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Beat Slayer

Beat Slayer

ByteRockers' Games · released Apr 4, 2024

ActionAdventureIndie

Beat Slayer is a roguelite hack n’ slay game like no other. Instead of just being in the background the music takes centre stage. Join Mia, a badass music lover and crafty tinkerer, as she battles hordes of robots in a dystopian 90s inspired Berlin. There’s only one rule: Stay on beat!

81
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence

anchored at patch: “1.2 Patch Notes” (2y ago)

80%
At launch
93%
Steam all-time
78%
Press
89%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)7816
All-time Steam reviews93%8764
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)89%8383
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Apr 17, 2024) · 61 reviews sampled · 83 total reviews in window · weighted 29.2 up / 3.4 down · computed 11h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (11)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 70
    trust 75Apr 16, 2024

    Whether busting robot heads or jamming to the tune, Beat Slayer promises a good time, even if a lack of versatility makes it a little stale.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 65May 28, 2024

    Energetic and outspoken protagonist Mia and her trusty pair of headphones are slaying thousands of mindless robots to the beat, just to finally reach the ominous Dietrich, who is making people into literal disco zombies by blasting his own sounds. But beweary, because This synths heavy rhythm-based adventure will not only test your fingers and ears, but your patience and determination too. So just remember to STAY ON BEAT!

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 61Mar 31, 2024

    Beat Slayer is more than just a game; it’s an experience, With its innovative gameplay mechanics, immersive world-building, and electrifying soundtrack, it’s a journey that will stay with players long after the final note fades away, and the beat stops.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 61Apr 3, 2024

    Beat Slayer takes the gameplay of titles like Hades and adds a music rhythm twist, making it a treat for those with the skills to play along to the beat.

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    trust 60Apr 1, 2024

    If you enjoyed Hi-Fi Rush, or Metal: Hellsinger and are looking for something to scratch a similar itch, then you cannot go wrong with Beat Slayer. However, if you’re looking for a unique experience, you won’t find it here.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 60Apr 4, 2024

    If you’re looking for a new rogue-lite to sink your teeth into, Beat Slayer offers an excellent rendition of the genre, with the rhythm-based combat only elevating it further. I’d have liked to have seen a little more innovation in the game’s upgrade system, and the character work here falls a little sub-par of what I’d expect in a game like this. That said, I had a rollicking-good time smashing my way through the streets of Berlin, and would certainly recommend picking it up if you’re looking for some added musical spice with your combat.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 60Apr 5, 2024

    The ‘90s badass tropes will wear thin very quickly, but they won’t stop you coming back for more. Beat Slayer is a thoroughly enjoyable rhythmic romp that is both fun and deceivingly addictive. With an exceptional soundtrack and mix-and-match gameplay with something for everyone, you’ll be saying “Just one more run” until the wee hours.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 58Apr 3, 2024

    Beat Slayer’s gorgeous style drew us into this underground fight club, but the razor-sharp combat systems and constant gameplay updates keep things from feeling overly repetitive. If you ever wondered what an electronica take on Hades would look like, then come kick Deitrich’s ass in Beat Slayer.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 53Apr 8, 2024

    Beat Slayer is a game that falls short in some areas. I don't think it goes far enough in establishing its unique setting and the characters are just people you want to tune out after a while. With that said, I enjoyed the game on the whole. It's not a game that's good for long sessions, especially if you get particularly far in a run and have that adrenaline balloon get popped to send you back to the very beginning. For short sessions, however, it's got solid enough combat and a strong enough soundtrack to make it worth touring this robot-filled dystopia.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 51Apr 15, 2024

    Beat Slayer’s core mechanic is good. As long as players stay on the beat and mix and match their attacks, kicks, and dashes, they can deal with a wide array of enemy combinations. The game also has a good variety of upgrades for Mia and two extra weapons to unlock. This futuristic version of Berlin is interesting, although her sidekicks can be a little forgettable.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 49Apr 2, 2024

    Beat Slayer is an enjoyable enough game in short doses, but does nothing to move its genre forward or innovate on established ideas.

    read full review ↗

Patch history

  1. 1.5 Anarchy Patch
    Nov 18, 2024
  2. 1.2 Patch Notes
    Apr 17, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  3. Demo Hotfix #1
    Feb 6, 2024