Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 80 | 124 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 392 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 84 | 20 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 93% | 87 | 637 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 15, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 637 total reviews in window · weighted 218.3 up / 16.1 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (75)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 60
“Duskfade is a honed and confident platformer with plenty to appeal. But its pleasures are too obvious and broad to transcend (or even compliment) the games from which it takes its inspiration. It has the good sense to try and stand its own ground, but cannot get strange enough to resonate.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“The developers' passion can be seen in Duskfade. It is clear that they loved classic platformers and tried to re-introduce that feeling to a new generation of players, and they succeeded in many aspects, especially the level design which was flaw-free, the variety of environments in these levels, the joy of exploration within them, and certainly their distinctive visual and audio identity. On the other hand, the core of the game itself suffers from problems that are hard to ignore. Exaggerated jump physics, unpolished combat, and a bad Lock-On system are all things that directly affect what you will be doing the most throughout hours of gameplay. Despite completing the game 100% and enjoying exploring every corner of it, I was left with a continuous feeling that the game was just one step away from being an excellent platformer, and that step is polish, which unfortunately was not present enough. In the end, we have an enjoyable adventure for fans of 3D platformers, but it is not the experience that surpasses the games from which it inspired its ideas.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“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.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“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.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“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.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“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.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“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.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Duskfade is a charming love letter to PS2-era platformers that skillfully weaves nostalgic inspirations with fluid movement and a genuinely heartwarming story about time and moving forward. While its combat leaves a bit of room for improvement, Weird Beluga has crafted an exceptionally fun, vibrant adventure elevated by fantastic platforming and flawless camera control that genre fans will love completing to 100%.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Duskfade's wonder and whimsy will enchant you at the first half of its storybook experience, while its second half will pull the rug from under your feet and test your patience, and not in a good way.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“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”
read full review ↗ - 90
“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.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“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.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Duskfade is part of Next Fest!Jun 15, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- The Duskfade demo has been updated!Oct 28, 2025
- Dev update #2Aug 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Dev update #1Jul 7, 2025significant · resets scoring window