# Duskfade Review: Kingdom Hearts New Replacement Is the Best Mario Game of the Year

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/duskfade-review-kingdom-hearts-new-replacement-is-the-best-mario-game-of-the-year/
- Published: 2026-08-13T13:00:12+00:00
- Original publisher: Polygon
- Original article: https://www.polygon.com/duskfade-review/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Gaming, Offbeat, Software, Technology, Weird & Viral

## Key points

- Duskfade is an enjoyable, derivative action-platformer with excellent movement.
- Its story and standard combat are weaker than its exploration.
- Bosses, collectibles and unlockable abilities add variety and replay value.

## Summary

Duskfade is a colourful 20-hour action-platformer from debut developer Weird Beluga, following Zirian as he tries to rescue his sister from a mysterious clock tower in their home of Tick Town. The review finds it heavily influenced by Kingdom Hearts, Super Mario Odyssey, Jak & Daxter and Super Mario Sunshine, but argues that its enjoyable movement, appealing settings and approachable challenge make it a worthwhile adventure despite its lack of originality.

Its Disney-like story and dialogue are described as slight and occasionally groan-inducing, while ordinary combat can become repetitive because the lock-on system is unreliable and battles favour repeated dodging and attacking. Boss encounters provide more variety, and the strongest feature is traversal: double jumps, aerial dodges, attacks that add height, environmental aids and unlockable tools such as a grappling hook encourage skilful exploration and later backtracking for collectibles, upgrades and cosmetics.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.