Dusk

About Dusk

Dusk arrived in December 2018 as a love letter to 90s shooters from developer David Szymanski. Published by New Blood Interactive, this title spans PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Mac. You wake up on a meat hook in the American Northeast with no memory but a shotgun loaded and enemies everywhere. The game pulls heavy inspiration from classics like Quake, Blood, and Redneck Rampage to deliver fast-paced combat against cultists and possessed militants. A metal soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult drives the action forward while you explore three distinct episodes to uncover what hides beneath the earth. This is a retro FPS designed for speed and aggression rather than complex storytelling or modern cover systems.

Gameplay

Sessions focus on constant movement through tight corridors and open arenas filled with enemies. You rely on a specific weapon loadout that changes per episode, forcing you to adapt your tactics quickly. The core loop involves pushing forward, managing health packs, and collecting ammo while dodging projectiles. Multiplayer mode offers classic arena combat where map control and positioning matter more than hiding. Survival mode tests your endurance against endless waves of foes without the safety of checkpoints. Controls feel snappy with heavy emphasis on strafing and jumping to maintain momentum. The difficulty spikes often require memorizing enemy patterns rather than relying on aim alone. You will die frequently until you learn the rhythm of each encounter.

What Players Think

Critics and players have rated this title highly on IGDB with a score of 86.1 out of 100 based on 102 ratings. The average playtime for the main campaign sits around 5 hours, though completionists spend much longer chasing achievements. Only 15.6% of players unlocked all 30 available trophies or achievements. The rarest challenge is "Don't Drop It" with a mere 2.30% unlock rate among the community. User reviews frequently mention the satisfying gunplay and the punishing nature of the boss fights. Many users note that the game feels complete despite its relatively short length. Price points on Steam hover near $18.73, which represents a 38% discount from the original cost.

PlayPile's Take

This game is for shooters who want instant action without modern hand-holding. The $18.73 price tag on Steam makes it an easy buy if you like fast-paced combat. You will likely struggle to get all 30 achievements since the average unlock rate is so low. The difficulty curve stays steep throughout the three episodes, demanding precision and quick reflexes. New Blood Interactive delivered a solid experience that honors its influences without feeling dated. Skip this if you need long story campaigns or slow-paced tactical gameplay. Pick it up only if you want to test your aiming skills against aggressive foes.

Storyline

DUSK reintroduces you to a world where butchery and bloodshed must be mastered if you're to make it to dawn. Inspired by Quake, Blood, Heretic, Hexen, Half-Life and Redneck Rampage, and featuring a soundtrack by metal music mastermind Andrew Hulshult (Brutal DOOM, Rise of the Triad), DUSK unfolds in the eerie backwoods of the American Northeast where, gaining consciousness hanging on a meat hook, you must fight to survive. In three distinct campaign episodes hand-crafted from straight outta the 90’s, players battle through an onslaught of mystical backwater cultists, possessed militants and even darker forces and attempt to discover just what lurks beneath the earth.