40
It’s unfortunate that I find myself having to put the boot in this hard to what’s obviously a passion project from an indie developer, but my emotional state playing Fretless oscillated between boredom, irritation and occasionally finding it all mildly pleasant. Perhaps it will hit differently for someone who’s into the music scene or deckbuilders, but as a JRPG fan who’s partial to a good rhythm action game, it hit a bit of a bum note for me.
80
Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson is one of those games that might seem weird to some, but as soon as you start playing, it will get you hooked. The vibrant, stunning pixel art will grab you into this weird, yet beautiful world, and you’ll stay in there for the creative combat and grueling combo attacks. Even more so, the game is continually offering you new ways to play with all kinds of guitar types, and it’s not afraid to take chances. I am a huge fan of the boss battles they added here and there, but make no mistake, all the other enemies are fun to tackle, even if the game can feel quite easy especially in the beginning. But as a whole, Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson feels like a complete RPG experience, with amazing music and fun quests to boot. I didn’t know what to expect from Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson, but I am glad I played it, as it was a great ride.
75
Fretless: The Wrath of Riffson offers charming pixel art visuals and fun turn-based battles using musical instruments. For a game so focused on music, though, the tracks are a bit… forgettable.
8
Very fun and creative game. The music is amazing, and cleverly integrated into the combat. The battle system is great, combining turn-based combat with quick time events and parrying (like Paper Mario or Sea of Stars). The diversity of play styles and enemies was decent for a short game. I only wish it were longer. (I got 100% of achievements in just over 7 hours.) The story is mostly just background, but I very much enjoyed the game.
7
Love the concept. I think it works for the most part but a bit bogged down by all the weapons you get. Each riff kit for them is unique, but early on when you get them they put enemies in front of you that really require you to use them. So you naturally just move away from the first weapons quickly and end up using just one of the last 2. I like the concept of different instruments but you cant really use them all a lot, most people will just stick to the one they like and never use the others after awhile. The level design is fairly basic with collectables that are easy to find. The combat is really fun once you get it going with all the mods and riffs in your deck that build off one another. Really cool bosses as well. I was hoping a bit more though after reading glowing reviews on Steam. Still a fun game though.
10
Amazing!!! Music + turn based combat is perfect and the pixel art is very unique since is quite simple and it still very dynamic and fascinating
Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson
Released On:
Jul 17, 2025
Metascore
Mixed or Average
73
User score
Mixed or Average
7.4
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
75% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
8% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
17% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Jul 17, 2025
90
Fretless - The Wrath Of Riffson is a genuine indie gem, and one of my favorite gaming experiences of the year so far. It's a lovely mix of cozy, creative, funny, and addictive as you synchronize with the rhythm-based, flow-state, turn-based combat. I wish some of the level designs and number of enemy-types were a little more robust, but this ultimately boils down to me simply wanting more of this amazing title. This is a must-play for musicians that game, but I'd also wholeheartedly recommend it to the non-musicals as well.
Aug 18, 2025
80
Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson is one of those games that might seem weird to some, but as soon as you start playing, it will get you hooked. The vibrant, stunning pixel art will grab you into this weird, yet beautiful world, and you’ll stay in there for the creative combat and grueling combo attacks. Even more so, the game is continually offering you new ways to play with all kinds of guitar types, and it’s not afraid to take chances. I am a huge fan of the boss battles they added here and there, but make no mistake, all the other enemies are fun to tackle, even if the game can feel quite easy especially in the beginning. But as a whole, Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson feels like a complete RPG experience, with amazing music and fun quests to boot. I didn’t know what to expect from Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson, but I am glad I played it, as it was a great ride.
User score
Mixed or Average
63% Positive
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
25% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
13% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Jul 24, 2025
10
Amazing!!! Music + turn based combat is perfect and the pixel art is very unique since is quite simple and it still very dynamic and fascinating
Jul 19, 2025
9
It's a beautiful, very enjoyable game that you can immediately tell was made with a lot of passion. The story is very straightforward and you sort of have to be immersed a bit in the online-guitar world, but if you are, you're guaranteed to be charmed by the looks and gameplay of this.
Jul 23, 2025
80
This GuitaR-PG is a musical delight. A classic RPG of a lifetime, with your exploration to find hidden treasures, and turn-based combat... but where parry is the key to everything. Fun and rocking, loaded with adrenaline at every step.
Jul 28, 2025
78
While Fretless may not fully realize its own potential, the game is such a fun time with so many clever ideas that it’s absolutely worth experiencing.
Jul 18, 2025
78
A deck building, pixel art, turn based RPG, where Guitar Hero meets Pokémon that absolutely shreds.
Jul 14, 2025
70
Like any creative 4-chord song, Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson makes good on the promise of a turn-based RPG that melds a great tune with a stylish bassline. Also much like a 4-chord song, it quickly becomes easy to predict and master, lacking that extra depth to elevate it beyond its accessible design. Even so, it's hard not to play it without a smile on your face and an appreciation for its colourful visuals.
Jul 17, 2025
40
The groundwork for a solid musical RPG is here, and the game’s combat contains the creative spark of something sticky and addictive, this combination of musical decks, FX, and rhythmic inputs. I’m restless after Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson, unclear about most of the game’s choices, like why it can’t even trigger a confirmation prompt before ending a turn during battle. I’d assume these basics are just a given, but sometimes a game reminds you of what we take for granted.
Jan 23, 2026
8
Very fun and creative game. The music is amazing, and cleverly integrated into the combat. The battle system is great, combining turn-based combat with quick time events and parrying (like Paper Mario or Sea of Stars). The diversity of play styles and enemies was decent for a short game. I only wish it were longer. (I got 100% of achievements in just over 7 hours.) The story is mostly just background, but I very much enjoyed the game.
Jan 5, 2026
7
Love the concept. I think it works for the most part but a bit bogged down by all the weapons you get. Each riff kit for them is unique, but early on when you get them they put enemies in front of you that really require you to use them. So you naturally just move away from the first weapons quickly and end up using just one of the last 2. I like the concept of different instruments but you cant really use them all a lot, most people will just stick to the one they like and never use the others after awhile. The level design is fairly basic with collectables that are easy to find. The combat is really fun once you get it going with all the mods and riffs in your deck that build off one another. Really cool bosses as well. I was hoping a bit more though after reading glowing reviews on Steam. Still a fun game though.
Summary In this turned-based RPG, wield powerful legendary instruments, gather mighty riff attacks and save the land from Rick Riffson's devilish goons and musical hybrid monsters!
