Dead as Disco – This Early Access Game Has NO Business Being This Good

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• DEVELOPER: Brain Jar Games
• PUBLISHER: Brain Jar Games
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: Rhythm / Action
• RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2026
• STARTING PRICE: 24,50€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

Even in early access, Dead as Disco is an extremely fun mix of rhythm, action, and brawler gameplay. I was genuinely surprised by how much the game already offers, especially compared to the demo. There’s a massive jump in quality and content, and it’s clear a lot of effort, love, and detail went into shaping this experience.

The music is incredible

You play as Charlie Disco, a fallen icon trying to reclaim the spotlight from former bandmates turned music legends. These “idols” serve as bosses, and each encounter is a flashy, music-driven fight where combat syncs directly to the beat. Whether it’s original tracks or licensed songs, every fight feels like a performance, and that core idea carries the entire game.

What really stands out is how well the gameplay blends music and melee combat. You have a wide range of punches, kicks, combos, and abilities that all flow with the rhythm. There’s a satisfying counter system, including perfect counters that can instantly take down enemies, alongside multiple stylish skills you unlock by defeating bosses. On top of that, there are five different skill trees, each offering unique passives and abilities, which adds a surprising amount of depth. You start small, but as you progress, your toolkit expands in meaningful ways.

The music itself is incredible. From rap and K-pop to metal and rock, the variety is impressive, and every track feels carefully chosen to enhance the gameplay. It’s the kind of soundtrack that pulls you in completely, making each fight feel dynamic and engaging. You’ll definitely end up with a few favorite tracks along the way.

There’s also a strong focus on replayability. Beyond the main campaign, which is not fully complete yet, you have challenge modes tied to specific songs, as well as an infinite mode where you can keep playing without stopping. However, the infinite mode does have a slight issue: enemies spawn in waves rather than continuously, which can disrupt the flow of the rhythm. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does break immersion at times.

Runs smooth, has decent enemy variety and will hook you instantly

One of the more ambitious features is the ability to import your own music. It’s a fantastic idea in theory and adds a lot of longevity, but in practice, it’s not the most user-friendly system. You need to manually calibrate BPM and offsets, and while the game lets you tap along to find the rhythm, it doesn’t always work perfectly. Realistically, you’ll probably end up looking up BPM values online or relying on community setups. Still, once it works, it’s a very cool feature, and it’s easy to see how the community will expand on it over time.

Enemy variety is another strong point. You’re not just fighting basic goons, there are heavier enemies, different attack patterns, and a mix of light and heavy attacks that force you to stay alert. You can’t always block, but dodging and countering feel responsive and rewarding. Visually, the game is just as impressive. The animations are smooth, the art style is amazing, and there’s a clear attention to detail in character design and effects.

Outside of combat, there’s a bit more to explore. Between runs, you can visit a dive bar, collect memorabilia, customize your character with different outfits, and talk to characters you’ve defeated to learn more about the story. There’s also a co-op mode, though I didn’t get a chance to test it properly. The game also includes a streamer-safe soundtrack, which is a nice touch.

Technically, the game runs very smoothly for an early access title. I didn’t run into any major bugs or performance issues, which is always a good sign at this stage. The main limitation right now is content: the narrative isn’t finished, and there are clearly more bosses and systems planned for future updates.

The final verdict

At the end of the day, Dead as Disco is just incredibly fun. It’s not your typical rhythm game where you’re just hitting buttons on cue, it actively pushes you to improve, to learn its systems, and to experiment with different skills and playstyles. You don’t even need to be a fan of rhythm games to enjoy it. The mix of action, music, and progression makes it stand out in this genre.

After spending around five hours with the demo and another ten with the current version, I can confidently say this is a game that’s easy to get hooked on. If the developers continue building on this foundation, it could turn into something really special.

Review copy provided by the publisher