As someone who is consistently playing the Nintendo 64 for the Remember 64 podcast, 3D platformers are almost always in my gaming rotation. The late 90’s and early 2000’s had a ton of them, and they succeeded and failed all the time. But in comes the indie developed Demon Tides, looking to bring back the feeling of joy of titles like Super Mario 64 and blow it up into something bigger and at times, better!
The game is a self-described “expressive 3D platformer. That phrase may sound odd, but I actually think Fabraz has nailed it here. Demon Tides thrives when it lays out a fast-paced roadmap of exploration and reward, making the player feel powerful in a way few games can. The protagonist and surrounding characters have attitude, style, and the moves to back it up. All this created a joyful experience from start to finish!
Beebz and the Crew
Fabraz has created a fantastically realized crew of friends (and enemies) that really flesh out the world of Demon Tides. The game kicks off after the events of its predecessor, Demon Turf. Thankfully, due to the story and the nature of the game mechanics, you can just jump straight into the sequel without issue.
You play as Beebz, the demon-like protagonist who’s sailing the open seas of Ragnar’s Rock with her crew of explorers. In the opening hour or so, you realize that there’s a larger presence at play here, and our hero is linked to it in an unexpected way. The story is fun, somewhat interesting, and gives you charming ways to interact with the crew and others you meet along the way, but it’s not really where the game shines; it’s just the backdrop.
Demon Tides’ Expressive Platforming is Impressive
This is the key here: nailing the quick, responsive, exploratory, rewarding, and sometimes challenging platforming. And these core pieces of the puzzle do work, and it works very, very well!
Beebz is an interesting character. Not just because of her wacky attitude and sense of adventure, but because of how she gets around. From the get-go, the player is able to not just run and jump as you’d expect, but also transform Beebz into a bat and a water-skimming snake. Combining all these together and chaining a platforming combo is incredibly fun to execute. For example, jumping on a rail and grinding up a tower, launching off of that with a precise jump, gliding in bat-form to reach the next platform, wall running, collecting your reward, and then diving into the water below and immediately dashing off across the water… this is all just another instance in Demon Tides.
It’s a little hard to describe, but creating a combo like this can seem daunting at first. But a couple of quick attempts, and the flow of the game becomes clear. Beebz is also equipped with all she needs in order to create these wild combinations and climb massive structures and maneuver tricky barriers; there’s no need to wait for a double jump or a way to unlock the fast-moving snake form. The player is ready to go from the start.
I got a taste of this in last year’s demo, and I’m happy to say that what I enjoyed in that small slice is executed on a larger scale to neat perfection. But it’s not just the abilities that make the game feel exciting. The level design shines in Demon Tides. You can have all the chests, enemies, rails, and platforms you want, but if they’re not designed and laid out properly, you won’t have a game that delivers a fun experience.
Getting Around in Style
Ragnar’s Rock is largely split into a series of islands or biomes, separated by crumbled buildings, cliffsides, ships, and various other structures. Each and every piece of these regions is connected by a platforming puzzle and challenge. I can’t even recall how many times I uncovered a new way to the top of a structure or found a path that I didn’t know existed or was possible to reach. This is where the “expressive 3D platforming” truly comes into play. This is the beauty of what Demon Tides has to offer.
This is possible because of how each area is constructed. On the surface, I often felt like I knew exactly what I needed to do to get to the goal or collect my reward. But to my constant surprise, that was often not the case. You see it all the time in classics like Super Mario 64: gamers and speedrunners finding new and creative ways to succeed. I have a distinct feeling this could also become one of those games that’s tackled in near infinite ways.
And this was clearly on the developer’s mind when making the game. One of the coolest aspects of this single-player adventure is how it weaves in speed running and online challenges. In each area, you’ll not only see graffiti sprayed on structures, but also leaderboards. Want to make it to the top of that massive structure? Sure, a cosmetic reward is cool and all, but what about topping MsBeebZ_258’s record time!? It feels just like a racing game. But instead of cars, you’re a demon hero with a ’90s attitude, climbing colossal platforming challenges!
Executing the combined abilities is pretty easy. After all, if it doesn’t feel good to play, what’s even the point of the extensive level design?
Admittedly, it did take me some time to get a handle on the game’s physics and how Beebz moved and jumped. I felt a bit frustrated and puzzled as to how and why I was missing what appeared to be some pretty easy jumps and gaps. This is partially due to a surprisingly wonky camera that popped up from time to time. It’s definitely not a consistent issue, but I did find myself needing to slow down or stop my platforming in order to properly see where to go next. It’s not a massive problem, as the control is still tight and fun, but I was a little disappointed that I had to stop my insanely cool jumps and dives every once in a while. Outside of that, Demon Tides feels really great!
I was trying to remember what this game reminded me of as I was playing it for review. It’s not the N64, it’s not even PS2 classics; it’s a modern Sonic game! After a handful of friends recommended Sonic Frontiers to me, I finally played it in 2025. That game is great! Part of what makes it special is that the massive map never feels empty, and the way you can chain together your exploration is incredibly rewarding as the fast-moving blue hedgehog. Once I got a handle on how Demon Tides worked, that’s exactly what I felt while playing it! Each area is yours to explore, uncover, and master!
And just like Frontiers, this game also has some really cool boss fights! Enemies are present throughout Beebz’s journey, but there aren’t all that many. The challenge of the game almost always comes down to the traversal, making the infrequent enemies more of a surprise than a constant presence. I enjoyed this and found it a lot of fun to use my abilities to defeat big bads rather than filler baddies and grunts, for example.
Style doesn’t just come in the form of jumps and dives, though. The game also includes a whole ton of unlockable cosmetics and gear! A lot of the rewards you find and chests you open are tied to these items. They are fun to use, but not always a home run. Cosmetics are cool, but I really like the original design and style of our hero to begin with, so I didn’t fall too far from the outfit tree as I played. The passives are interesting, though, as they’ll often add some additional benefits to your platforming abilities. A little extra jump height, for example, can go a long way.
It’s also encouraging to see that Fabraz has created a truly fun experience here, as their next big release is Bubsy 4D. That’s a franchise with mixed results, especially if you’ve ever played Bubsy 3D. If this new title is any indication, the franchise is heading in the right direction.
Verdict
Whether you’re traversing massive buildings, meeting new characters, unlocking cosmetics and gear, or just exploring the open seas, Demon Tides demands the attention of any 3D platforming fan. Demon Tides is a rewarding 3D platformer with fast, tight mechanics and exceptional level design, just waiting to be mastered.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: PC and Steam Deck
- Security Camera Installation – indoor/outdoor IP CCTV systems & video analytics
- Access Control Installation – key card, fob, biometric & cloud‑based door entry
- Business Security Systems – integrated alarms, surveillance & access control
- Structured Cabling Services – voice, data & fiber infrastructure for new or existing builds
- Video Monitoring Services – 24/7 remote surveillance and analytics monitoring
Author: 360 Technology Group
