Rift of the NecroDancer Review

Rhythm games have a special way of pulling players into the music, making time fly by in a whirlwind of beats and button presses. From the legendary Dance Dance Revolution to Guitar Hero and Osu!, the genre has thrived on precision, challenge, and a killer soundtrack. But one game series that took rhythm mechanics and fused them with dungeon-crawling brilliance was Crypt of the NecroDancer. Now, its sequel, Rift of the NecroDancer, brings that same energetic charm and transforms it into something fresh, fast-paced, and incredibly addictive.

Obligatory warning: This game will make you lose track of time.

This isn’t just another rhythm game—it’s an evolution of what NecroDancer started, delivering a fresh take with new mechanics, a wild variety of modes, and a rocking soundtrack. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the original or just looking for a rhythm game that’ll keep you entertained for hours, Rift of the NecroDancer has something for you.

Gameplay – Rhythm Combat That Feels So Right

A Rhythm-Based Twist on Lane Mechanics

If Crypt of the NecroDancer was a dungeon crawler with rhythm-based movement, Rift of the NecroDancer flips the script and turns into a lane-based rhythm battler. Instead of moving a character on a grid, players must hit enemies as they reach the end of a three-lane track—similar to Guitar Hero, but with an action-oriented twist.

Each enemy that appears on the screen corresponds to one of the three lanes, and when they reach the final tile, you must press the correct button in time with the beat to take them down. Sounds simple, right? Well, not quite.

Some enemies:

• Take one hit to defeat.
• Switch lanes after being struck, requiring a follow-up hit.
• Need multiple hits to go down.
• Move faster or slower than others, requiring quick reflexes.

All of this happens in sync with the beat of the music, which is what makes Rift of the NecroDancer both exhilarating and, at times, overwhelming. It’s one thing to hit simple notes in a rhythm game; it’s another when those notes are actual enemies trying to kill you.

Health, Healing, and Vibe Power – Surviving the Rift

Unlike other rhythm games where missing a note simply affects your score, Rift of the NecroDancer introduces a health bar mechanic. Players can take up to 10 points of damage before failing a song, adding an extra layer of tension to every encounter.

Luckily, there are ways to recover:

• Healing items appear during tracks to help restore lost HP.
• If you land enough perfect hits, you charge up Vibe Power, a special ability that makes protagonist Cadence invincible for a short time, giving players a chance to recover during especially chaotic sections.

This system ensures that players always have a way to fight back against the difficulty, rather than just watching helplessly as they fail.

Multiple Modes for Every Type of Player

Rift of the NecroDancer isn’t just a one-and-done experience—it’s packed with a variety of modes, each offering a different way to enjoy the game’s rhythmic action.

Play Mode – Climb the Ranks

Play Mode is the core of the experience, offering a selection of featured songs that players can try to rank up on. Difficulty levels range from Easy to Impossible, allowing players to find the right challenge level for their skill set.

Beyond just the base tracks, there are also remixed versions of each song, meaning you can replay your favourites with different layouts and enemy patterns. These aren’t just slight variations—they force players to adapt to new rhythms and challenges, keeping the game feeling fresh.

Story Mode – A Rhythm Journey With a Twist

Story Mode is where Rift of the NecroDancer truly shines. This isn’t just a series of levels—it’s a narrative-driven adventure that introduces players to new characters, unexpected twists, and even mini-games inspired by classic rhythm titles.

The story follows Cadence and her friends from Crypt of the NecroDancer as they get transported into a world that looks eerily like our own. But, of course, things aren’t quite as they seem. The game’s narrative unfolds between tracks, keeping things engaging while seamlessly transitioning between rhythm battles.

Story Mode also introduces:

• Back-to-back track progression, meaning the game flows naturally from one song to the next.
• Mini-games inspired by Punch-Out!! and Rhythm Heaven, offering a nostalgic twist to the experience.
• Boss battles serve as unique, high-intensity musical showdowns.

One minor drawback? Story Mode ends a bit too suddenly, leaving players wanting more. But thankfully, the other modes help keep the replay value high.

Remix Mode – The Ultimate Challenge

If you think you’ve mastered Rift of the NecroDancer, Remix Mode will put you to the test.

This mode takes every track and procedurally generates beat maps that challenge players in unexpected ways. The goal is to test your ability to adapt to unpredictable rhythms and enemy patterns, ensuring that no two playthroughs feel the same.

It’s a blessing for hardcore players—but also a curse, as some seeds can be brutally difficult. Expect some songs to feel like an unfair challenge, but for leaderboard chasers, that’s all part of the fun.

Daily Challenges – Compete for the Top Spot

For those looking to prove their skills on a global stage, Daily Challenges provides a way to compete against other players every 24 hours. Each day presents a unique, one-time-only beat map, and players only get one shot at climbing the rankings.

If you thrive under pressure, this mode is perfect for you.

Custom Music Mode – Your Soundtrack, Your Way

Want to take things even further? Custom Music Mode allows players to import their tracks and create personalized rhythm maps. The NecroDancer community has already embraced this feature, offering a huge selection of custom stages that add nearly limitless replayability.

Colour Accessibility Features – Making the Rhythm for Everyone

Obsidian has put serious effort into ensuring that Rift of the NecroDancer is accessible to all players, regardless of their experience with rhythm games.

Some of the standout options include:

• Colour blindness adjustments for improved visibility.
• Background animation controls (full, none, or static).
• Static portraits for better focus.
• Early/late hit indicators to help players improve timing.
• Accuracy bar for more precise feedback.
• Reduced combo and score VFX to reduce distractions.
• Audio and video latency calibration, ensuring your inputs match the beat perfectly.

These settings make the game incredibly customizable, ensuring that both hardcore and casual players can enjoy the experience.

Soundtrack – The Heartbeat of the Game

A rhythm game is only as good as its soundtrack, and Rift of the NecroDancer delivers an absolute banger of a playlist.

From electrifying EDM tracks to punchy rock beats, every song is designed to keep players engaged and moving. And if you find yourself hooked on a particular track? The game makes it easy to check out the artists—meaning you’ll probably end up adding half the soundtrack to your playlist.

Final Verdict – A Must-Play Rhythm Game

At the end of the day, Rift of the NecroDancer is an absolute joy to play. Whether you’re here for the music, the challenge, or just a fun way to kill time, this game delivers on all fronts.

If you’re even remotely a fan of rhythm games, this is a must-play.