I remember the first time a boy made me a mixtape (well, technically a mix CD, but same idea). It wasn't romantic—he made them for our entire friend group. Mine featured an eclectic (now embarrassing) combination of Morrowind soundtrack pieces, Naruto openings, Queen, inexplicably Kansas, and... this one particular song. It was this bizarre yet perfect collision of nerd culture and absolute bangers with zero cohesive theme.
That experience made me appreciate what makes a truly great mixtape—one that evokes deep emotions and sparks imagination. While I curate Spotify playlists for myself now, there's something irreplaceable about holding a physical collection of songs someone personally selected, sequenced, and crafted for a specific person, moment, or memory.
Now imagine that concept as a video game. That's exactly what developer Happy Volcano created with their aptly titled game Mixtape, which I previewed at Play Days last week. The narrative follows three teenagers—Rockford, Slater, and Cassandra—through Rockford's perspective as they create one final summer mixtape. This musical time capsule captures their last night together before Rockford gambles on an ambitious (and quintessentially teenage) dream by moving to New York.
The game elegantly frames each vignette of their farewell night with carefully selected tracks from Rockford's pretentiously perfect playlist—though occasionally interrupted by unintended songs or flashbacks. Mixtape perfectly distills that bittersweet nostalgia for youthful summers and friendships on the brink of change.
A Sonic Time Capsule
Look, Rockford might be an insufferable music snob, but their mixtape absolutely slaps. The preview opened with Devo's "That's Good," then transitioned through Jesus and Mary Chain, Alice Coltrane, and other era-defining artists—though I won't spoil the full tracklist, as discovering each song's emotional resonance is part of the magic.
What impresses me most is how Mixtape avoids leaning on vapid pop culture references that plague so many nostalgia games. The entire wistful atmosphere comes through the music itself, supported by thoughtful environmental details—the golden-hour lighting, Rockford's bedroom decor, and the teens' wonderfully cringey dialogue all coalesce into a tangible sense of time and place.
Mixtape Screenshots
Teenage Wasteland
The characters are authentically, hilariously unbearable—in the best possible way. Though distinct personalities, Rockford, Slater and Cassandra perfectly embody that late-teen solipsism where every personal crisis feels world-ending. At 34, I found their exaggerated self-importance delightfully nostalgic. I can't wait to spend a full evening with this trio in the finished game, obnoxious quirks and all.
My only critique? The gameplay in the preview was minimal. There's some light skateboarding and shopping cart steering—more about atmosphere than challenge—plus an amusingly gross makeout minigame. Mostly, you explore environments while chatting. The full experience appears structured around musical vignettes, though the broader gameplay loop remains unclear.
Ultimately, that might not matter. Mixtape is clearly prioritizing vibe over mechanics, and God does it nail that vibe. Whether the full game delivers more interactivity or remains a chill narrative experience, I'm fully onboard to let Rockford's soundtrack escort me through this nostalgic summer farewell.
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