For the makers of Rebel Wolves development studio, the excitement leading up to the fateful release day has come to a very happy ending. Shortly before it officially goes on sale on September 3, 2026, the global test embargo for the dark action role-playing game “Blood of the Dawnwalker” has been lifted. The first round of ratings from the well-known specialist media paints an enthusiastic picture and gives excellent reviews for the debut title from the studio founded by former CD Projekt Red veterans. Currently, this vampire epic has an average score of about 83 on aggregation platforms such as Metacritic, which is doing pretty well. Creative director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz was openly moved and described the positive response from the international trade press as a huge relief to the entire development team.
Creative Director Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz and the Rebel Wolves team took huge risks during the development process. The studio is primarily comprised of former key employees who previously played key roles in milestones such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. Tomaszkiewicz openly admitted on social media that waiting for the first magazine tests to arrive was extremely nerve-wracking.
In the face of the overwhelming praise, he spoke of how privileged it was to work with such a talented team, emphasizing that every video game completed and released in this day and age is like a small miracle.
In terms of content and mechanics, the work first impressed the international media with its deep and dark narrative style, powerful dialogues and interesting decisions. In particular, the unique system surrounding the circadian rhythm – playing as a mortal during the day and using powerful vampiric abilities at night – was praised by many editors as a breath of fresh air for the entire genre.
Publications like IGN and Destructoid gave it top reviews, praising the title as one of the best story-based RPGs in recent years. Points of criticism in more cautious test reports focused on minor technical flaws at the start of the sale and a slightly repetitive mission structure later in the game. This vampire epic convinced us on almost every front and earned our award (see Blood of the Dawn Treader test).
This passionate RPG ranks at the top of this year’s game list with a total score of about 83 points. In doing so, the studio is delivering on its promised goal of delivering high-quality storytelling experiences that stay true to its roots. Blood of the Dawn Treader will be released tomorrow, September 3, 2026, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
