Mixtape

A game that should be a movie? A playable movie? Regardless of where you stand in this debate, Mixtape is what it is: a bold project inspired by an era that feels very distant and different from today, with a very clear vision to discuss a subject of the utmost importance, the Music.

Beethoven & Dinosaur's Mixtape is a deeply nostalgic, coming-of-age masterpiece that beautifully captures the emotional weight of three friends facing their last day of high school. Through its inventive gameplay, stop-motion-inspired visuals, and stellar soundtrack, it delivers a profound and unforgettable experience about growing up and the bittersweet nature of goodbyes.

Mixtape sets a new bar for cinematic experiences. Taking inspiration from the legendary work of John Hughes and combining it with the sensibilities of modern animation, Beethoven & Dinosaur manages to create something that feels fresh and distinct. Through its heartwarming and emotional story, you quickly form a connection with each character, leading to a memorable experience that will resonate long after the journey ends.

Mixtape is a fantastic game that celebrates how a specific period of time can intertwine with music to craft a memorable and touching story. The gameplay is constantly surprising and satisfying, the characters are delightful, and the aesthetic is second to none. I’m really impressed with how much this game has tunneled its way into my heart, and it’s got me feeling nostalgic in a more substantive way than most things do. I can see people the same age as the characters really latching onto this story, but even if you’re past that era, it’s a wonderful look back at the messy but unforgettable twilight of youth.

Mixtape succeeds as a narrative adventure. It tells a coming-of-age story through a smart blend of visuals and music, delivering some genuinely fun moments along the way. Unfortunately, it’s not a game for everyone.

Very much 'Vibes the Video Game', but what a vibe it is. Mixtape expertly captures the joys of youth, where creative flights of fancy turn the mundane into surreal and snappy acts of teenage rebellion. Through its eclectic soundtrack and handmade aesthetic, it's a loving ode to an analogue past you can still reach out and feel.

This mixtape, then, plays it safe, curating a crowd-pleasing compilation of teenage tropes and homages to coming-of-age cinema. It’s a beautiful and inventively silly series of musical vignettes – but without any real conflict at its core, the adventure fails to match the memorable heights of Life Is Strange. Much like an evening spent scrolling through classic music videos on YouTube, there’s a simple, nostalgic joy to be found. But once this four-hour spectacle is over, you might be left wishing that you’d spent your time more wisely.

Un voyage nostalgique à travers la musique et les souvenirs/émotions liés à celle ci. Sublimé par des scènes visuellement magnifiques et une bande son incroyable. Un gameplay très cool et créatif. Beau, touchant et qui laisse rêveur, j'ai adoré !!

Overall score: 7/10 I enjoyed Mixtape. I do not think it is a masterpiece or a game that will redefine the industry, but I do think it is an interesting and, above all, deeply personal experience. It introduces several creative gameplay ideas and small narrative touches that feel different from the norm. Rather than focusing on complex mechanics or challenge, the game is more interested in conveying emotions and taking the player through an intimate journey about adolescence, friendship and the transition into adulthood. One of the game’s main pillars is clearly its music and the nostalgic atmosphere built around it. However, this was also the aspect I connected with the least. Much of the soundtrack is made up of songs from the 1980s and early 1990s and, as someone born in 1994, I simply do not have a generational connection to that music. In many cases, I did not even recognise the songs, which meant that the emotional impact the game was trying to create in certain scenes never fully landed for me. I completely understand the intention behind their use, and I imagine players who grew up with that music will find the experience far more powerful, but personally it never resonated with me in the way the game probably intended. Where Mixtape truly managed to engage me was through two very specific themes. The first is the way it portrays the transition from adolescence into adulthood. The game captures remarkably well that feeling of leaving behind a small and familiar world and stepping into another that feels vast, uncertain and strange. During adolescence, we often believe our routines, friendships and surroundings are permanent, but eventually there comes a point where everything begins to change and each person starts moving in a different direction. Mixtape portrays that sense of vertigo with genuine sensitivity. The way the characters deal with that inevitable change makes you reflect on how you experienced that transition yourself and on the insecurities you probably carried during that stage of life. The second theme — and, for me, the most interesting aspect of the game — is the impact different parenting styles can have on children. As a father, there were several moments that genuinely made me think. Mixtape shows how extremes often lead to negative consequences, even when parents have the best intentions. On one hand, the game demonstrates how an overly controlling upbringing, where everything is planned and directed, can eventually create rejection in a child. When children feel they have no room to discover who they truly are, they often end up pushing away precisely the future their parents were trying to build for them. At the same time, the game also explores the opposite extreme: a completely unstructured or excessively permissive upbringing does not necessarily create real freedom either. Sometimes, trying to leave every possible door open can lead to insecurity, indecision and a lack of direction. I think Mixtape handles this idea particularly well, showing that parenting is not simply about controlling or letting go, but about finding a very difficult balance between guidance and freedom. That is ultimately what I appreciated most about the game: it does not try to offer simplistic answers. Instead, it raises questions and leaves room for each player to draw their own conclusions based on their own experiences. Overall, I would describe Mixtape as a worthwhile experience, especially for players who enjoy narrative-driven games and stories focused on emotions and personal relationships rather than traditional gameplay. I never fully connected with the musical and nostalgic core of the experience, which seems to be one of the game’s main emotional foundations, and that is probably why it did not affect me as deeply as it intended to. Even so, I still think it is a sensitive and thoughtful game with several genuinely interesting ideas and themes explored in a mature way. I would not consider it essential, but I do think it is absolutely worth trying.

Mixtape is a short game that allows a story to be told While it can be fun at times, for most of its runtime, the story and the characters do not feel all that interesting. the gameplay sections in between were nice but did not spark too much in me. Its music and art style, however, are highlights and do make the time I spend with it at least enjoyable. A mixtape can best be looked at like a game like What Remains of Edith Finch, with its gameplay loop, but it does not offer a gut-punching and well-told story

The previous title by the developer had potential, unfortunately I think this one is a step back.

Die Musik ist ganz gut aber das war es auch schon. Solche Spiele haben nie viel gameplay, aber dieses spielt sich praktisch von alleine.