Electric Nightmares

Our four part series about generative AI and its use in video games

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Rift Of The NecroDancer crosses Guitar Hero and boss battles

With a new Danny Baranowsky soundtrack

Rift Of The NecroDancer was teased just a couple of weeks ago at the end of a trailer for the newest Crypt Of The NecroDancer expansion. At the time, there was no info other than a logo, but as of yesterday there's a full reveal trailer. We now know that Rift Of The NecroDancer is a standalone rhythm game, akin to Guitar Hero with combat.

Here's the trailer:

Cover image for YouTube videoRift of the NecroDancer Reveal Trailer

The bulk of the trailer looks like three-button Guitar Hero with enemies rather than notes coming down the stem of your instrument. This seems to be "Rift mode", and you'll be keying along to a new soundtrack from famed game composer Danny Baranowsky.

There are glimpses of other mini games in the trailer, too, in which you'll help protagonist Cadence "overcome the challenges of the modern world via rhythmic mini games", Ouendan style. Plus, there's Boss Battles Mode, in which you fight one-on-one in similar rhythmic punch-ups.

I've no idea how Cadence got from the presumed medieval-ish setting of Crypt Of The NecroDancer into the seeming modern day of Rift, but then I've also no idea how she got to Hyrule for Cadence Of Hyrule, so maybe it doesn't matter.

The original Crypt Of The NecroDancer bolted rhythm mechanics to a roguelike, rewarding you for stepping and attacking on the beat as you moved through dungeons, ghoulish enemies and bought upgrades from opera-singing shopkeepers. It was delightful and a smash hit. By comparison, the rhythm-focused Rift Of The NecroDancer looks more traditional, but there's a relative paucity of these kinds of games on PC so I'm all for it.

There's no release date yet, but you'll find more on Steam.

Rock Paper Shotgun is the home of PC gaming

Sign in and join us on our journey to discover strange and compelling PC games.

In this article

Rift Of The Necrodancer

Video Game

Related topics
About the Author
Graham Smith avatar

Graham Smith

Deputy Editorial Director

Rock Paper Shotgun's former editor-in-chief and current corporate dad. Also, he continues to write evening news posts for some reason.

Comments