The Blood of Dawnwalker vs Relic: The First Guardian

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: 14th Century Alternate Europe (Vale Sangora)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Release Window: 2026
• Unique Feature: A narrative sandbox RPG with a strict 30-day ticking clock and dual Day/Night gameplay loops, forcing players to choose between human diplomacy and brutal vampiric power to advance the story.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Dark Fantasy (Inspired by Korean Folklore)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
• Release Window: Early 2026
• Unique Feature: A unique, level-less progression system where character strength is determined by finding runes and gear, combined with a fast-paced, stamina-breaking combat system inspired by Sekiro.

• Hex Runes: Required to be collected as Coen must become a conduit to occult carvings and runes to cast powerful Hex magic.
• Item Parts / Materials: Found in the open world and used at workbenches to customize and upgrade Coen's sword and firearms.

• Fragments: Found by exploring the vast environments. These are essential for unlocking new skills, armor, and weapons.
• Runes: Found through exploration and by defeating enemies. Runes are the primary method of enhancing and customizing the player's abilities.

• Dark Fantasy
• Action RPG
• Vampires
• Moral Choices
• Open World
• Medieval Europe
• Cursed

• Dark Fantasy
• Soulslike
• Korean Folklore
• Action RPG
• Mythology
• Post-Apocalyptic

• Sword: Melee
  The primary weapon for daytime combat. Swordplay is deep, featuring directional blocking and parrying based on studied medieval fighting styles.
• Hex Magic: Supernatural
  Powerful, ritual-based magic (e.g., 'Burning Blood') that can be employed by Coen in his human form, drawn from dark primordial origins.
• Claws / Fangs: Vampiric Melee
  Used in the vampire (nighttime) combat style, utilizing enhanced strength and brutal attacks. Feeding on animals or humans restores health.

• Weapon Options (5 Types): Varies (Swords, Axes, etc.)
  Players can choose from 5 different weapon types that radically change the combat style, from heavy, armor-crushing swings to high-mobility jumping attacks. Each weapon has unique, alterable skills.
• Shield: Defensive
  One of the weapon options includes a shield, allowing for a more defensive playstyle centered on blocking and bashing to disrupt opponents.

Progression is driven by a deep skill system with three distinct trees: Human perks, Vampire perks, and Shared perks. Coen can employ powerful 'Hex Magic,' drawing from dark primordial origins tied to blood, heat, and air. Dealing damage earns 'activation charges' to deploy these Hexes and execution moves.

Progression is a significant departure from traditional RPGs, as there are no character levels. Instead, players strengthen their character by finding and upgrading runes, items, and crafting new gear. Each of the 5 weapon types has unique skills that can be altered to fit a player's playstyle. Progression is intrinsically tied to exploration and completing dungeons.

The game features a large, hand-crafted open world. The world is said to be smaller in scale than typical modern open-world adventures, intending to give the player the feeling that they truly know the place. Regions include lush forests, vast plains, treacherous swamps, and medieval settlements in the Carpathian Mountains.

The game features a semi-open world structure that encourages free exploration of the collapsed world of Arsiltus. The environment is dynamic, with random enemy encounters and interactive terrain that can be used strategically in combat, such as breakable cliffs and flammable surfaces.

• Coen: Playable Protagonist
  A young man afflicted with a vampiric curse and silver poisoning, known as a 'Dawnwalker.' His primary motivation is saving his sick sister, Lunka.
• Lunka: Key NPC
  Coen's sick sister, who is the emotional core and primary driver of the protagonist's desperate journey.
• Brencis: Antagonist
  An ancient, formidable vampire lord who was once a Roman Senator. He rules Vale Sangora and is the target of Coen's vengeance.

• The Last Guardian: Playable Protagonist
  The hero of the story, tasked with a mission to find the pieces of a broken great relic to save the continent of Arsiltus.
• The Brutals: Bosses
  70 formidable and massive bosses that the player must defeat. Each Brutal has a personal tale of sorrow that the player inherits.

• Main Story Campaign
  A highly non-linear, narrative-driven campaign focused on saving Coen's sister, Lunka, from the ancient vampire lord Brencis, all within a 30-day time limit.
• Hex Rituals / Quests
  Side missions given by various NPCs to gain resources. These quests are the primary mechanism for progressing the 30-day clock.
• Infiltration (Nighttime)
  Missions that require Coen to use his full vampiric powers, including Shadowstep and Planeshift, to sneak into guarded locations and clear rooftops.

• Main Story Quests
  A cinematic campaign that follows the Last Guardian's quest to find the pieces of the broken great relic and close the void that has consumed the continent of Arsiltus.
• Dungeons
  Optional and mandatory dungeons that must be completed to expand the world and acquire essential items and upgrades for character growth.
• Brutal Hunts
  Targeting and defeating the 70 formidable 'Brutal' bosses scattered throughout the world to progress the story and gain powerful special items.

• Q: What is The Blood of Dawnwalker?
  A: It is a dark fantasy action RPG set in an open world. It is the first chapter of a new saga from Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by the former director of The Witcher 3.
• Q: Is there a time limit in the game?
  A: Yes. The game features a strict 30-day ticking clock. Completing quests advances time, and it is impossible to finish all quests, forcing players to make hard choices and prioritize objectives before the final deadline.
• Q: How does the Day/Night cycle affect gameplay?
  A: The day/night cycle dictates the combat style. Daytime allows for human diplomacy and Hex magic. Nighttime grants full vampiric powers, super speed, and wall-walking, but forces reliance on stealth to avoid detection.
• Q: What is the game's core moral conflict?
  A: Coen is a hybrid struggling with a vampiric curse. The core moral question is: 'Is your soul worth the lives of those you love?'—forcing a choice between fighting for humanity or embracing his brutal cursed powers.

• Q: What is Relic: The First Guardian?
  A: It is a single-player, dark fantasy action RPG with Soulslike elements. It features a semi-open world, fast-paced combat, and a unique progression system without character levels.
• Q: How does progression work without levels?
  A: Instead of gaining XP, you strengthen your character by exploring the world to find and upgrade runes, items, and crafted gear. Defeating the game's 70 bosses is also essential for acquiring powerful upgrades.
• Q: What is the combat like?
  A: The combat is fast-paced and skill-based, often compared to Sekiro. The core mechanic is parrying enemy attacks to break their stamina gauge, which staggers them and allows for massive damage.
• Q: Is it an open-world game?
  A: It is described as a semi-open world. Players can adventure freely and explore, but the experience is still guided by an exciting main story.

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs are not provided, these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation title built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. The game's visually rich world and physics-based combat will require stable performance.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of warring human and vampire factions, as well as the dynamic open world.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the timing-based combat.
• Game Name: The Blood of Dawnwalker

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs are To Be Confirmed (TBC), these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation Soulslike built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. The fast-paced, reaction-based combat requires a high and stable framerate.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates during boss fights.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based combat.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a game reliant on precise timing.
• Game Name: Relic: The First Guardian

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of warring human and vampire factions, as well as the dynamic open world.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the timing-based combat.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates during boss fights.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based combat.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a game reliant on precise timing.