Duskfade Reviews
Duskfade is a game for everyone. It's enjoyable, entertaining, and it enters a genre that's not very common here, which in itself makes it valuable. Comparisons are odious, so let's be clear: don't come looking for a Kingdom Hearts, because it isn't, and in fact, it manages to differentiate itself quite a bit despite the obvious similarities that might be apparent.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Duskfade isn't the best platforming adventure you'll ever play, and it falls short of some comparable titles, but there's one thing to keep in mind about this game... It delivers what it sets out to do .
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Whilst the game is primarily aimed at a young audience, the spikes in difficulty make it unsuitable for that very same audience. And that’s not even mentioning the gameplay glitches: whilst they’re rarely noticeable, they’re frustrating when they do occur. Nor can you rely on the storyline to keep you going, as the adventure never really takes off. And that’s a real shame, because this game from Weird Beluga is full of good intentions.
Review in French | Read full review
For every battle that frustrated me or story beat I could see coming from a mile away, Duskfade more than made up for it with an unending amount of heart, worlds I genuinely wanted to explore, and tight, surprisingly challenging platforming. Kingdom Hearts might be what got my foot in the door, but Duskfade ended up being more than the sum of its parts.
Duskfade is the epitome of a flawed gem. There's an excellent game in here, but Weird Beluga hasn't quite managed to find it yet. Duskfade thus feels like a great 'proof of concept' release where, despite the jank, it provides a strong foundation for a potential sequel to build upon.Gorgeous graphical design, enjoyable platforming, and a heartfelt story all make this one a worthwhile endeavour, even if the combat can get tiresome and navigation frustrating. I'd suggest picking up Duskfade if you're feeling particularly nostalgic for the early-2000s era of gaming, though perhaps this is one to hold out for a modest sale before grabbing it.
Duskfade reminded me that a game doesn't need to reinvent the wheel to leave an impression. Sometimes, all it takes is a colorful world, satisfying movement, charming characters, and a genuine sense of passion behind every little detail to make you feel enthralled.
Duskfade is a consistently delightful platforming adventure that hearkens back to a simpler time, made all the better by the colourful and interesting clockwork world it's set in.
Duskfade stands as nothing more than a competent pretender. There's nothing particularly remarkable here despite a few thought-provoking and alluring biomes, a decent premise, clockpunk USP, and some nice offensive enhancements for Zirian. You will enjoy Duskfade, though its ambitions are mostly encased in nostalgia and it can't tick along with the greats of the genre.
A game inspired by titles like Jak and Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, and (especially) Kingdom Hearts, but one that struggles a bit to find its footing and offer something original. The first half is a bit of a slog, but once a few key mechanics are introduced, the game becomes fun and replayable thanks to its pseudo-3D Metroidvania structure. The platforming mechanics and lock-on system require some getting used to, but overall, Duskfade is enjoyable and suitable for a very wide audience thanks to its multiple difficulty levels.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Duskfade is a confident reminder of why 3D platformers once reigned supreme. Packed with character and charm, it’s a great adventure which places movement and traversal at the forefront.
Duskfade offers a heartfelt, emotional story, gorgeous visuals, excellent boss design, and plenty of hidden goodies to keep you scouring its beautiful locales for a couple dozen hours. The voice acting can occasionally feel a little awkward, and combat timing can take some getting used to, but it still remains one of the best platformers of the year.
For better and worse, Duskfade is a love letter to the mid-2000s Ratchet & Clank-style adventure platformer. While there’s plenty of passion behind its tale of hope in the face of grief, it’s unfortunately let down by awkward storytelling and a number of uninspired gameplay segments that hurt its pacing. There’s decent enough platforming action to be found across the game’s beautiful (if over-designed) world, and players willing to temper their expectations a little will find a perfectly fine 3D adventure experience in Duskfade.
We don't quite get as many family-friendly games as we used to, which makes Duskfade a breath of fresh air thanks to its visuals, storytelling, and engaging platforming, despite its otherwise-shallow combat.
Duskfade feels like a throwback to action platformers from the PS2 era, and while it stumbles in some areas, it's a lot of fun.
Duskfade wears its Kingdom Hearts inspiration proudly, blending fast-paced combat with collectathon platforming and a charming time-themed world. While its slow progression and lack of a map can frustrate, it’s still a fun, brisk adventure that does enough to establish an identity of its own.
Duskfade hits the nail on the head in trying to be a new thing, and not just nostalgia-bait. It’s not afraid to make itself open to new and young players.
Its combat is simply okay, and you'll likely enounter the odd annoyance here and there, but Duskfade is an enjoyable 3D platformer that's clearly had some love poured into it by its developers.
Duskfade immediately evokes the charm of classic 3D platformers from the very beginning. However, the game doesn’t rely solely on nostalgia to succeed. Its developers have introduced some genuinely interesting ideas, particularly in the platforming, that keep the overall experience fun and engaging while making exploration across its visually stunning worlds a rewarding experience. The combat system, meanwhile, doesn’t quite manage to be as enjoyable or compelling as the platforming. If you’re a fan of platformers, Duskfade is well worth experiencing and a game you’re unlikely to regret playing.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Duskfade delivers virtually everything you'd expect from an excellent 3D action-platformer: fluid movement, rewarding exploration, fun combat, creative bosses, beautiful art direction, and a narrative that successfully balances fantasy, mystery, and emotion. The game also stands out for respecting the player's pace, offering useful collectibles, good skill progression, and a rhythm that keeps everything consistently interesting. The adventure is incredibly captivating and recaptures the spirit of genre classics while building its own identity.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
In these dark times of game ownership and obsolete disk drives, Duskfade burns brightly as a shining beacon of why we all fell in love with games in the first place. A fantastically fun experience with real heart. Challenging at times, grin inducing most others, here’s hoping this is the first of many. It’s been far too long since titles have been made with this much love and care outside of the big red gaming behemoth and the small moustached plumber.