- The Smashing Pumpkins, Joy Division, Iggy Pop… A youth adventure crafted from the soundtracks of a generation
- OpenCritic 94%, Metacritic 88–91… Praised as the best indie narrative game on launch day
Beethoven & Dinosaur, an indie studio in Melbourne, Australia that produced the BAFTA-winning game ‘The Artful Escape’, officially released the narrative adventure ‘Mixtape’, developed in collaboration with Annapurna Interactive, on May 7 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam), and Nintendo Switch 2.
Mixtape is a narrative adventure that takes you on a journey through the memories of three friends, following the music playing in a car on the last night before graduation. Set in Northern California in the 1990s, it sensuously portrays moments of youth, friendship, and growth.
From the perspective of the protagonist Rockford, the player experiences various memories such as skateboarding, a first kiss, and fireworks in the form of mini-games, leading to a narrative like a ‘mixtape’ where music and emotions intertwine.
With a score of 94% on OpenCritic and 88–91 on Metacritic, the game is being cited by both users and critics as one of the indie narrative games to watch in 2026. Additionally, on its launch day, it ranked 20th in overall sales and 41st on the wishlist according to Steam DB, demonstrating exceptional early momentum for an indie game.
The last summer night of the 1990s, retracing memories of youth through music
The mixtape is a work set in Northern California in the 1990s, depicting the last night of three friends before graduating from high school.
Three friends, Rockford, Slater, and Cassandra, are heading to their last high school party. A playlist in the car leads them back to their respective pasts, and the player experiences moments of childhood and adolescence from Rockford’s perspective.
The game’s tone and visuals are inspired by 1980s coming-of-age films in the style of director John Hughes. Iconic scenes of youth, such as skateboarding, a closed amusement park, fireworks, first kisses, and last dances, are presented in episodes in the form of various mini-games.
Lifelike colors… Dreamy visuals realized with Unreal Engine 5
The visuals of the mixtape, created with Unreal Engine 5, focused on emotional truth rather than realistic depiction. Each scene recreating a memory is expressed with different colors and atmospheres, visually capturing a wide range of emotions from bright and free moments to dreamy and dark memories.
Above all, ‘music’ lies at the heart of this work. It features tracks by iconic artists of an era, including DEVO, Roxy Music, Rush, The Smashing Pumpkins, Iggy Pop, Suzie + the Banshees, Joy Division, and The Cure, serving as a core element that drives the narrative beyond mere background music. As scenes and emotions shift with the flow of the music, the player experiences the story as if listening to a ‘mixtape.’
The BAFTA-winning studio’s second work… another challenge
Developer Beethoven & Dinosaur garnered attention in 2021 by winning a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for their music-based platformer, ‘The Artful Escape’. ‘Mixtape’ is their second work, continuing their new approach of combining music and narrative following their previous title.
Composed of a small team, they focused on providing a new experience at every moment through a ‘vignette’ structure that captures diverse scenes and gameplay styles. The developers stated, “We were able to approach each new scene with a fresh perspective,” emphasizing that the joy of the creative process itself was a key driving force.
“A love letter dedicated to youth and music”… Critical acclaim follows
Immediately after its release, ‘Mixtape’ received favorable reviews from critics, recording 94% on OpenCritic and scores of 88–91 on Metacritic. On Steam, it maintains a ‘Very Positive’ rating, with 312 out of 445 reviews recommending it. While some pointed out the short playtime of around three hours, the overall sentiment is that its high level of polish and emotional depth are its strengths.
Overseas media outlets have described this work as a “love letter dedicated to youth, friendship, and music” and an “experience that delicately captures the emotions of memory and growth.” The narrative structure, which leaves a short yet intense lingering impression, is also drawing positive reactions.
Mixtape is currently available on consoles and PC, and can also be enjoyed on Xbox Game Pass without a separate purchase. Attention is focused on what kind of impact this title, which combines music, memories, and the emotions of youth, will have in the indie narrative game market.
Information regarding ‘Mixtape’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Beethoven & Dinosaur (Melbourne, Australia) |
| Publisher | Annapurna Interactive |
| Genre | Narrative Adventure / Coming-of-Age Drama |
| Release platform | PS5 / Xbox Series X|S / PC (Steam) / Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Release date | May 7, 2026 |
| Game Pass | Xbox Game Pass Day One Registration |
| engine | Unreal Engine 5 |
| Metacritic | 88~91 points (by platform) |
| OpenCritic | 94% (based on 18 reviews) |
| Soundtrack | The Smashing Pumpkins, Joy Division, Iggy Pop, The Cure, and many others |
| background | 1990s Northern California, USA / The night before high school graduation |
| Main Keywords | Growth, Youth, Music, Memory, Friendship, 90s, Narrative |
| Official Channel | mixtape.game |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
