bug?

  2. how do i make sure i didn't missed any event when upgrading the town?


r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

Recommendation request Out of these under the radar ARPGs which one appease to the crpg fans? + open to new suggestions

Upvotes

hello again everyone some three days ago I asked this sub if blood of dawnwalker has good enough roleplaying opportunities and the majority of responses were positive however from a technical point of view it was not yet ready for my barley above average PC even at the lowest settings to run . so I had it sitting in my backlog until it gets patched naturally but even then it sparked my itch for that nice blend of action combat combined with choice and consequences and roleplaying and reactivity and all that jazz that are super common in the old scool crpgs but are exclusive to former crpg devs like good ole bioware (old in a literal sense in this case) and obsidian in the arpg scene.

now I've played the heavy hitters from these two studios (obsidian and bioware) and I was looking for more so I went looking for them and found these but im unsure if they fit:

witcher 1 : I really dont think roleplaying in witcher 2 and 3 fit the crpg or biowarean structure of defining your personality but I've heard some people say that this particular title actually has the best roleplaying in the series (a series otherwise famous for choice and consequences part of rpgs not the roleplaying part) but im not so sure as it doesn't seem to be a rather popular talking point regarding this game (well this game is not that popular tbf)

game of thrones : not to be confused by the telltale one I've read that people praise the writing and story but are rather unclear about how it handles choice and consequences (it handles dialogue roleplaying as post mass effect 2 bioware ) two protagonist seems to be an interesting choice not sure how it affects roleplaying

spiders studios whole catalog of games : which include games like two greedfalls and bound by flame supposely the former (as they went under) masters of creating 7/10 rpg games which always receive lukewarm reception from players im especially interested in bound by flame but reviews aren't clear and rather to talk about the jank and wierd combat.

as mentioned in the title im open to games I haven't looked into


r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

Recommendation request Any games similar to Skylanders; Action RPGs or Beat-'Em-Ups with RPG elements that have a plethora of playable characters (10-32, for specification) each with their own abilities, as well as being able to upgrade those abilities and gain new ones as well?

Upvotes

Also fine if each character falls under an Element that actually has an effect on gameplay (For Skylanders, their Elements were just to encourage you to switch characters and to buy more Figures), if the game encouraged you to switch characters occasionally or often, as well as each playable character having their own distinct personalities (In Skylanders, the only time you'll see the personalities of most of the characters you play as in detail aren't even in the games; just novels, comics, and the very last game in the series before it died, lmao).

Preferably, these games should also be on the Nintendo Switch 1, can't afford a Switch 2, right now, lol.

(No 2D games as well; just 3D ones).


r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

Recommendation request Recommendations for INDIE games with fun exploration and sidequests?

Upvotes

Not looking for any of that witcher 3 or cyberpunk stuff. Nah, give me some of you criminally underrated or overlooked indie or AA games with a fun world to get engrossed in.

All that being said, I do love the Witcher, ac Odyssey and stuff like that. Preferably something fantasy themed but I won't be picky

Examples of games I really enjoy:

Basically all bioware and Bethesda

Kingdoms of amalur

Grim dawn

Drova forsaken kin


r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

Recommendation request Never really played an RPG, love ASOIAF/First Law type stuff should I start with BG3, Elden Ring, or Witcher 3?

Upvotes

Basically zero RPG experience, only real thing I’ve touched is messing with RDR at a friend’s house a few times. But I’m super into ASOIAF and First Law, love that morally grey, nobody’s-really-the-good-guy kind of fantasy. Still want magic in it though, and I care a lot about character arcs and the game actually looking beautiful — landscapes, art direction, all that. Everyone keeps telling me it’s between BG3, Elden Ring, and Witcher 3. From what I can tell BG3 has the best character/companion writing, Elden Ring has the craziest scenery but harder combat, and Witcher 3 is kind of the middle ground. As a first RPG ever, which one should I actually start with? Is Elden Ring gonna be too rough to learn on or is it fine for a beginner?


r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

Discussion Fear & Hunger popularity

Upvotes

I’ve been watching a lot of videos about fear and hunger lately. The game feels very interesting, with a lore heavy story, interesting mechanics and an hardcore difficulty.

How do you personally explain the popularity of this game? Are these the only reasons it is this popular?
Are there any other rpg games which are currently as popular as it or more?


r/rpg_gamers 18h ago

Discussion Random/inconsistent loot "destroys" a good game

Upvotes

Does anyone else feel like the random loot makes your characters overpowered without you even noticing it? I don't mean only looting dead enemies but rather the random containers/crates. For example, going through a world where every random crate has a certain amount of gold coins, a special item, it may feel nice in the first few hours but quickly takes away the sense of achievement while also giving you easy ways to equip your characters and earn money. I recently replayed PoE 1 and 2 and, although I think they are great games, the endgame encounters quickly became trivial, not only because of my characters levels but also because I had too much money (due to selling random loot) which enabled me to buy everything. And I was playing Deadfire with some challenges turned on, like weapons needing repair and food spoiling. I imagine it would have been even easier if food and equipment was not a concern. I mention PoE but there are other games that fall into the same trap (for example, I started a playthrough on DOS2 and pretty much every container has either gold or an item, sometines scrolls and so on. In DOS2 this problem is mitigated by the encumberance limit (which does not exist in PoE where you have a stash), nevertheless, I find the random loot OP in the long term. Anyone else?


r/rpg_gamers 2d ago

Discussion The Blood Of Dawnwalker Has Sold 1 Million Copies

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r/rpg_gamers 20h ago

Question Which is more replayable, Elden Ring or Baldur's Gate 3?

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How big is the difference in replayability between these games? Looking for a game I can play for thousands of hours, without burning out anyway. I'm on PC, so you can factor in mods. Also, are either of these games as replayable as Diablo or Path of Exile, or even close?


r/rpg_gamers 23h ago

Discussion How do you feel about jrpgs forcing you to complete 3-4 round tournament in the Arena as part of thr main missions?

Upvotes

This is one of my biggest pet peeves in just about every jrpg (especially square Enix it seems like) where you have to enter a 3-4 round tournament battle to unlock the next story element.

Light spoiler ahead: I've been playing Digimon Time Stranger and you have to do it not 1x but 2x!

Do you go to battle arenas during your main run? As bonus post-game content, or like me, you avoid them at all cost?


r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

Developer Sogni d'Oro: Turn-Based JRPG – Alpha Demo

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Dear gamers,

I've just published an alpha demo of my first video game on itch.io: Sogni d'Oro (https://gianbabbeo.itch.io/sogni-doro).

It's a JRPG with old-school turn-based combat.

Tommaso could not sleep so nonna Mela tells him a story: when she couldn't sleep as a child, she had to climb the Tower to finally find rest. Everyone must climb the Tower sooner or later and Mela's story helps us to find out how to do it.

I've been writing stories for various media professionally for many years and this is my first attempt at a video game. I used to be a decent programmer, so it seemed like an interesting idea.

It's been a challenge: I used MonoGame as a foundation and built my own engine on top of it. The game is an eight-year-old boy's real-time account of events, so everything is drawn and written as if he were the one telling the story.

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts, technically and otherwise. I'd love to know whether everything works correctly, what you liked, what you didn't, and what you'd want to see in the next beta demo.

Sincerely,

Gianbabbeo.


r/rpg_gamers 21h ago

Discussion Coming to Dawnwalker from Kingdom Come

Upvotes

I am currently playing Dawnwalker. It is a perfectly adequate open world action RPG, but in one area it has failed to meet my expectations.

I've played a lot of fantasy RPGs, including all the three main Witcher games, but over the years, I have developed an interest in history. Kingdom Come, Pentiment and Pillars of the Earth really made me excited about historical fiction in video games.

Dawnwalker is set only half a century before Kingdom Come and not that far away, so I guess I went into it expecting Kingdom Come with vampires and Witcher-style gameplay. It may have been an unrealistic expectation. It certainly wasn't met.

Kingdom Come (and Pentiment and Pillars) does an excellent job of creating a sense of place. You really feel like a tourist to the past. You hear about political turmoil, meet real people, travel to recreations of real places, and see people doing normal medieval shit. You talk to charcoal burners, inspect mines, work at a vineyard and hold a sermon.

In Kingdom Come, you go to the monasteries in Sassau and Sedlec to solve mysteries, forcing you to familiarize yourself with its inhabitants in true Umberto Eco fashion. In Dawnwalker, you go to a monastery for some zombie hack and slash. It's basically Diablo.

Dawnwalker feels like a Witcher game with a less grumpy protagonist and only one sword. You could easily play it without realizing that it is not set in a fantasy world. You go into a church, and there is a vampire St. George, vampire Jesus and vampire Mary. There's no normalcy. There are quests, monsters, caves, dungeons, loot and vampires.

There's none of the "fluff" from Kingdom Come. We're here to kill monsters, level up, talk about how unfair life is and how much it sucks to be a vampire, gather some loot and maybe have a sex scene at some point.

It sounds like I'm really shitting on this game. I actually like it well enough. There is a lot to enjoy if you love narrative open world games. It just isn't a history game in the way I hoped it would be.


r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

Recommendation request NEW: PE-MAN - free and versatile savegame editor for Planet's Edge

Upvotes

I'd like to introduce 'PE-MAN', project for a versatile savegame editor for the legacy space-RPG Planet's Edge (PE) and basis for similar work.

As a seasoned legacy (DOS) gamer, as well as a long-term Linux user, developer and fan of PE in specific, I felt the (non-free/binary) options available for 'tuning' binary savegames and even improving gameplay, were unsatisfactory. Based on some early PE reverse-engineering notes I made years ago, I decided to turn that knowledge and new findings into an (easy-to-use) code base.

PE-MAN is capable of mitigating some of the game's shortcomings and pains with character cloning/stats, backpack items management, resource scarcity and more - instant star-system jumps and planetary blockade bypassing are in the making.

The Bash 'dialog' script is released open-source under AGPL, currently supporting game and OS locales EN and DE.

The main intent of PE-MAN was to create the basis for a freely available and extensible savegame editor, with minimal dependencies, efficient enough to run fast even on RasPI4, while still providing the most simplified, fast and comfortable UX possible for Linux (also tested with Cygwin in Win11).

It demonstrates accessing and manipulating savegame binary files at byte level in Bash; significant effort was put into a DRY implementation, with refactored (common) functions, for most 'dialog' menus, as well as for all separate PE-MAN features, also handling lots of potential error situations.

Most of the UI localization and color profiles for the 'dialog' menus have been extracted into dedicated files, making modifications and extensions relatively easy.

PE-MAN even runs standalone, without original game files in test mode, to try out all implemented dialog features and observe the resulting modifications in the (also shipped) mock binaries.

You can also digest the results of my reverse-engineering efforts and findings in the provided docs, the code and its comments, about the inner workings of PE - what's being stored in which address (ranges) in savegames or game files.

The code also should provide many examples, on how to use Bash and dialog (ncurses), for intuitive and quick navigation in more complex and advanced menus.

The project should therefore be very handy for e. g. educational purposes, or as a basis for similar work in other implementations, be it for PE, or for any other legacy (DOS) game, which uses savegames with a static structure.

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PE-MAN features and screenshots

It can edit (within the specific property value boundaries):

  • crew member stats and skills
  • crew member backpacks
    • in-team items transfer (BP2BP)
    • long-range items transfer (WH2BP)
    • backpack item sorting modes
  • moonbase tech. level (un-/locking)
  • ship plans level (un-/locking)
  • moonbase warehouse/workshop
    • build unlocked equipment items
    • build unlocked ship components
    • build unlocked ship types
    • create any mission item
  • moonbase resources
    • stock up on any (even undiscovered) required material
  • shipyard bay
    • create or remove any of up to 3 additional (unlocked) vessels
  • heal or revive any crew member + armor
  • (soon: instantaneous jumps to any stellar system POI)
  • (soon: bypass or eliminate any planetary scan blockers)

Of course, PE-MAN can be used as a classic, full-blown 'cheater', creating resources, items and ships at will and maxing-out crew stats and skills.

But it can also just help with decent inventory / items management, sparing the ususal mess, when cluttering planetary surfaces as temporary/permanent object caches. Instead, simply save, transfer stuff you don't need to the moonbase and re-load.

Likewise, save, sort your backpack by dictionary or items type and re-load, to have your stuff intuitively ordered in the backpacks, instead of the ugly and painful default LILO stacking.

No more painful iterations of search, drop and pick for each and every item you want to swap in your team: save, swap multiple items between crew backpacks, re-load - done.

It's even possible to set up custom scenarios, by e. g. using pre-defined crew stats and/or moonbase tech/resources, or just starting with a decent ship or equipment.

Defuse the risk of permanent crew stats loss upon crew member deaths and sore re-cloning attempts - now simply resurrect any body, or heal the critically wounded in dire situations, as long as you are still able to save with one character alive and re-load.

A side-effect of raising moonbase tech. level to 2: you get rid of the annoying security question that appears, when returning with the first discovered tech. or ship plans to the moonbase.


r/rpg_gamers 2d ago

Discussion Do you prefer stat checks based on variable rolls or binary thresholds?

Upvotes

Being based on a roll: the RNG or the dice throw result in a number, then you add your stats as modifiers to get the actual result. This will determinate the success or failure of a check requiring a certain value.

Being based on thresholds: your stats determinate whether you even have a certain option available or unlocked. If your stats reach the required value, you can perform the action, otherwise it fails (or it doesn't even show).

Both have their advantages and disadvantages on multiple levels.