If you yearn for the nostalgia of a 3D platformer with all the modernity of slick movement and a little action combat thrown in for good measure (I mean, who doesn't?) then Weird Beluga's Duskfade is the exact game for you. Better yet, there's a demo you can check out right now to start scratching that old-school collectathon itch.
Duskfade puts you in the shoes of Zirian, who's on a mission to rescue his sister. Accompanied by adorable mechanical bird sidekick Cuckoo—created by Zirian's sister herself—the two set out across a world where time has seemingly stopped entirely, rendering an endless night and plenty of baddies who dwell in the shadows.
Sussing out the secrets of the Master Clockmakers will be the key to restoring the flow of time once more and freeing Zirian's sister from the clutch of Despair.
If that elevator pitch has got you all excited to give Duskfade a go, the demo provides a great condensed introduction to the full game's story. There's your classic tutorial level with platforming and currency collection abound before unleashing you upon the outskirts of Tick Town, taking you into an enchanted forest before finally descending into an ancient clockpunk temple which, unsurprisingly, also has its chronology all out of whack.
The demo gives plenty of room to get to grips with Duskfade's fluid platforming, which sees Zirian double jumping across gaps or grabbing onto ledges and wall jumping for vertical traversal. He can even make use of his special Grapple ability, allowing him to zip past giant gaps by latching onto anchor points.
All of these offer a rich and varied means of getting around, and you'll be doing a lot of platforming to complete missions and gather all of the Star Shards each area has to offer. And of course, there are plenty of other collectibles tucked away in various nooks and crannies that'll require dexterous use of Zirian's full movement kit to nab.
There's ample opportunity to make full use of Zirian's combat abilities, too. He can chain attacks together, rapidly homing in from enemy to enemy to deal blows. It'll feel wonderfully familiar to fans of old action RPGs, offering exhilarating fast-paced battles.
His main defensive capability comes from his roll, granting him temporary immunity. Time it right and watch time slow to a crawl as Zirian zips straight back into the action for a counterhit. The demo will also give you access to the Blast Attack, a high-damage cone hit that'll push Zirian back a little bit, making positioning crucial.
Zirian's full kit will be incredibly useful for tackling the high-stakes boss awaiting you at the end of the demo: Wrath. It's a manifestation of Zirian's inner struggles—and who doesn't love a good battle with the self in videogames—and should be a perfect taster of what else is to come in Duskfade.
You can play the demo for Duskfade on Steam right now, with the full game launching some time in 2026. If you like the demo, consider leaving a review and wishlisting Duskfade for future updates on development and its release date.
