The Duskbloods is FromSoftware's first Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, and its Network Test reveals a competitive knockout tournament built on fast-paced Dark Souls-style combat. The game, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, is a new IP that shares DNA with last year's Elden Ring Nightreign but carries different expectations.
Core Gameplay and Movement
The combat fundamentals are familiar: light, strong, long-range, and character-specific attacks. The only map available in the test, Lowanro City, features burning gothic landscapes reminiscent of Bloodborne's Yharnam. The key difference is fluid movement. Players can jump with a tap, or hold for a supersized launch that extends with three extra mini-jumps. With no fall damage and respawns, traversal feels more cartoonish and haphazard than previous titles.
Multiplayer Structure and Depth
The core objective is collecting Virtue by killing enemy players, taking down bosses, wiping out low-level enemies, or finding offerings from pillars and corpses. Matches start with eight players, but by the final fourth phase, only three remain, who fight to the death in a small arena. Players can make pacts with 'kin' for permanent summons, team up temporarily to take down 'trespasser' bosses, or form alliances to share Virtue rewards. Additional layers include leveling up your Bloodsworn character, boosting HP and attack power, and equipping Sigils for mini-missions that bank extra Virtue.
Initial Impressions and Potential
After several hours in the Network Test, the game is undeniably enjoyable but its staying power remains uncertain. Miyazaki has promised story tied to the hub area, character customisation, additional maps, and a new fourth phase featuring a co-op boss fight. If it can meaningfully integrate story progression, The Duskbloods could be a fresh proposition in the multiplayer arena. For now, it's frantic, unashamedly silly, and unlikely to win over those who haven't enjoyed FromSoftware's previous PvP work, but it doesn't look likely to break the studio's chain of quality games.
