Look, let us be honest: when the core developers behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt set up shop as Rebel Wolves, expectations were bound to skyrocket. Now, their debut title, The Blood of Dawnwalker, has landed with a rather cracking 83 on the PS5 Metacritic score amid widespread critical acclaim. That particular score is built on the backs of 55 outlets reviewing the PS5 version, while the PC variant managed an 84 across 34 publications, and the Xbox Series X edition strolled in with an 86 from 6 critics.

The Blood of Dawnwalker whisks you away to a fictional 14th-century Eastern European setting known as Veil Sangora, spinning a yarn about a protagonist named Koen caught in a world ruled by vampires. Koen swings both ways—human by day, vampire by night—and faces a ticking clock with just 30 days to rescue family members before they get snatched away and offered up as sacrifices. Thanks to a dual combat system that shifts with the time of day and a narrative structure that happily allows you to turn a blind eye, even the most minor choices you make will end up reshaping how the whole affair plays out.

Critics have been rather chatty, dropping praises like, "It shines with a directional combat that ditches simple three-button combos and a time management system that jacks up the immersion without feeling like a chore," and noting that "it stretches far beyond a mere Witcher clone, carving out its own distinct identity through vampire lore and the sheer weight of consequence."

Of course, it would not be a proper launch without a few technical hiccups to moan about. Some reviewers pointed out that while the systemic concepts look smashing on paper, the actual execution can feel a tad clunky. There were also a few groans regarding awkward controls and dodgy camera angles, though the striking art direction and cracking narrative apparently do plenty of heavy lifting to smooth over the rough edges.

The Blood of Dawnwalker is scheduled to launch on PC, Xbox Series X, and PS5 on September 3, complete with official Korean subtitles. Best of luck out there, mate.