Review - Mixtape: Music, (lots of) Teen Drama, and Stunning Visuals

Mixtape takes us to the final day together for a trio of teenagers in the small town of Blue Moon Lagoon, located in Northern California. Check out our detailed review of the game below!

Technical Specs

- Release Date: May 07, 2026

- Developer: Beethoven and Dinosaur

- Publisher: Annapurna Interactive

- Genre: Adventure, Narrative, Indie

- Average Duration: 3 hours

- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2

Official trailer

Characters and narrative

The main character, Stanford, has a unique connection to music and curates custom soundtracks for every moment. This turns the game audio into a standout feature, with each chapter revolving around its own signature track.

The episodic structure of the game is compelling because even though the overarching focus is on Stacey's last day in town, we explore other milestones in the trio's life through memories. Each of these flashbacks comes with its own specific soundtrack.

In my view, the central conflict should have been Stacey's departure, but the friction between Cassandra and her father really steals the spotlight as the game unfolds. She initially appears shy, but the narrative gradually reveals why she wanted to rebel and how she handles her father.

Even though Stacey is seemingly the main focus, Cassandra truly steals the show. This is likely because almost every teenager has wanted to rebel against their parents, disagreed with them, or wanted to do things they were not allowed to do, even sneaking out of the house to do them anyway.

Then we have Slater, who does not stand out as much during the playthrough. Slater is an aspiring musician who lacks the courage to share his work with the world. He shares a great friendship with Stacey. At times, I wondered if they liked each other, or if Slater was hiding deeper feelings for her. However, he ends up taking a backseat in the story, mostly following the girls around and supporting Stacey.

It is interesting how the three of them share common interests but also have vastly different tastes, focusing on separate things, yet they still manage to understand each other, hang out, and do typical teenage things.

Teenagers doing teenage things

The game ultimately appeals to an adult audience by tapping into the nostalgia of being a teenager pulling reckless stunts, regardless of the reason.

When we look back at that era as adults, we sometimes get a feeling that it was, or could have been, the best time of our lives and we did not even realize it.

One example occurs right at the start of the game. They are skateboarding around, and you control Stacey. You accidentally crash into a car, and the game rewinds to a moment where you are still alive. There is also a first kiss sequence.

Later, you escape from the police in a grocery cart, which adds a touch of humor alongside the incredible art style.

My personal favorite moment involves renting movies while drunk, knocking over everything in your path. This represents classic teenage behavior for people who are now adults. Video rental stores do not even exist anymore, as we mostly just use Netflix now.

Combining these youthful antics with the dramatic narrative made me understand the core concept of the game. I truly did. However, I could not fully lose myself in all the drama. The art is incredible, the graphics are beautiful, and the soundtrack is wonderful, but the storyline about teenagers talking about hooking up and wanting to disappoint their parents felt a bit too overdramatic in the wrong ways for me.

Yes, teenagers are dramatic. But watching them do these silly things for three hours while agonizing over simple issues gave me a bit of anxiety. The game remains beautiful, and the music is excellent, but all this drama, structured as a collection of arguments and life snapshots rather than a truly engaging plot, left me a bit frustrated. Perhaps I expected too much from a game designed to portray a simple milestone: leaving home for the first time and dealing with the uncertainties of youth through a teenage perspective.

Drama. So much drama.

Gameplay

The game focuses heavily on narrative, memories, emotions, and the history of the trio. The playable segment consists of very simple interactions, featuring a clean interface and minimal controls.

The gameplay is broken up into several different minigames, such as controlling Stacey on her skateboard where the goal is to avoid getting hit by a car, taking photos or recording videos, finding clues around a bedroom, or just walking through the woods.

There are also moments with incredibly basic interactions, like walking and jumping, which contribute to the beauty of the experience by making you feel present in that specific moment.

Looking back, the interactive element serves a clear purpose: it keeps you focused on the story and prevents you from disconnecting, making you feel like a small part of everything happening around you. In that regard, I believe it works well.

Soundtrack and graphics

Every track included in the selection is real and perfectly chosen for each scene, exactly as the characters themselves would choose.

The soundtrack features some well-known bands like The Cure and Smashing Pumpkins, but the lesser-known artists are just as captivating, evoking strong emotions that perfectly match the narrative beats. The marketing surrounding the music and the title itself delivers on a promise that was fully kept!

Furthermore, the visual style complements the music beautifully. The casual, colorful, and detailed art direction goes a long way in making the game memorable and eye-catching.

Many scenes are crafted purely for visual delight, showcasing dramatic lighting, magical sequences, and fireworks. This approach works remarkably well, especially when considering that these are memories and teenagers experience everything intensely, which makes all the visual magic feel justified.

Pros

- Well-constructed narrative about friendship

- Flawless soundtrack

- Incredible art direction that perfectly matches the core concept

- Emotional approach that can trigger nostalgia and resonate with older players

Cons

- Very simple and unchallenging gameplay

- Extremely short duration, lasting under three hours

- The emotional impact might not work for everyone, especially younger audiences

- Teenagers doing teenage things constantly

Mixtape is a game that relies on an emotional narrative about an uncertain phase of life we all go through. It succeeds wonderfully in this aspect, particularly because the soundtrack aligns perfectly with the art style.

At certain points, the constant teenage drama bothered me because the game focuses so heavily on it. However, the soundtrack and art direction made up for all of it. The visual treat provided in many moments keeps the narrative from ever feeling tedious.

If you are looking for games where your choices alter the story or games that offer deep gameplay mechanics, you might be disappointed. The focus here is purely on emotion and storytelling. It is an experience meant for you to wind down and enjoy the story at a calm pace, especially since the duration is short.

If you are looking for something more relaxed with stunning visuals, great music, and a story you can finish in a single day, I highly recommend it!

Score: 8 out of 10.