Duskfade Reviews
"Duskfade" absolutely lives up to the high expectations. Exploring the world is a joy, unlocking the story of Zirian's family—her grandfather, sister, and the cloud beings—piece by piece, and getting emotionally swept away. The combat sections between bosses can sometimes feel a bit repetitive, but unlocking new abilities adds enough variety to make it bearable. The boss fights are phenomenal, and I wish I could replay them outside of the story. Maybe even on a higher difficulty level, because they're genuinely fun! Anyone who enjoys 3D action-platformers should definitely give "Duskfade" a try!
Review in German | Read full review
Zirian chases his sister Allira into Tick Town, a dimension where time has stopped and the Clock Tower holds her prisoner behind four chains that need breaking one by one, scattered across the macro-areas of Tearvale. Weird Beluga, already behind Clid the Snail, builds a third-person action-platformer around this mission that looks openly to Jak and Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, and Kingdom Hearts, relying on a clockpunk world painted entirely by hand – no AI involved, by the studio’s own declared choice – five lighting setups for every major area, and a mechanical companion, Cuckoo, who joins Zirian in both exploration and combat. Beneath the action-platform surface, the game works through a story of grief and family legacy rooted in the loss of Gramps, one that time travel – literal, through Minutero, the sword he left behind – turns into a question that follows Zirian through the whole adventure. Platforming stays the strongest part of the experience from the earliest hours; combat, shakier at the start, only gains depth halfway through, once combos finally enter the picture.
I found Duskfade to be a very pleasant surprise. Its blend of action, platforming, exploration and collectables works really well, whilst its story gradually builds up to become a far more emotional adventure than it initially appears to be
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Duskfade succeeds because it knows what kind of game it wants to be. It doesn’t try to reinvent 3D platformers or compete with big AAA productions. It takes the most enjoyable parts of the genre and builds a modern adventure around them. It’s not a perfect outcome, but it’s accessible, fun, and packed with the kind of personality that made classic platformers special.
And after all that, I think Duskfade is pretty easy to recommend if you miss the 3D platformers from back then.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
DuskFade is much more than a platformer that pays homage to great titles of the past; it delivers a solid story with compelling characters, excellent exploration and art direction, and great 3D platforming moments.Even though the combat could use some extra polish and the game lacks certain quality-of-life improvements—such as an easier way to track collectible progress in each region—the experience remains unique.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It is always difficult to evaluate the merits of a game that is hampered by technical issues. On one hand, there is the experience lying beneath all those problems, and there is a lot of good there; recognizing this means acknowledging the developers' competence in creating a solid, creative foundation for the game. On the other hand, when viewing games as products—given that there is a price to pay to acquire them—receiving a title marred by technical flaws does not seem like a good deal.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While it may not offer up quite as much variety of some of its competition, there’s an undeniable charm and polish to this platforming adventure
Duskfade is the kind of game that reminds you why you fell in love with video games in the first place. With a delightful mix of classic 3D platforming, fun exploration, fast-paced combat, and simply enchanting art direction, Zirian’s adventure manages to convey magic without feeling like just another nostalgic copy.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Duskfade is a wonderful throwback that captures the pure fun of 3D platforming in the 2000s, with its excellent world design, satisfying platforming, and dazzling visuals ensuring it’ll leave a big smile on the faces of fans of the genre. Sure, it has a few missteps, particularly with the combat that can feel a little clunky, but it doesn’t stop Duskfade from standing tall amongst other top-tier releases in the 3D platforming space.
I love how the PS2 defined the 3D platforming era. It was exciting, original, and full of absolute belters! Accordingly, I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to try my hand at Duskfade. It is a PS2-inspired title that helps lovers of the genre get their nostalgia hit. More than that, though, it has a deep and meaningful story that drives many touching subjects.Sony PlayStation Weird Beluga Studios has developed this single-player 3D adventure platformer. It is brilliantly retro, as there are puzzles to complete, tight spaces to navigate, and plenty of familiar mechanics. However, it is nicely polished, and I love the theme-related settings, the drip-fed mechanics, and the almost never-ending combat.
DuskFade is a platforming action game that combines simple, smooth, and enjoyable gameplay with a stunning artistic style. The game delivers a solid experience that is worth trying, especially for fans of the genre. However, repetition becomes noticeable throughout the game and affects the overall experience.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Duskfade is a lovely return to a style of game that deserves more attention. Its combat is fairly simple and its influences are obvious, but neither issue stopped me from loving the adventure. The gorgeous environments, smart level design, satisfying secrets, and excellent traversal make it an easy recommendation for anyone who misses classic 3D action platformers.
Weird Beluga's 3D platformer embraces elements from the great classics of the PlayStation 2 era and makes them its own in an experience that's as fun as it is familiar. Duskfade is accessible, simple, and fun. A 3D platformer that celebrates the classics without losing sight of its own identity, featuring memorable characters and an entertaining story. Without a doubt, one of my favorite games so far this year.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Duskfade doesn’t get everything right, but I came away from it appreciating what Weird Beluga has attempted. It genuinely feels like a mid-2000s mascot adventure game, complete with colourful worlds, speedy movement, platforming challenges, straightforward action combat, character upgrades and a surprisingly earnest emotional story.
Duskfade offers an enjoyable, visually impressive adventure bolstered by solid platforming mechanics. Its ambitions are somewhat held back, however, by an overly simple combat system, repetitive level design, and a generally low level of difficulty. Nevertheless, it remains a solid and pleasing title that entertains without any major missteps.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Duskfade starts off on the wrong foot but picks up steam quickly enough to recover and stick the landing.
Action, clockpunk platforming, and a massive dose of nostalgia: Duskfade recaptures the magic of the PS2 era with flawless controls, stunning visuals, and superb boss battles. Spanish studio Weird Beluga has delivered one of the year's most solid indie surprises.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The joy is found in how close to being like its heroes Duskfade is.
Duskfade succeeds in delivering an experience that brings back the joy of the golden age of gaming. It does so through classic gameplay that combines enjoyable platforming, simple combat, and exploration, alongside a beautiful art direction and a soundtrack that perfectly suits its world. Despite some shortcomings, such as repetitive enemies, the ease of certain challenges, and weak voice acting, it remains an enjoyable experience that reminds us that games do not always need to be complex to offer an experience worth remembering.
Review in Arabic | Read full review