The Duskbloods: The Bloodborne Successor Fans Have Been Craving!

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A decade ago, Bloodborne debuted on PlayStation 4, quickly earning classic status, and it appears that FromSoftware is attempting to follow in its footsteps with the announcement of The Duskbloods. Steeped in grisly visuals, terrifying monsters, and a recognizable Victorian gothic aesthetic, The Duskbloods might just be the spiritual sequel Bloodborne fans have been eagerly anticipating.

With Khazan out and Nightreign due in May, along with The Duskbloods set for a 2026 release, Soulslike enthusiasts are truly in a delightful predicament. However, this latest announcement seems particularly exciting since Bloodborne frequently tops gamers’ favorite Soulslike games, so anything that manages to recreate that enchantment is bound to be nothing short of extraordinary.

The Duskbloods Looks Like an Unofficial Bloodborne 2

To my surprise, during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, I stumbled upon an entirely new game titled The Duskbloods, which seems to be the brainchild of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s studio. Already, players are making connections between it and Bloodborne, and I can certainly understand why.

In contrast to the other games, The Duskbloods stands out by incorporating vampirism directly into its gameplay mechanics. This is demonstrated through a character biting an enemy’s neck and consuming their blood. Furthermore, the exchange of blood appears to be crucial to the game’s narrative, as suggested in the Nintendo Direct trailer for The Duskbloods when the unidentified woman offers to “give you my blood” to bestow life upon the player character, resulting in a symbolic wound on their hand.

In the latest preview, fearsome beasts make an appearance, showcasing numerous colossal and intimidating new adversaries. At one point, a formidable foe resembling a beast has the protagonist character pinned up, hinting at what may be a climactic boss encounter. The trailer offers a diverse gallery of bizarre enemy species, though it remains unclear if these creatures’ themes of ferocity and blood tie into each other as they do in Bloodborne.

It’s likely that the initial visual cue for Bloodborne’s Victorian gothic atmosphere was its tall, slender spires adorned with intricate filigree, as well as a unique mix of industrial and monastic architecture. On the other hand, The Duskbloods appears to be leaning towards a steampunk style more so than Bloodborne, incorporating elements like a train, rapid-fire pistols, and even a jetpack, suggesting a setting closer to the late industrial revolution rather than Yharnam.

Moon Phases and Cyclical Storytelling Are Back

In the beginning of the trailer, a mysterious woman speaks, “Give a spin to the wheel, and carry him to an evening bathed in moonlight, as we approach humanity’s twilight.” This line carries immense implications for the game’s lore, much like previous FromSoftware games. Notably, cyclical narratives have been key elements in the Age of Fire (from Dark Souls), the ages of Elden Ring, and significantly, the Great One hunt in Bloodborne.

In The Duskbloods, it’s my turn to set the wheel in motion, a symbol of both cycles and progress, as hinted by the story’s dialogue that suggests a journey towards an ultimate destination. Moon phases appear to have significant implications for the narrative. Last time around, I was caught up in the events of Bloodborne under a blood moon on the night of Yharnam. Whether the moon will again be a key element in The Duskbloods remains to be seen, but it seems that moonlight is something worth pursuing. Yet, I can’t help but wonder who the mysterious “him” might be and what “humanity’s very dusk” could possibly mean in this context.

The Duskbloods’ Gameplay Evokes Bloodborne’s Fast Pace

In the latest trailer for Bloodborne, it seems that one of its widely enjoyed gameplay styles is reemerging. The action appears to be just as swift, if not quicker, with the player seen jumping from a significant height off a building and soaring through the air to shoot their weapon.

One potential variation could be the presence of predefined character kits in the game. While it’s still unclear at this point, the trailer seems to suggest a selection of characters for players to choose from rather than each player having a unique character. Each character appears to have distinct loadouts and abilities, which aligns with the game’s emphasis on Player versus Player versus Environment multiplayer. If true, the game might employ a system similar to Nightreign‘s roster of characters, but this is merely speculation until further details about the game are disclosed.

Interestingly, The Duskbloods is an exclusive for Switch 2 that revolves around blood, vampires, and firearms – a Victorian gothic Soulslike from FromSoftware. Unfortunately, this means another title of this kind is confined to a single platform, which may not have been what people without a Switch 2 were hoping for. Nonetheless, it’s an intriguing twist of fate that has fans pondering once more about the potential remaster and PC port of Bloodborne, questions that will likely resurface after the release of The Duskbloods.

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2025-04-03 03:04