Duskfade Looks Like The Jak And Daxter Spiritual Successor You've Been Waiting For

This week's Triple- Initiative covered a wide range of genres, but for anyone looking for a retro-inspired platformer, then Duskfade was likely the star of the show for them. Currently in development at Weird Beluga Studio, Duskfade is set in a world that has become enshrouded in an eternal night. As Zirian, a young workshop apprentice, players will set out to restore time itself in this "clockpunk" world, which the studio describes as a love letter to action-platformer classics of the past.

Weird Beluga says that the game is designed to be a heartfelt tribute to the golden age of 3D action-platformers, while also providing players with a deeply emotional story. "Our game takes inspiration from Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank, with movement that has been designed to feel agile and fast," lead programmer Tomás Manzano Sobrido explained on the PS Blog. "Flow is a core focus, and we want players to feel like Zirian is gliding through the world, chaining actions seamlessly and covering large distances without losing momentum."

For combat, the studio says that games like games like Ratchet and Clank and Kingdom Hearts were a big source of inspiration, but it is aiming to modernize these gameplay elements. At its core, the game is a story about loss as Duskfade tells the story of siblings Zirian and Allira, who find themselves pulled into a mysterious reality shaped by memories and grief. Narrative designer Ricardo Chorques Mesa added that the game is inspired by real-life experiences from the development team and learning how to move forward.

Duskfade will launch for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2026. In case you missed it, you can check out several other highlights from the Triple-I Initiative, like this spooky post-apocalyptic take on Papers, Please, the new SaGa-inspired update for Vampire Survivors, and the release date reveal for The Alters.