The Duskbloods may feature an entire roster of unusual Bloodsworn, but Zork has already emerged as the game's breakout fan favorite following its first network test. FromSoftware's upcoming Switch 2 exclusive recently concluded its initial round of online testing, giving players their first opportunity to experience several of the game's wildly different characters ahead of launch.

It does not take long to understand why Zork has attracted so much attention. While characters such as Sniper Layla and Senator Samir Patres have their own unusual designs and abilities, Zork looks as though he wandered into The Duskbloods from an entirely different game. He wears a bulky early-industrial diving suit, attacks with underwater equipment, fires missiles from his back, and can propel himself across the battlefield using his Human Rocket ability.

Zork's bizarre appearance fits the deliberately varied Duskbloods roster, which draws inspiration from different time periods rather than restricting itself to the Victorian Gothic aesthetic associated with some of FromSoftware's previous games. However, his unusual design has quickly turned him into something of an unofficial mascot for the game.

Fan art and memes surrounding Zork have already started spreading across social media, with some players developing an almost "maternal" attachment to the character. Others have taken their enthusiasm even further by turning his name into a verb. Reddit discussions surrounding the six characters available during the network test were quickly filled with users posting "ZORK" and joking about "Zorking it," while the character continued appearing in memes and gameplay discussions throughout the weekend.

The enthusiasm does not necessarily mean Zork will become everyone's main character, but he has seemingly won the all-important meme competition among The Duskbloods' Bloodsworn. More importantly, there is more to the character than his ridiculous appearance.

Zork is designed as a slow and heavy fighter with powerful melee attacks, missiles, and unusual mobility provided by his Human Rocket ability. Some testers found his heavy attacks particularly effective at close range, although his slower movements and attacks can leave him vulnerable against faster Bloodsworn. Despite looking intentionally absurd, Zork can still be a dangerous character in The Duskbloods' multiplayer matches once players learn how to use his strengths.

Zork also has the backing of FromSoftware president and The Duskbloods director Hidetaka Miyazaki. During discussions surrounding the network test, Miyazaki revealed that Zork is one of his favorite characters and explained that the original concept involved a Bloodsworn emerging from the deep sea.

Miyazaki cited monsters from Ultraman and Ultra Seven that emerge from the ocean as inspirations for the character, eventually leading to the industrial diving suit seen in The Duskbloods. Even Zork's strange beak serves a purpose, as it can extend like a straw that allows him to drink blood, something players can see more clearly after winning a match with him.

With his bizarre design, distinctive abilities, and the unexpected popularity he has already developed, Zork looks increasingly likely to become one of The Duskbloods' defining characters. The next network test or eventual launch should reveal whether his popularity survives beyond the initial novelty, but for now, the strange diving Bloodsworn has already made quite an impression.