The main storyline of The Blood of Dawnwalker is built for about 50 hours, yet nothing in the code stops a player from charging into Brenzis Castle right after the prologue. Designers admit it's doable but brutal: Cohen would be facing powerful officers solo, with no allies or prep—i.e., a raw, punishing encounter. If you ignore the 30-day limit to rescue the family, speedrun players (e.g., the usual masters of corner-cutting) can shave huge chunks off the run and finish astonishingly fast. Still, the team suggests using your first run to poke around the world; the hero's choices change rebel loyalty and, in extreme cases, can trigger a vampire blockade of the city. Release date: September 3.