For years now, it feels like story games have been stuck in a rut: when was the last time a new title broke into the list of elite recommendations like the first Life Is Strange, Gone Home, and What Remains of Edith Finch? It has been a while, even with some quality titles along the way — nothing has truly challenged the top dogs.
Finally, then, enter Mixtape.
An instant genre classic, the second game from Beethoven & Dinosaur is a beautiful, endearing, and delightful deep dive into the teenage angst and rebellion of the 1990s.
The premise is simple: three friends are going their separate ways on the last night of high school, and they want to go out with a bang. Stacey, Van, and Cassandra pick a party as their finale, and you join them on the day for their preparations and the antics of the night.
As well as hyping themselves up for the occasion, the trio takes time to reminisce about past events, relationships, and how they got to this point in their teenage lives. They do this from their bedrooms, with interactive objects triggering memories that flesh out their backstories and pivotal moments.
It’s these that elevate Mixtape far beyond any kind of narrative-based effort from the PS5 generation.
You skateboard from each friend’s house to the next, from the perspective of protagonist Stacey. It’s a fun little game of dodging and ollieing over cars while the indie soundtrack transports you back to your youth. This is the kind of setup the mini game-esque scenarios subscribe to: a straightforward gameplay mechanic keeps you going as the vibes and nostalgia of the music, dialogue, and setting become enrapturing.
Without giving away the entire game — which should take up roughly four and a half hours — you’ll dodge the cops in a shopping trolley, teepee a house, skip stones by the river, and quite a bit more.
Each activity plays out like a set-piece you’ll engage with for a few minutes before moving on to the next. This allows each one to leave its mark without ever overstaying its welcome. Touring a dinosaur park is a joy, and so too is exploring each of the friends’ bedrooms. While basic in form, the game acts like a little greatest hits album of fun gameplay styles you won’t tire of.
All that said, there’s no denying it: Mixtape leans into its name with a stunning musical and graphical showcase — this is what you’ll remember it for.
The game embeds itself in the indie, rock, and shoegaze classics of the era, bringing back classics from Iggy Pop, The Smashing Pumpkins, and so many more. Having the tunes playing in the background would be suitable enough, but Mixtape goes a step further.
Stacey, the game’s lead character, has put together the soundtrack herself, and she breaks the fourth wall to introduce you to each track and share the context surrounding its release. It’s a very effective tactic that makes you a participant in the title and provides so much more meaning to each song — it’s like she’s made the mixtape personally for you.
The name takes on a whole new meaning: Mixtape is an actual, playable mixtape from the Joy Division and Portishead heydays. It’s then complemented by original music to flesh out what is an utterly outstanding audio experience.
Matching that is beautiful graphical design which pairs the stop motion animation of its characters with gorgeous scenery and environments. Mixtape utilises a similar stop motion effect to South of Midnight, where the characters move and animate independently of their surroundings. It’s a striking look, which combined with the stylised art direction, provides just as much visual delight as the title does audibly. It’s bright, bold, and beautiful.
Even without the memories of being a moody teenager during the time Mixtape is set, an irresistible amount of charm and wonder will still win you over. Stellar performances from Bella DeLong (Don’t Turn Out the Lights, Wuthering Heights), Max Korman (The Feeling Expert), and Jessica Ma (American Born Chinese) bring the friends to life, delivering dialogue of the time period in impressive fashion.
Jessica Ma as Cassandra is of particular note, who faces conflict with her police officer father, as she ignores her upbringing for parties and alcohol. Ma delivers a standout performance that peaks at all the right times.
As you move from one scene to the next, the game builds to a sensational conclusion that retains the simple premise, yet amplifies it with all the dreamy and curious scenarios of a teen’s mind. Every track lands, every set-piece thrills. The most welcoming assault on the senses, it’s an absolute pleasure to experience.
Conclusion
Through utterly superb set-pieces, gorgeous visual design, and an impactful soundtrack, Mixtape crafts one of the most meaningful story games in a long time. It’s beautiful to look at, a joy to listen to, and so enjoyable to play — altogether, Mixtape is a sensational achievement.
