Rhythm games hold a special place in my heart. They are somewhere at the top of my list of genres that I like to play when I want to hang out. I get to play them how I want and no one is judging me for playing on medium and just wanting to listen to Danny B and Alex Moukala absolutely kill it with their mastery of their respective genres.

This week is my Rift of the Necrodancer review.

Rift of the Necrodancer is a rhythm game from Brace Yourself Games, Tic Toc Games, and was published by Klei Publishing in March 2025. The game is available for the PC and Nintendo Switch and retails for $20

I want to extend a thank you to the developer and publisher for the key. I really appreciate it!

I am a fan of video game music, and since I played the demo of The Rift of Necrodancer, I was hooked on the music. I am not a man who thinks a story mode is needed in a rhythm game, but I appreciate that it is there; Brace Yourself and Tic Toc Games felt the need to include it. The story beats are that Cadence and a bunch of NPCs got caught in a rift that transported them to the modern world, along with very beautiful faces and sharp-looking clothing. Explore the world and find out how to get back home by battling rifts, helping friends (and foes), and doing fun little minigames.

The story mode, though not something I was engaged with, is still fun to collect diamonds and learn the ins and outs of how Rift of Necrodancer executes itself as a rhythm game. There are a slew of different modes to play outside of the main story: daily challenges, free play to make use of the diamonds to unlock songs to play when you want, custom, where Steam Workshop comes into play, and extras, where you can play all the minigames, boss battles, and such.

I don’t care about the story. I’m here for the music and gameplay honestly.

Verical lines spew out from the top of the screen and, using the arrow keys, the player plays an execution based game where the enemies on screen usually match the song playing. There are loads of different types of enemies to be aware of to keep you on your toes, even on the medium difficulty (where I started out). There are 37 total enemy types to keep track of: Ranging from different colored slimes and skeletons to armadillos, blademasters, and harpies. Some enemies require the player to hit two times on the beat, others just once, harpies who skip a beat when they move, armadillos who have to be attacked on certain beats, and bats and zombies who can move from one side of the staff to the other.

Rift of the Necrodancer has loads of options for the beginner and the more intermediate players, and I like the little information right above the song telling me the BPMs so I know how fast a song is, and when I play a level that almost everything is a metronome so that I am always keeping the beat. Rift of the Necrodancer is, for sure, a difficult game. Even on medium, I was failing sections, but live and learn, and I relearned the types and made sure to at least A them before moving. There were multiple times when I saw double and couldn’t get back on track, and I became frustrated.

The mini-game sections were a welcome breath of fresh air as they lighten the load of the core game. Flipping burgers, learning how to meditate, and doing yoga are short and fun, and they never really overstay their welcome.

Boss battles, on the other hand, just feel out of place. At the end of each chapter, Cadence has to fight a baddie in a mini-game-like fashion. I was expecting something grander from people who were actively trying to destroy the modern world, but it boils down to pressing the arrow keys at the right time, then attacking back using said keys. Do that for 2-4 minutes and move on, very forgettable.

I am basic when it comes to rhythm games, not so much like the people who negatively reviewed the game on Steam. I want a difficult game with really good music, and Rift of Necrodancer delivers 100% of the time. Danny Baranowsky, Alex Moukala, Josie Brechner, Jules Conroy Sam Webster, and Nick Nausbaum have compiled such a wonderful soundtracks that nails the theme of the game. Every track incorporates a theme of spookiness, regardless of whether it is EDM, synthwave, metal, or even funk. There are even tracks from Crypt, Celeste, and others being added through DLC.

The soundtrack is a perfect mesh of genres. The artists are masters of their crafts, and combined, they forge a godly soundtrack.

Rift of the Necrodancer is a clean-looking video game. I personally like the hop into modernity for the characters, as they are way more attractive to look at as I flew through the story’s cutscenes. The main stage is just as gorgeous. The rift spews out little objects as you fight to close it, the enemy types have clean, flat colors, and the changes to the character portraits as you excel or fail during a song keep me motivated to succeed.

Rift of the Necrodancer is an overwhelmingly positively reviewed game on Steam, and it shows. I didn’t care for the story so much, but I stayed for the absolute banger soundtrack. The core rhythm game loop has kept me invested, and the selection of tracks and difficulty keep me coming back for more.

Brace Yourself Games took a chance on a new style of game, departing from the roguelike aspect, and it came out on the other side with another hit game. It is a must-buy for those who enjoy rhythm games.

8/10