‘I’m Tired of Games That Are Too Big’: Open World RPG Dawnwalker Doesn’t Want to Waste Your Time

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If you’re tired of overly complex games, The Blood of Dawnwalker might be for you. The game’s director feels the same way, and aims to offer a more streamlined experience.

Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, formerly the lead quest designer for CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, told GamesRadar he prefers game settings that are more contained and where player choices have a noticeable impact.

According to Tomaszkiewicz, the main aim is to give players as much freedom as possible, and he’s impressed with games like Baldur’s Gate 3 for really taking that idea to the extreme.

I was really impressed with Baldur’s Gate 3, especially how it blends storytelling with player freedom. You get to decide what you want to do and which storylines you want to explore, and the game world responds to your choices in a really engaging way. It’s a very exciting approach to game design.

Rebel Wolves, the developer behind the upcoming game Dawnwalker, is aiming for a specific kind of experience. While Dawnwalker is an open-world RPG, it’s designed to be a smaller, more focused world, best described as a “narrative sandbox” where the story takes center stage.

The studio aims to create compelling stories with characters players will connect with – whether they love them, dislike them, or simply find them intriguing – all while giving players plenty of freedom to make their own choices within the game.

Tomaszkiewicz believes the key is finding a good balance in game design. He’s often too tired to commit to massive games, as he prefers shorter, more focused experiences, even though he still appreciates the freedom of open-world games.

I really love how the older Gothic games handled their worlds. They weren’t massive, but every little bit felt packed with stuff to do, interesting people to meet, and it genuinely felt like I lived there while I was playing. It was super immersive!

We understand his point. Many open world games focus too much on being large, rather than creating a rich, engaging experience or packing meaningful content into the space they have.

This can lead to a specific type of exhaustion common in games with a lot of content. You might feel overwhelmed by all the things you can do, but just not feel like doing any of them.

Tomaszkiewicz explains that because the game world is smaller but packed with interesting things, players spend less time wandering through empty areas.

Despite everything we’ve discussed, it’s important to note that Dawnwalker isn’t a short game. The director, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, recently shared that playtesters are spending between 50 and 75 hours with the game – and that’s even with a system in place that encourages players to complete things within a certain timeframe.

So, what are your thoughts on The Blood of Dawnwalker? Do you generally prefer games that have a clear, concise story, or do you enjoy sprawling, expansive open-world adventures? Let us know in the comments!

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2026-05-06 21:07