Oh, to be young again… They say youth is wasted on the young, and it’s often only when you get older that you truly understand what that means. I’m 36 now, and I regularly catch myself thinking back to the years I grew up. The games I played, the music I listened to, the sleepovers I wasn’t allowed to have, and the small rebellious moments that shaped who I would become later on. During those carefree years, you don’t think about bills, work, or the state of the world. You’re simply trying to figure out where you belong and slowly saying goodbye to what feels familiar as you chase new dreams. That’s exactly what Mixtape is all about, and it really resonated with me. Let’s put on the music.
I’m leaving for New York
Mixtape is an experimental narrative game, so don’t expect flashy action sequences or complex gameplay systems. At the center of it all is the story of three friends during their final night of high school. The story is told by Stacey Rockford, who is chasing her dream of becoming a music supervisor in New York. Together with her best friends Cassandra and Slater, she sets out to make the most of one final night together. The plan sounds simple enough: find some booze, look back on how they all met, and eventually make it to Camille’s beach party, which is apparently “the tits.” Stacey has every detail planned out, but of course, things don’t go exactly as expected.
Since this is such a story-driven game, I won’t spoil any major twists or plot points. Instead, I want to focus on how Mixtape tells its story, because that is easily its greatest strength. I’ve been reviewing games for nearly fifteen years now and playing them for close to thirty. I’ve seen a lot of different ideas, generations, and innovations, but I honestly can’t think of anything quite like Mixtape. Sure, I’ve played my fair share of narrative adventures and interactive movies, but this feels different. Visually, it reminded me a lot of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Characters move with a slightly lower frame rate while the environments remain smooth and crisp, creating a dreamy effect that fits the story perfectly. And then there’s the soundtrack. Stacey literally explains why she chooses certain songs for specific moments, often breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to you. It creates an intimate feeling, as if you’re listening to someone share a deeply personal memory rather than simply watching a story unfold. The combination of narration, music, visual style, and camera work pulled me into this world almost immediately, and it stayed with me long after the credits rolled.
Floating tongue kisses
Since Mixtape is such an experimental game, it also shows in the gameplay itself. This will probably be the most divisive part of the experience, because the gameplay can best be described as a collection of mini-games designed to push the story forward. Skateboarding is a recurring mechanic and is mainly used to get you from one location to another while evading traffic and ollieing over cars. Mechanically, there isn’t that much to it. It’s certainly no Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. But the way it is presented, with the camera floating underneath you, behind you, and above you while the perfect song blasts through your headphones, makes these moments far more memorable than they have any right to be.
Outside of these skateboarding sections, most of the gameplay is about reacting to the story and becoming part of it. One moment you’re controlling two awkward tongues during a first kiss, the next you’re skipping stones across the water or flipping off the world until it literally explodes. It sounds ridiculous, but it works. Small moments, like tapping your hands on the steering wheel while your favorite song plays through the car stereo, hit just as hard as the larger set pieces.
One of my favorite moments had me floating over green fields toward a mysterious abandoned wooden shed. On paper, that sounds a bit over the top, but in context, it became a surprisingly powerful metaphor for how carefree life can feel when you’re young, and the world hasn’t fully caught up with you yet. It reminded me of those days when I wandered through the woods with my friends. No responsibilities, no real worries, just us enjoying the weather, the trees, and the feeling that the world was much bigger than our problems. Mixtape captures that feeling remarkably well, and through its strange little mini-games, it manages to make you feel young again.
The American Dream
Even though the game really resonated with me and the story genuinely pulled on my heartstrings, it’s worth pointing out that Mixtape probably won’t connect with everyone in the same way. First of all, the game leans heavily into the angst and culture of the 1990s. Since I was born in 1990, I’m just a little too young to fully remember the era of mixtapes and oversized skateboards. By the time I was a teenager, the world was already shifting towards digital media and personal computers. Early video games and my first internet connections were more representative of my own youth.
That being said, I still grew up in that in-between generation. Not quite a digital native, but also old enough to remember what it felt like to spend entire days outside with friends and not worry too much about anything else. Because of that, the game still managed to pull me in. The way it presents memories as larger, more emotional, and often more dramatic than they probably were in reality made me think back to my own childhood. It captures that bittersweet feeling of nostalgia and the realization that certain moments are gone for good.
At the same time, I can imagine younger players connecting with this story a little less. The way these characters grow up and the world they move through may feel quite distant if you didn’t experience anything similar yourself. The setting is also very American. The characters often feel like they stepped straight out of a classic 90s teen movie, complete with the expected one-liners and exaggerated situations. At times, that can make the story feel a little further removed from home for European players. Those are really my only reservations, if you can even call them that. Even though the game depicts a time that is slightly before my own teenage years, and even though it is undeniably American in tone, I still connected deeply with these characters and their story. It made me nostalgic, reflective, and at times surprisingly emotional. I mainly mention this so you know what kind of experience you’re stepping into. If that setting and tone resonate with you, Mixtape has a lot to offer.
Conclusion:
Mixtape is one of the most personal and emotionally resonant games I’ve played in years. Its experimental structure and collection of strange mini-games won’t work for everyone, but for me, every part of it clicked. The music, visual style, and coming-of-age story come together in a way that feels incredibly intimate and honest. It made me laugh, reflect on my own youth, and at times left me surprisingly emotional. Even though the story is rooted in a very specific time and place, the feelings behind it are universal. Mixtape won’t appeal to everyone, but if it connects with you, it will stay with you long after the final song fades out.
