The Duskbloods network test stuns TechRadar with breakneck pacing

The test opened with a tutorial that lulled the writer into a false sense of security, but online matches demand constant movement. The game shares similarities with Elden Ring Nightreign in thinking several steps ahead, and avoiding bloodthirsty players is hard enough, even harder when tempted to stop and admire the game's macabre world.

Matches in The Duskbloods take place over several phases, each around five minutes long. After selecting a Bloodsworn (the playable character), players choose a spawn point in the small-but-dense map. During the first phase, they build Virtue by killing enemies, looting items, and lighting the skulls of corpses sat on thrones. Virtue can also be accrued by fulfilling optional Sigil requirements, such as defeating a marked opponent or allying with another player. At the end of a phase, the two players with the least Virtue are 'culled' and removed from the game.

The preview highlights a compelling approach to co-op: at any time, players can request an alliance with someone they encounter, preventing mutual harm and allowing them to work together. However, the bond breaks in the final phase, where remaining players battle in PvP. Players can also answer calls to help fight formidable bosses, gaining huge Virtue for both themselves and all participating players.

The writer expressed particular fondness for the character Zork, a deep-sea diver and human rocket with tremendously powerful ranged abilities, though no character felt weak or disadvantaged. There is no release date yet, but The Duskbloods is expected to launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2026.