Released back in May, developer Beethoven and Dinosaur and publisher Annapura Interactive’s Mixtape has seen massive success, with several ten out of ten ratings, along with thousands of Very Positive reviews on Steam. Most recently, the narrative adventure game received three award titles at the Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDA): Excellence in Sound Design, Excellence in Visual Art, and Game of the Year, with judges declaring Mixtape “a triumph in virtual storytelling, pairing a distinct visual identity with heartfelt music to deliver one of the most memorable experiences in recent memory.”
“On their last night together, three friends embark on one final adventure. Play through a mixtape of memories, set to the soundtrack of a generation.”
Mixtape is heavily reminiscent of the “greatest hits” of the 1990s teenage experience, “from the first kiss to the last dance.” Activities include skateboarding, “taking photos after hours at an abandoned theme park, hitting baseballs, and putting on a fireworks show from the backseat of a car.” The game’s narrative structure is heavily reliant on cutscenes, visual storytelling, and music to fully immerse players into “dreamlike reenactments” of the three main characters’ “formative memories.”
The soundtrack is carefully designed around these memories, “featuring music from DEVO, Roxy Music, Lush, The Smashing Pumpkins, Iggy Pop, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, the Cure and many more.” The AGDA Sound Design Award was not achieved based on this lineup, but rather how well the tracks were incorporated into the gameplay experience.
[Ultimately], Mixtape draws inspiration from classic coming-of-age movies, bringing together nostalgic aimlessness, mischief, music, the highs and lows of adolescence, and the bittersweet feelings brought about by growth, transformation, and moving on.
Players are encouraged to simultaneously “Skate, party, and avoid the law,” all while “hang[ing] out, sneak[ing] out, and mak[ing] out.” Mixtape is currently available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series S and X consoles. Windows PC users can also find the game on Steam.