Duskfade Review: The PS2 Platformer Revival Done Right

Every few months a small studio promises to bring back the golden age of 3D platformers, and most of them ship a nostalgia trap with nothing under the hood. Duskfade, released on August 13, 2026 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2, is the rare one that actually delivers.

What it is

Developed by the small team at Weird Beluga and published by Fireshine Games, Duskfade casts you as Zirian, a young workshop apprentice in a clockwork world where time has suddenly stopped and darkness is creeping in. Your sister Allira is missing, and off you go - through gloomy forests, volcanic mountains and some of the most inventive vertical level design I've seen in this genre in years. The whole thing wears its PS2-era inspirations proudly, but it never feels like a museum piece.

How it plays

Traversal is the star. Zirian chains long jumps, air dashes and a grappling hook into runs that flow beautifully once you internalize the moveset, and the levels are built to reward that mastery - collectibles, upgrade materials and secrets are tucked into every ledge and gear shaft, with light metroidvania-style backtracking to pull you through old areas with new abilities. Boss fights are the other highlight: creative, well-staged, memorable. The story surprised me too - beneath the lighthearted tone there's a genuinely affecting thread about grief and loss.

The lows

Combat is the weak leg. It's serviceable, but repetitive in the first half especially, a little floaty, and enemy behavior can be inconsistent. The backtracking, which I mostly enjoyed, tips into tedium a couple of times late in the game. None of it ruins the experience; all of it keeps Duskfade a step below the classics it worships.

Price and value

At $29.99 / 29.99 euros - with a 20% launch discount running until August 27 - the price is exactly right for what you get. Early reception backs it up: the Steam rating opened at Very Positive, and critics have been warm.

Verdict

Duskfade is what a revival should be: it borrows the feel of the classics and builds its own identity on top. If you grew up on Jak, Ratchet or Sly - or you just want a gorgeous, sincere platformer between the autumn giants - this is an easy recommendation. Combat keeps it from greatness, but not from being one of August's true hidden gems.

Score: 8/10

Image: Pete Markham from Loretto, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_Shore_Trip_-_Fall_2012_-_Split_Rock_Clockworks_(8061060091).jpg