Review: Mixtape (PS5) – A Truly Special Story Experience

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Story-driven games seem to have fallen into a pattern lately. It’s been a long time since a new game truly stood out and became a classic like early hits such as Life Is Strange, Gone Home, and What Remains of Edith Finch. While some good games have been released, none have really shaken up the established favorites.

Finally, then, enter Mixtape.

Beethoven & Dinosaur’s second game is already considered a classic. It’s a charming and heartfelt exploration of what it was like to be a teenager in the 1990s, capturing all the awkwardness and desire for independence of that era.

The story follows three friends – Stacey, Van, and Cassandra – on their last night of high school. They’re determined to make it unforgettable as they each head off in different directions. You’ll experience the day as they get ready and all the fun (and trouble!) that happens that night.

The three friends not only get excited for what’s happening now, but also spend time remembering the past – old friendships, relationships, and how they’ve grown up. They do this while hanging out in their bedrooms, where familiar objects spark memories and reveal important moments from their lives.

This is what truly sets Mixtape apart from other story-driven games on the PS5.

As Stacey, you’ll navigate between friends’ houses on your skateboard, dodging cars and landing ollies. It’s a simple but fun game, enhanced by a cool indie soundtrack that feels nostalgic and takes you back in time. These short, game-like scenes rely on easy-to-learn gameplay, but really draw you in with their atmosphere, music, and conversations.

You’ll experience a lot of fun and unexpected moments throughout the roughly four-and-a-half-hour game, like evading police with a shopping cart, building a fort out of a house, and skipping stones by the river – and that’s just the beginning!

The game is made up of short, self-contained activities – each one is enjoyable and doesn’t wear out its welcome. Exploring places like a dinosaur park or your friends’ rooms is a lot of fun. Though simple, the game feels like a collection of the best, most engaging gameplay moments that stay fresh and entertaining.

Despite everything, Mixtape truly lives up to its name, offering a remarkable display of music and visuals – and that’s what will stick with you.

The game’s soundtrack is filled with iconic indie, rock, and shoegaze songs from the past, featuring artists like Iggy Pop and The Smashing Pumpkins. While simply including these songs would have been good enough, Mixtape does more than just play music in the background.

Stacey, the main character, created the game’s soundtrack and directly addresses you as she introduces each song, explaining the story behind it. This clever approach makes you feel truly involved in the game and gives each song a deeper meaning – it’s as if Stacey made the playlist just for you.

The name ‘Mixtape’ is fitting – it’s a real, playable mixtape featuring music from the classic eras of Joy Division and Portishead. This is enhanced by original music, creating a truly exceptional listening experience.

The game features stunning visuals, blending charming stop-motion animation of characters with beautifully detailed environments. Like South of Midnight, Mixtape uses stop-motion to make characters move naturally within their surroundings. This striking visual style, combined with a bold and colorful art direction, is as captivating to look at as the game is to listen to. It’s simply bright, bold, and beautiful.

Even if you don’t remember being a teenager in the era depicted in Mixtape, you’ll likely be captivated by its charm and heartwarming story. The film features wonderful performances from Bella DeLong (known for Don’t Turn Out the Lights and Wuthering Heights), Max Korman (The Feeling Expert), and Jessica Ma (American Born Chinese), who realistically portray their characters and deliver the period-appropriate dialogue convincingly.

Jessica Ma gives a particularly strong performance as Cassandra, a young woman clashing with her police officer father. Cassandra rebels against her upbringing by prioritizing partying and drinking, and Ma expertly portrays these emotional peaks and valleys.

The game expertly builds to an amazing finale, staying true to its core idea while embracing the imaginative and often strange world of teenage dreams. Each moment feels perfectly executed, and every spectacle is genuinely exciting. It’s a truly delightful and immersive experience.

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2026-05-07 16:37