Rift of the NecroDancer
A rhythm game spin-off of Crypt of the NecroDancer.
Rift of the NecroDancer is a 2025 rhythm game developed by Brace Yourself Games and Tic Toc Games, and published by Klei Entertainment. A spin-off of Crypt of the NecroDancer, it features the player pressing buttons corresponding to three lanes as enemies approach the bottom of the screen. The game was released for Windows on February 5, 2025, and for Nintendo Switch on March 27, 2025.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Brace Yourself Games, Tic Toc Games
- Publisher
- Klei Entertainment
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Windows, Nintendo Switch
- Released
- Windows, February 5, 2025, Nintendo Switch, March 27, 2025
- Genre
- Rhythm
- Modes
- Single-player
- Composer
- Danny Baranowsky
- Alex Moukala
- Jules Conroy (FamilyJules)
- Josie Brechner
- Sam Webster
- Nick Nausbaum
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Cadence returns in Rift of the NecroDancer, a rhythm game where you tap buttons in sync with the beat. The main mode, rhythm rift, sends enemies down three lanes toward Cadence. You press the matching lane button when an enemy reaches the front. Enemies vary: some switch lanes, others need multiple hits. Miss an enemy and Cadence takes damage; if her health hits zero, the stage ends. Food items found during play restore some health. Boss battles require timed button presses to dodge attacks and then strike back. Minigame stages, inspired by Rhythm Heaven, change the rules and setting—like having Cadence strike a pose at the right moment in a yoga class. Story mode takes you through stages in order, with cutscenes between them. You can also pick any stage from the menu and choose from four difficulty levels. Practice mode removes the failure condition so you can learn without pressure. Rhythm rift stages include a remix mode that shuffles enemy types and positions. A daily challenge gives everyone the same remixed stage to compete for high scores. Players can build custom stages using their own music and share them through Steam Workshop.
Development
Rift of the NecroDancer was initially shown on August 4, 2022, alongside a trailer for the Crypt of the NecroDancer: Synchrony DLC. A gameplay trailer confirming a Windows launch appeared on August 24, 2022. The Nintendo Indie World Showcase in April 2023 announced a Switch version, aiming for a 2023 release. Brace Yourself Games cut half its workforce a month later but stated development on the game would go on. In August 2023, the title was pushed to 2024, with Klei Entertainment taking over publishing duties. A further delay in November 2024 set the Windows release for February 5, 2025, while the Switch version followed on March 27, 2025, after a Nintendo Direct that same day. The game has seen both free and paid updates featuring characters and music from other franchises. An October 2025 update introduced profile customization and unlockable content.
Reception
Rift of the NecroDancer holds a 79 out of 100 on Metacritic, which places it in the "generally favorable" range. IGN's Charlie Wacholz called it a "Greatest Hits box set for rhythm games," applauding its variety of modes inspired by other rhythm titles but noting that this variety sometimes leads to a lack of cohesion. Digital Trends' Giovanni Colantonio praised the gameplay for feeling like playing a real instrument, comparing learning enemy patterns in rift mode to reading sheet music, though he found the story mode's boss stages anticlimactic after the tougher rift stages. RPGamer's Ryan Costa liked the gameplay but pointed out difficulty balance issues, describing long sessions and higher difficulties as "physically punishing." Nintendo Life's Ronald Ingram agreed that harder difficulties "became a step too far" in the second half, while medium difficulty allowed for satisfying "in-the-zone play." Shacknews' Lucas White criticized the absence of RPG elements from Crypt of the NecroDancer. On Nintendo Switch, Nintendo World Report's Willem Hilhorst found the control options unsatisfactory, saying the Joy-Con's directional buttons combined with fast inputs made the game unforgiving. Many reviewers compared the game's modes to Guitar Hero, Rhythm Heaven, and Punch-Out. The soundtrack, featuring multiple composers across a range of music genres, was widely praised.
More in Nintendo Switch Game Library of the 2020s
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced