[2] After the player selects a level, they pick one of the four Dustforce members, who all share the same moves but have slightly different statistics, such as jumping height.

The end goal of a level typically requires reaching a final area and defeating foes waiting there.

The ratings, evaluated separately, are based on a letter-grade scale, with "D" through "A" reflecting increasingly better performances, and an "S" grade, representing a perfect combo, or full completion.

[6] Hitbox has also stated that the game Super Smash Bros. Melee was an influence to the team citing its easy pick up and play approach while still maintaining a level of depth for experienced players.

He has cited Dragon Ball Z as an influence in terms of design aesthetic stating that "they have great poses and also good shapes".

[9] After about a year of its successful release on Microsoft Windows, Capcom talked to Hitbox about porting the title to consoles.

Capcom used the localization team, QLOC to support the transition to console and managing features like leaderboards and replay saving.

The DX update added 109 community maps accessible through an in-game console, a new music track by Lifeformed, and support for Steam trading cards.

[12] Dustforce was generally well received by critics, praised for its demanding gameplay, online leaderboard features, graphics, and soundtrack.

[18] Marsh Davies of Eurogamer considered that once a player can work their way through a level with perfect completion, "it's hard not to admire the pat precision of the controls or deny the transcendent joy of a high-ranking run".

IGN's Anthony Gallegos considered the replays to be not only "awesome and humbling" to review, but also aiding in teaching the player of new techniques.

PC Gamer's Lucas Sullivan considered that the combination of the "soothing, ethereal background music" and "fluid animations and beautifully stylized character designs" provided a zen-like meditative setting for the player to practice within.

[17] Nathan Grayson of GameSpy considered that "the whole audio-visual package colludes to create a strikingly powerful soothing effect" that contrasts the tight demands of the gameplay.