I'll never forget the first mixtape (well, mix CD technically) a boy made for me. It wasn't romantic—he made them for all our friend group. Mine featured an oddly eclectic mix: Morrowind soundtracks, Naruto openings, Queen, Kansas for some reason, and of course this song. It was this bizarre yet perfect collision of nerdy obsessions and unexpected bangers that somehow worked.
That experience made me appreciate what a truly great mixtape can do—evoke powerful emotions and spark deep reflection. While I create Spotify playlists for myself these days, there's something irreplaceable about receiving a physical collection someone carefully curated—those tracks chosen and sequenced specifically for you, for a moment in time.
Now imagine that concept as a video game. That's exactly what Mixtape delivers—a game I previewed at Play Days last week. Following teens Rockford, Slater, and Cassandra through Rockford's perspective, it chronicles their final summer night together through the lens of a farewell mixtape. Rockford's about to chase improbable dreams in New York (with quintessential teenage optimism), leaving behind these perfectly pretentious song selections that soundtrack their last adventures together—both present memories and unexpected flashbacks.
What makes Mixtape special is how authentically it captures youth nostalgia.
Despite Rockford's music snobbery, their track selection is undeniably brilliant. The demo opens with Devo's "That's Good," transitioning through Jesus and Mary Chain and Alice Coltrane—I won't spoil more, as the musical choices profoundly shape each moment, becoming essential to the game's wistful atmosphere.
Interestingly, Mixtape avoids overloading pop culture references unlike many nostalgia-driven titles. The music carries that weight beautifully. Instead of constant familiarity nods, the game builds nostalgia through subtler elements—Rockford's bedroom decor, character dialogue, that golden, almost-autumn glow in the opening scenes.
Mixtape Screenshots
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Here's something refreshing—the three leads are wonderfully, authentically annoying teens. As a 34-year-old, their self-obsessed teenage dramatics make me chuckle. Their exaggerated personalities capture that adolescent certainty that your problems eclipse everything—flaws and quirks included, I'm genuinely excited to spend more time with this trio.
If there's a criticism, it's that gameplay feels light in the preview. Some skateboarding and shopping cart sequences offer steering mechanics without clear stakes. Mostly you observe environments and converse, with standout moments like that uncomfortably accurate teenage make-out simulation. I suspect the full game will unfold through minigame vignettes rather than traditional gameplay structures.
Ultimately, gameplay intensity hardly matters for Mixtape's purpose. This is a pure vibe game, executing its atmosphere flawlessly. I'm fully onboard to experience whatever journey Rockford's mixtape unfolds, one perfectly selected track at a time.
