Kingdom Hearts Meets Mario and Skylanders in One of the Coolest New Platformers in Years

The drought of fresh Kingdom Hearts content has undeniably tested our patience. Following years of radio silence, Square Enix finally showcased a stunning Kingdom Hearts 4 gameplay trailer during the exact same Nintendo Direct that revealed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. However, the conspicuous absence of a launch window leaves us guessing when we might actually guide Sora and his companions into their next epic escapade.

Fortunately, independent creators are spearheading compelling passion projects designed to fill that void. Chief among them is Duskfade, shaping up to be the ultimate remedy for fans yearning for that familiar magical camaraderie with Donald, Goofy, and the gang.

Kingdom Hearts meets Mario and Skylanders

Crafted by Weird Beluga—the creative minds behind Clid the Snail—the upcoming title oozes the dedication of a true labor of love. Merely glancing at promotional stills instantly evokes memories of Sora wielding his iconic Keyblade. It’s all in the meticulous details: shimmering energy spheres, cascading crystals, checkered flooring, weathered cobblestone plazas, and an inescapable aura of enchantment.

The narrative centers on Zirian, a courageous youth on a quest to rescue his sister from a surreal Clock Tower that has cast a shroud of darkness over the surrounding realms. Aided by his avian Cuckoo companion, our young hero will sprint, vault, rail-grind, grapple, and soar across mesmerizing environments that channel the absolute finest elements of legendary 3D platformers.

Veterans of the genre will find the gameplay loop delightfully familiar. There are grind rails reminiscent of Sonic or Skylanders, fractured masonry suspended over bottomless chasms, and towering vertical shafts that require acrobatic wall-jumps to scale the unknown. You’ll traverse floating archipelagos, look down from rooftops onto bustling hamlets adorned with colossal revolving gears, and evade distant bosses launching projectiles from formidable arm cannons.

The development team affectionately describes their art direction as “clockpunk,” a striking moniker that perfectly captures the inventive aesthetic breathing new life into old-school platforming tropes. These are vibrant worlds that encourage thorough exploration while maintaining a relentless pacing that keeps your adrenaline pumping. Honestly, can you really blame us for feeling a tiny twinge of gratitude toward the villain who kidnapped Zirian’s sister, if only because it gives us a valid excuse to play the hero in such a breathtaking playground?

Duskfade launches on August 13 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. While it may not fully substitute for the grand ambitions we hold for Kingdom Hearts 4, it promises to keep our minds blissfully occupied in the interim—and that in itself is a distinct kind of magic.

Four years later, we finally have a fresh look at KH4 gameplay

Source: Polygon