Duskfade Reviews
Duskfade is a charming, enjoyable, and well-made little platformer that falls just short of being a true classic. The platforming and combat are fun, the story is well told, and the game's overall presentation is delightful. It's held back by stiff combat and tedious backtracking, but neither problem is enough to completely undermine the experience. If you're looking for a PS2-style platformer with a Kingdom Hearts flavor, Duskfade hits most of the marks and is absolutely worth checking out. It might not be the most original game on the market, but it is a darn fun one.
That being said, there is certainly room for a little extra optimization in places. Still, it makes very smart use of the hardware to know where best to make compromises. Great visuals, a fun world, inspiring soundtrack, and solid mechanics make this one an easy recommendation.
Duskfade manages to bring back a formula that, fortunately, seems unlikely ever to go out of fashion. Action, platforming and endearing characters. A winning combination
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It’s worth mentioning that Weird Beluga is a small development team. The amount of passion and effort that has gone into Duskfade is clear from the offset. It’s a callback to the (in my opinion) greatest gaming generation in the best possible way. Importantly, though, it still feels like a modern title. Despite the combat being a bit on the simple side and the opening hour’s worth of story being a bit all over the place, Duskfade is a game well worth playing. Especially if you’re a fan of the PS2 era! Therefore, Duskfade receives a timely ThumbCulture Gold Award!
Duskfade is an imaginative 3D platforming adventure with a strange, memorable world and satisfying exploration. Its lengthy pacing, shallow progression, and underwhelming rewards hold it back, but strong platforming and a surprising amount of heart make the journey worthwhile.
Although it has some significant shortcomings precisely in the areas that would have benefited from further refinement, it is difficult not to give the team credit for bringing a genre that seems increasingly rare back to life, with meticulous attention to both its visual presentation and level design. Duskfade is certainly a title full of potential, offering everything needed to make a player fall in love with it, while rekindling in me the feelings I experienced back in the day playing titles such as Vexx and Jack and Daxter.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Duskfade is a standout platformer that consistently plays to its strengths from beginning to end. It’s challenging in all the right ways, emotionally resonant, and refreshingly original, which is a welcome break from sequels and familiar franchises. If you’re looking for something new that delivers both heart and solid gameplay, Duskfade deserves a spot on your radar.
Duskfade hits the mark perfectly: it brings back the genuine magic and carefree excitement of PS2-era action platformers, while updating the formula with a more modern and fluid structure. Although the game has a few limitations, what really stands out is the passion and care put into it by the development team. After reaching the end credits, we can say that Zirian and Cucù’s adventure is much more than just a “nostalgia trip,” proving itself to be a little gem capable of entertaining both veterans of that era and new players from start to finish.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Duskfade might not reinvent the clockwork, but it certainly knows how to make the hours fly by. It’s a gorgeous, heartfelt adventure that leans heavily into the nostalgia of classic platformers, and honestly, that’s a big part of its charm. I’ll definitely be going for the 100% completion in the days to come and will lovingly revisit this colourful world many times over in the years to come! Duskfade had me hooked from the first gear to the final tick, and I’m already wishing I could turn back the clock and play it again.
"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.