The Blood of Dawnwalker devs want to make RPGs that “we ourselves want to play” and not chase trends
By (Image credit: Rebel Wolves)
The Blood of Dawnwalker, the inaugural title from Rebel Wolves, stands out as one of the year’s top releases, and I personally deem it my selection for GOTY 2026. Although it may get overshadowed by more widely praised horror titles like Resident Evil Requiem and, for this year’s top accolade, GTA 6, I found it to be an enchanting retro horror RPG filled with gothic tones and a narrative deserving of multiple playthroughs. According to the studio, the key element is not to pursue current trends but to create the game that one genuinely wants to experience.
Korean outlet Inven (via Otakukart) recently toured the Rebel Wolves headquarters in Warsaw, where studio leaders discussed their game creation philosophy. Not surprisingly, the developers simply wish to craft games they are passionate about without being influenced by stock market dynamics or industry trends. Reflecting on the studio’s inception, a Rebel Wolves representative described by Inven as “a marketing spokesperson” stated: “Our goal was to cultivate an environment that allows us to concentrate entirely on the project without being compelled by stock market pressures or stringent deadlines.”
Although Rebel Wolves does gain assistance from external investors such as minority stakeholder NetEase and The Blood of Dawnwalker publisher Bandai Namco, it remains an independent studio with full creative oversight over its projects. With The Witcher 3 director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz as co-founder and CEO and other former CDPR developers on board, there are clear Witcher inspirations evident in The Blood of Dawnwalker, yet the game distinctly maintains its own character which I eagerly anticipate seeing broadened in the sequel. This is because, in the studio’s words, “We are rebels. We don’t wish to follow trends. Our goal is to develop games we genuinely want to play and enjoy.”
What precisely that entails may not become evident for quite a while, but it’s very plausible that it will incorporate The Blood of Dawnwalker’s somewhat divisive time limit feature.
