Though I wouldn't call most of today's shooter games "realistic," many have grown to become considerably more grounded and less fantastical than the FPS titles of yore. There's absolutely still an audience for fast-paced, action-packed games like old-school DOOM, Quake, and Hexen, though, and there's been a resurgence of "boomer shooters" in recent years to meet that demand.
The game that kicked off that renaissance is DUSK — the fan-favorite 2018 retro FPS from developer David Szymanski (Iron Lung, Gloomwood) and publisher New Blood Interactive (ULTRAKILL). It originally launched on PC, and eventually came to PlayStation, Switch, and just recently, Xbox.
The grandfather of boomer shooters
If you like the sound of chaotic, tense, and brutal fast-paced FPS action, DUSK will be right up your alley. It draws heavy inspiration from DOOM, Quake, Hexen, Half-Life, and other classic shooter hits, and features three campaign chapters "straight outta the '90s" to hack, blast, and blow your way through.
Set in the rural northeastern United States, DUSK pits you against everything from enigmatic cultists and possessed soldiers to freakish demonic monstrosities that look like they came straight out of Hell, and most-likely did.
The odds are stacked against you, but thankfully, you've got a huge arsenal of swords, crossbows, rifles, machine guns, shotguns, rocket launchers, and more to even things out, as well as a frenetic movement speed that'll help you dodge the hails of fire your adversaries throw at you.
I haven't played DUSK myself yet, but when I saw it was selling at this price? I've never bought a video game faster, frankly, and I can't wait to dive in soon. Everything I've ever seen and heard about it — its goretastic action, charmingly retro visual fidelity, gorgeous animations, terrific level design, top-notch metal soundtrack, and more — has been unanimously loved and praised by critics and fans alike.
Its recent arrival on Xbox and the Xbox Ally handheld — notably, it's supported by Xbox Play Anywhere, too — also saw the release of an Endless Survival Mode that challenges you to hold out against wave after wave after wave of DUSK's enemies. For masters of the game's combat, the carnage of this mode will no doubt entertain for hours and hours.
Ultimately, DUSK is, without question, one of the most influential indie games of the late 2010s, and a must-play for anyone who enjoys retro-style boomer shooters. And even if you've never played one before and you're on the fence? It's $1.59. Give it a shot!
One final thing to note: DUSK now has proper controller support thanks to the ports to Xbox and PlayStation, so you can play it with one of the best Xbox controllers if you'd prefer that over keyboard and mouse. I recommend the basic Xbox Wireless Controller that's down from $64.99 to $49.06 at Amazon at the moment. It's also Steam Deck Verified and easy to run, so it'll play tremendously on one of the best gaming handhelds.
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FAQ
Is Loaded safe and legit?
Yes, Loaded is a perfectly safe, legit, and reputable key retailer to purchase games from. Many of us here at Windows Central buy games from its store frequently, usually because it frequently offers killer discounts on both new and old games alike.
Is DUSK on Xbox Game Pass?
No, DUSK is not available to play through Xbox Game Pass. If you want to play it, you'll need to buy a full copy, which is very easy when it's under $2!
What platforms is DUSK on?
DUSK is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Windows PC storefronts Steam and GOG, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4. The Steam version being sold on Loaded is the only one discounted this low, however.
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