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Mixtape, from Australian studio Beethoven & Dinosaur, is a compact but affecting 3D, third-person adventure that places music at the heart of both its structure and its emotional impact. The game follows Stacey Rockford and her high-school friends Cassandra and Van over the last night they spend together before life pulls them apart, with Stacey bound for a future as a Hollywood music supervisor. That setup is less a framing device and more a design philosophy: every scene, conversation and memory is tethered to a carefully chosen track.
Soundtrack and Curation
Music functions as the game’s primary language. Rather than using licensed hits as mere ambience, Mixtape encourages active curation: players assemble soundtracks that shape how moments land. The result is a game that feels like an interactive cassette mixtape, full of '90s signifiers and an ear for era-appropriate tones. The soundtrack is consistently well selected and mixed, lending authenticity to the setting and real weight to the narrative beats.
Narrative and Characters
The script balances teenage bravado with quieter reflections about memory, identity and the instability of growing up. Stacey’s advice — that tying life events to songs helps preserve who people once were — functions as the game’s thesis, and the writing largely delivers on that promise. Cassandra and Van are distinct without lapsing into caricature, and the voice performances are solid, lending warmth to small moments and genuine sting to the game's more melancholic intervals.
Gameplay and Structure
Gameplay stays focused and deliberately modest. Exploration, dialogue and music selection replace sprawling mechanics, which suits the game's intimate scope. The third-person camera and movement are serviceable, with occasional light tasks and interactions that keep pacing brisk without overstaying their welcome. The curation mechanic never feels gimmicky; it is woven into progression and discovery, rewarding attention to context and mood.
Presentation and Technicals
Visually, Mixtape adopts a stylised aesthetic that complements its nostalgic tone. Character models and environments favour mood over hyperrealism, which helps the music and writing remain centre stage. Performance on Switch 2 is steady, with smooth frame rates and quick load times that make the experience feel immediate and unfussy.
Verdict
Mixtape is not an action epic or a sprawling open world; it is a compact, carefully curated experience that understands its strengths. The game's commitment to music as both mechanic and theme elevates familiar coming-of-age material into something resonant and often moving. Fans of character-driven adventures and anyone who appreciates a well-crafted soundtrack will find it hard to resist the game's emotional pull.
Score: 8/10