The Metronomicon

I have no idea why this game didn't get more attention when it came out. A mix of Final Fantasy and Rock Band, Metronomicon layers strategy-based RPG-style battles with a rhythm overlay, tasking players with playing different parts of a song Amplitude-style in order to unleash different attacks.

It's difficult, but when you finally put together the perfect combo without a missed beat, it's incredibly satisfying.

That's it for our best rhythm action games of all time. What games would you have included? Let us know over on Twitter!

Child of Eden

I could have easily put Rez or Rez Infinite in this slot, but for my money, the game's Xbox 360 followup, Child of Eden, is the best of all three if you're looking for a rhythm rail-shooter.

It is currently unavailable on current-gen marketplaces, which means that even though it is backwards-compatible with the Xbox One, you're out of luck unless you can dig up your old Xbox 360 disc, which is a shame because it is legitimately one of the most beautiful games ever made.

Where Rez skewed more digital, with a cyberpunk-inspired aesthetic, Child of Eden is decidedly more organic and psychedelic. The graphics hold up today, punching well above their weight, and it is, oddly enough, one of the only games ever to pull off Kinect integration in a satisfying way.

Crypt of the Necrodancer

Crypt of the Necrodancer is another unique entry on this list. Although it is, technically, a rhythm game, an advanced sense of rhythm and syncopation won't really help you here. This roguelike dungeon-crawler is more about quickly making a plan of attack, executing it, and doing it to the beat, moving on every single one so that you don't break your combo. 

Oh, and this game is hard, too! You'll have to think ahead to avoid being one-shotted by a particularly vicious enemy, but once you learn the enemy patterns, it's an extremely satisfying romp.

Thumper

Thumper is a transcendental game in another way. The developers bill it as a "rhythm-violence" title, and they're not wrong. Everything about the game feels oppressive, and death is always creeping in around the corner.

Where the rest of the games on this list can induce a state of focused flow, Thumper is much more of a white-knuckle experience. You'd be surprised at how scary this rhythm game can be.

Sayonara Wild Hearts

Sayonara Wild Hearts is an incredibly special game. It blends a story of self-discovery after heartbreak with super-flashy graphics and tight controls. That would be enough to land it a spot on this list, but what makes the game iconic, and truthfully, one of my personal all-time favorites, is the soundtrack.

The game plays like a concept album, each song matching perfectly with its stage but also coming together as a whole to tell a larger story. The dream pop soundtrack stands alone as one of 2019's best albums, but experiencing it together with the game is almost a transcendental experience.

Bit.Trip.Runner

Sure, Bit.Trip.Runner doesn't have an all-star tracklist full of licensed songs, nor does it have photorealistic graphics or a deep story. But if there's one thing the Bit.Trip series is good at, it's stripping everything away in order to create a distilled, concentrated hardcore experience.

One of the more difficult games on this list, Bit.Trip.Runner may have you throwing your controller at the wall, but at the same time, you know you'll be back grinding that level soon enough.

Amplitude

In Amplitude, whether you're playing the PS2 original or the PS4 re-imagining, your reward for playing well is being able to hear more of the song. 

It's an interesting gameplay hook — instead of mashing buttons to the beat of the song, you control a ship responsible for playing each individual part of the song. You have to lay down the drum track, the vocal track, the synth tracks, and the guitar tracks, and as you do, the actual song takes shape in front of you.

It's a frustratingly fun way to motivate the player since your reward for nailing a particularly difficult section is actually being able to hear the sweet guitar solo that has been plaguing you for the last 30 minutes.

Rhythm Thief & The Emperor's Treasure

Rhythm Thief & The Emperor's Treasure didn't make as big of a splash as Elite Beat Agents, Rhythm Heaven, or any of the other less action-focused rhythm games on the Nintendo DS family of systems, and that's a shame because it's a very special game. 

It's Professor Layton by way of Rhythm Heaven, weaving a deep story (complete with Level-5's iconic beautiful animated cutscenes and voice acting) replacing brain-bending minigames with rhythm-based minigames.

The game does a great job of integrating these minigames with whatever is going on in the game's campaign, which makes the overall experience really special and immersive.

Just Shapes & Beats

In quickplay mode, Just Shapes & Beats is a joy to play given how it flips the rhythm genre on its head. Instead of pressing buttons to the beat of a song, the stage itself is what reacts to the music that is playing, as hazards pop up and dance around the stage.

Every single song in the game has a custom-created stage, with hazards that are thematically appropriate for the song's genre and mood. It's clear that a lot of effort was put into curating these stages.

The developers really didn't have to include a story mode here, but they did, and for a rhythm game with no dialogue, there are some amazing, emotional moments to be found here. Plus, the game recently got a pretty major update, adding a few songs from the Shovel Knight soundtrack (remixed, naturally) for free!

Beat Saber

It would be irresponsible not to lead off with Beat Saber. Even if it weren't a VR title, its slick visuals and amazing tracklist would be enough to land a spot on this list. But once you put on a headset, Beat Saber is an expert at inducing a deep sense of flow.

Your brain turns off, and you enter a trance-like state as you slash an endless stream of boxes. It's not until after you take the headset off an hour later that you realize you're drenched in sweat and your arms feel like they're on fire. 

It's worth it, though. Trust me. 

There are few feelings in gaming more satisfying than losing yourself in a song and mashing buttons to the beat to defeat an enemy or complete a stage. It just feels right, you know?

Slashing an enemy when the vocalist hits that high note, jumping over an obstacle during a soaring guitar solo, expertly parrying a blow as the high-hat hits. It's exhilarating, and it's one of my favorite genres of gaming. 

In that spirit, here are our favorite rhythm action games of all time. As a note, however, we're disqualifying games like Guitar Hero, Beatmania, and even Parappa the Rapper and Elite Beat Agents, given the fact that those games are more purely rhythm titles.

We love them too, so don't feel slighted if you don't see them on this list!

Crypt of the Necrodancer

Standard Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $2.99
Crypt of the Necrodancer review

It’s been five years since Crypt Of The Necrodancer released, but it still makes for an excellent title, appearing on many (many) "best of" lists. And for good reason. 

Developed by Brace Yourself Games, Crypt is another example of successfully merging roguelike mechanics with a genre typically not known for them — this time a rhythm game where you traverse dungeons in step to the beat.

It’s another challenging affair but proves impossible to put down, and like Bastion, there’s little risk when it’s 80% off.

Buy Crypt Of The Necrodancer on Steam

---

That wraps up this list of the best indie games to buy during the 2020 Steam Summer Sale. Here's to increasing our backlogs yet again! 

Bastion

Standard Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $2.99
Bastion review

Supergiant Games are hard at work with finishing Hades right now, but their first project, Bastion, is one of the most acclaimed 2D action indie games in recent memory.

Playing a nameless adventurer referred to as “The Kid," you find yourself in a post-calamity world, exploring the ruins of society. It’s a title you can complete in one sitting, but don't let that fool you. Bastion is chock full of solid combat and great narration. It’s hard to go wrong at 80% off.  

Buy Bastion on Steam

Hollow Knight

Standard Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $7.49
Hollow Knight review

Hollow Knight sees you playing a nameless knight, traveling through the ancient kingdom of Hallownest, now plagued by vicious insects. Much like Cuphead, Hollow Knight gained recognition for its tough, but never unfair. gameplay.

Coming in at 50% off, Metroidvania fans will find a lot to love here. Just be prepared for a challenge.

Buy Hollow Knight on Steam

Slay the Spire

Standard Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $12.49

Developed by Mega Crit Games, Slay the Spire was an overnight success. One of the latest titles to implement roguelike mechanics in more traditional genres — this time a card game — Slay the Spire uniquely bridges genre gaps with stunning effect.

Making your journey up the ever-changing Spire, no two playthroughs are alike, allowing for many distinctive deck combinations. It’s 50% off right now, so if you've been on the fence, it’s a good time to invest.

Buy Slay The Spire on Steam

Risk of Rain

Standard Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $2.49

Developed by Hopoo Games, Risk Of Rain is a bargain at 75% off. Incorporating roguelike mechanics with 2D Metroidvania sensibilities, you face off against a near-endless swarm of increasingly difficult enemies, requiring you to locate a randomly placed teleporter within each level to move on to the next.

The developers have since released Risk of Rain 2, also on offer at 20% off. Both are worth looking into, though, RoR2 replaces Risk of Rain's 2D style with 3D models and environments and is still in Early Access. 

Buy Risk Of Rain on Steam

Gris

Standard Price: $16.99
Sale Price: $6.79

It’d be an understatement to say that few games are as impactful as Gris. Released in 2018, Team Nomada’s debut title is a 2D puzzle platformer overflowing with lush environments and gushing with character. 

A story of trauma, this quest sees you restore color to the world, taking inspiration from titles like Journey. Its gameplay is somewhat minimalist but as an artistic experience, Gris is powerful and moving.

Buy Gris on Steam

Overcooked! 2

Standard Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $14.99

After the success of Overcooked! in 2016, it wasn’t surprising to see a sequel two years later. Developed by Ghost Town Games, you play as chef of the Onion Kingdom, looking to defeat a new zombie threat known as The Unbread.

Cooking in increasingly impractical kitchens, Overcooked! 2 is a frantic multiplayer experience that’s worth ordering at 40% off. If you’ve not played the original, that's on sale for 75% off.

Buy Overcooked! 2 on Steam

Budget Cuts

Standard Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $7.49

Virtual Reality is an indie-dominated platform, and back in 2018, Budget Cuts was one of the earliest standouts. Combining corporate satire with an action stealth premise, you find both your job and life under threat from automation.

It takes a few hours to complete but comes with an arcade mode too. Filled with humor and satisfying combat, it’s highly worth snatching up for 75% off. If you enjoy Budget Cuts, the sequel is 50% too.

Buy Budget Cuts on Steam

Override: Mech City Brawl

Standard Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $4.49

Released in 2018 by The Balance Inc, this 3D brawler will be of interest to Kaiju/Mecha fans, reminiscent of titles like War of The Monsters and Godzilla: Save The Earth.

Featuring a mission-based campaign mode, Override: Mech City Brawl places you against swarms of monsters known as “Xenotypes” and has fully destructible environments. Packed with local and multiplayer options, it’s an absolute steal at 85% off.

Buy Override: Mech City Brawl on Steam

Superhot

Standard Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $9.99
Superhot review

Superhot began life in 2013’s 7 Day FPS Challenge, but after a successful Kickstarter, it launched fully in 2016. Featuring a minimalistic art style, time only moves as you move, and everything plays out in slow motion. 

Superhot received critical acclaim at launch — and well after — bringing with it some of the most unique FPS gameplay we’ve ever seen. At 60% off, it’s well worth a look. 

Buy Superhot on Steam

Celeste

Standard Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $9.99
Celeste review

Towerfall Ascension put Matt Makes Games on the map, but in 2018, Celeste cemented the studio as one of gaming’s best indie developers.

You play as Madeline, a girl facing her inner demons as she journeys to the top of Celeste Mountain. Featuring hundreds of levels, it’s a challenging platformer but crucially, never feels unfair. Uncovering the mountain’s mystery as you progress, it’s another strong recommendation at 50% off.

Buy Celeste on Steam

Cuphead

Standard Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $14.99
Cuphead review

Studio MDHR Entertainment Inc. brought us one of gaming’s most unique titles when Cuphead launched in 2017 — and it's focused on boss fights. Taking visual inspiration from 1930s-era cartoons, this run-and-gun title follows the brothers Cuphead and Mugman following their deal with the Devil to retain their souls.

Praised for its challenging difficulty, Cuphead is one of the hardest games released in the past several years. It sold 1 million units just a few weeks after launch. It's not the greatest discount at 25% off, but Cuphead is a title you won’t want to miss.

Buy Cuphead on Steam

Firewatch

Standard Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $4.99
Firewatch review

Firewatch was a huge success when it dropped in 2016. Developed by Campo Santo, it takes place in 1989, and you play a man named Henry as he retreats deep into Wyoming’s forest. It’s your job to keep it safe.

Discovering something strange from a forestry lookout tower, you are drawn into a mystery playing out across this strange environment. Firewatch is a short experience but an incredibly fun one, and it comes highly recommended at 75% off.

Buy Firewatch on Steam

We’ve reached that wonderful time of year where the Steam Summer Sale is in full force, running from June 25 until July 9. Chances are that your Valve has already emailed you about cheap games on your wishlist, but there are thousands of deals to look through, bringing some fantastic offers and, almost inevitably, a renewed backlog.

If you’re a fan of indie games, though, searching through for the best indie games on sale can be tricky; many aren’t limited to a single genre. Indie developers have brought us many of gaming’s most creative ventures in recent years and when it comes to this Steam sale, the choices can be overwhelming.

So if you’re looking to narrow down these choices, here’s our guide to 13 of the best indie games we recommend.

Cadence of Hyrule was one of the year's surprise indie hits — heavy emphasis on "surprise." After being nominated for this year's Game Awards, Cadence of Hyrule is getting some new content with the free DLC, Octavo's Ode. The DLC is available now.

The news comes in an tweet from Nintendo UK.

As the name suggests, this extra content for Cadence of Hyrule is all about the game's villain, Octavo. You'll play as the purple baddie and take on the game's toughest challenges and enemies, trusty Golden Lute by your side.

It's not just a strict dungeon run either. Octavo's Ode tells the story behind why Octavo came to Hyrule and felt the need to try and conquer it.

We thoroughly enjoyed Cadence of Hyrule's clever blending of Zelda themes and tunes with Crypt of the Necrodancer's unique gameplay. Getting even more of it — and for free, at that — is certainly not a bad thing.

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more Cadence of Hyrule and Zelda news as it gets composed.

[Update 5/29] The game's source code has changed and now shows Cadence of Hyrule's release date as June 20th. The original story is below.

Nintendo and Brace Yourself Games have kept quiet ever since Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the Necrodancer was announced, but new datamining suggests it could be set to release May 30. That's this Thursday.

As a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Crypt of the Necrodancer and the first time Nintendo has allowed an indie studio to work on one of its franchises, many are curious to see the final product.

Twitter user NWPlayer123 has followed the game's eShop code since it was first announced. Originally, the code showed a May 31 release date. Today,  however, NWPlayer123 posted an update stating the game's code now displays May 30 as the release date.

It should be noted, though, another user responded with a slight correction. The May 30 release date has actually been shown since shortly after the game was announced and has been a topic of discussion in the Crypt of the Necrodancer Discord channel for a few weeks now.

Whether that means the game will actually release in this week's usual Thursday download or if it's just now getting attention isn't clear. Thursday's just two days away at the time of writing, so we'll know soon enough.

There's good reason to believe this date might be true anyway, though. Earlier in the month, Nintendo Europe sent out an email promoting May's upcoming releases. Included in that, after the somewhat controversial Resident Evil Switch ports, was Cadence of Hyrule.

Well, the RE Switch ports launched last week, which would make this week the only other time in May Cadence of Hyrule could launch — assuming it hasn't been delayed, of course.

These are just a few of the many nindies that are coming to the Switch during this year. This is a great time to own a Switch as we already have blockbuster games such as: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey and DOOM, and now have these nindies to look forward too. It is great to see the Switch getting a large amount of support, therefore keeping fans interested and more people investing in the console.

It will be great to see how these nindies play on the Switch when they arrive. I can't wait to try out Shovel Knight: King of Cards and Moonlighter when they drop. Which nindie are you the most excited for?

Moonlighter

Release: TBC 2018

Moonlighter is an RPG that is reminiscent of the old school Legend of Zelda games and will be arriving on the Switch this year. Moonlighter expands on the original Legend of Zelda's formula, as you can talk to villagers and take on quests for them which will reward you with equipment and other items. You can also own a shop, which you will be able to manage and make money off of. Crafting also plays a big role as you can make better equipment to help you complete dungeons. Moonlighter promises to be an interesting port to the Switch and is well worth checking out. 

Away: Journey to the Unexpected

Release: TBC 2018

Away: Journey to the Unexpected is a first person adventure title where you try to get recruit different people in the world to join your side to try and help you throughout your adventure. There is a negotiation mechanic which is highly reminiscent of trying to negotiate with personas in Persona 5. What really stood out for Away is the graphics. The game is set in a  colorful 3D world, but the characters are cartoonish and are in 2D. This unique graphic choice makes the game look even cooler than it already is. The protagonist of Away wields a stick which allows you to use melee attacks or magic spells. Be on the lookout for this game as time goes by!

Crypt of the NecroDancer

Release: Feb 01, 2018

Brace Yourself Games' rhythm like dungeon crawler is coming to Switch on February 1st. I never heard of this game until my friend showed me it last summer, and I, for one, was quite shocked at the intriguing take on an older genre. On the surface Crypt of the NecroDancer looks like a regular dungeon crawler, but it is so much more than that. This game's movement and combat is based off a rhythm movement, similar to Dance Dance Revolution's rhythm controls. So lets say you want to move around in the dungeon, you would have to time your movement to the beat of the background music. If you do this you will gain a score multiplier, and if you are unable to the move to the beat then enemies will be able to attack you and you lose this multiplier. This game is incredibly fun and is a great fit as a nindie for the Switch. This game is also out now so go ahead and get it when you can.    

Layers of Fear: Legacy 

Release:  Feb 21, 2018

Layers of Fear: Legacy is also becoming a nindie, and it will become one of the first horror games that is being ported to the Switch. Layers of Fear first came out in 2016, and it received heaps of praise from critics and fans for its immersive horror experience. In Layers of Fear, you are a painter traveling through a mansion while trying to finish your masterpiece. While trying to finish this painting you go on a journey full jump scares and puzzles, all while finding out more about the painter and how he come to be where he is. Layers of Fear may not have the same frightening build-up as games like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard or Outlast, but it still provides a tense atmosphere alongside an abundant amount of scares and a mysterious plot that will keep you interested throughout the game. The game is out now so if you haven't tried it, go try it now!

Terraria 

Release: TBC 2018

Terraria - developed by Re-Logic - is a 2-D make your own adventure sandbox game which has very similar mechanics to Minecraft and could have been influenced by this popular game. Re-Logic first announced that the port for Terraria would be coming out on the Switch last year, but they pushed the release back for 2018. This was disappointment to many Switch owners as many fans were looking forward to exploring the world of Terraria on the new console. 

Inside

Release: TBC 2018 

Playdead's critically acclaimed Inside is now making its way to the Switch, and it will be bringing its darker, eerie visuals and story with it. Playdead's first title - Limbo - earned renown throughout the gaming scene in 2010 as Limbo was a beautiful yet fatalistic and depressing puzzle game. Inside is no different, with sombre themes and puzzles being in the forefront of the game. Furthermore, both titles are driven by their bleak and desolate tales which will shock and amaze you throughout the game. There are no new features arriving with this port of Inside, but being able to play it anywhere because of the Switch's portability is going to be a massive plus for the port.

Shovel Knight: King of Cards

Release: TBC 2018

Yacht Club Games' fan favorite indie game is now coming to Switch as the last piece of standalone DLC called King of Cards. Shovel Knight was a Kickstarter funded plat-former that is reminisce of old 8-bit plat-formers of the late 80s. In the follow-up DLC you're the "King Knight," who is trying to lay their claim on the monarchy by taking on the "Three Kings" who are currently ruling. Other than a new protagonist and 30 new levels, King of Cards will have a new built-in mini card game too.  

Since the release of the Switch last year we knew that the console was going to get a lot of the indie games ported or released onto the eponymous device. Games like: Stardew Valley, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, Yooka Laylee and Retro City Rampage DX have already been ported to the Switch, and these games fit the console like a glove. Nintendo is going to keep up with the ports and new releases of indie games - or nindies - throughout the year with a plethora of nindies coming out soon. So here's 7 nindies you should look out for that are heading to the Switch. 

Tempo is one of the new playable characters in the Crypt of the Necrodancer DLC, "Crypt of the Necrodancer Amplified," which came out in early 2017. Tempo starts with a shovel, a blood dagger, a compass, and a torch. He jumps one space per beat like normal and has a permanent telepathy, so he can see all the enemies in the level right at the start. Although he can one-hit kill every enemy (armor still counts), what makes playing with him challenging is that Tempo can only make 16 moves before he dies to "Tempo's curse."

What is Tempo's Curse?

Unlike the other characters where you have an unlimited number of moves, Tempo starts each level with 16 moves. Besides the normal steps, opening a door, digging a dirt block, sliding across an ice tile, and missing a beat each count as one move. When Tempo runs out of moves, he dies. Fortunately, there are a few ways to replenish moves. Each action listed below brings Tempo back to 16 moves.

• Killing an enemy
• Eating food
• Purchasing or picking up an item. This only counts once, so no item swapping!
• Opening a chest
• Taking the stairs and moving on the next level

Here are a few tips to playing as Tempo so you can get through each zone with ease!

Get to the Stairs as Fast as You Can

Because of the 16-move limit, you want to pay attention to the compass's arrow and head in the direction of the stairs. Getting stuck in a dead end means you can't find any enemies or items in time to replenish your moves before you die. There also isn't much point in backtracking or going to an adjacent room just to kill the enemies because you risk running out of moves before getting back to the stairs. Once you can take the stairs, then take them. It refreshes your moves nonetheless.

Avoid the Shop

It can be tempting to visit the shop if you pass it because Tempo accumulates gold much more quickly. Although he receives the same amount of gold from each enemy (depending on the multiplier), the levels are swamped with enemies to help the player get through each level. However, you will rarely have enough steps to go in the shop, make a purchase, and come back out with enough steps to get to an enemy to kill. Although the purchase does completely refill your number of available moves, it's unlikely you'll be able to make it out and to an enemy before the curse strikes.

Practice Each of the Zones with Another Character First

The game may vastly increase the number of enemies in each level to help you replenish your moves, but the enemies from all of the zones are included. So, for Zone 1, there are green slimes among golems, shove monsters, devils, blademasters and more. The mini bosses are zone specific, so no banshees in Zone 1, although each level now has two mini bosses that need to be killed before the stairs open up. If you're not familiar with the enemies found in each zone, or need to refresh your memory, then play through each of the zones first before making attempts with Tempo.

Have a Blood Weapon

Tempo starts with the blood dagger and can use any weapon he picks up. However, because you can't backtrack or go to the shop with Tempo, it's very difficult to pick up armor and healing items as you play. You have to hope the useful items are in the chests that are conveniently located along your path. If you come across another blood weapon, then pick it up! The new blood weapon will likely be one step above the blood dagger and is just about the only healing opportunity Tempo gets during the game. Most other weapons are useless because Tempo already one-shots every enemy.

Get Good at Throwing the Dagger

If your moves are counting down and you feel stuck, then throw the blood dagger (or blood spear if you've picked it up) as a last resort. If your weapon kills an enemy, then your moves are refilled. You're without a weapon until you can grab it, but hopefully the trick buys you enough time to grab the weapon and refill your moves again so you can continue your run.

If you haven't tried "Crypt of the Necrodancer Amplified" yet, then give the DLC and Tempo a try, especially if you're looking for a challenge. Some fans have remarked that playing as Tempo is not only difficult but also way more fun than playing through as Aria. Perhaps these tips will make the learning curve a bit easier to handle.

Let's face it: the weather is getting colder. As much fun as it is to go trick-or-treating, it's also fun to stay in and be warm, too. Fortunately, GOG.com is running a Halloween sale until 6 p.m. ET,  November 2nd, so staying in can be even more fun with one (or more) of these 10 great deals.

During the sale, those who spend at least $15 will receive a free copy of Tales From the Borderlands, if you needed yet another excuse to spend money and get just one more game for your buck.

Darkest Dungeon

It can be hard enough to manage mental health issues in real life, but Darkest Dungeon presents the challenge of managing mental health issues in game. Part of the adventuring in this gothic, rogue-like RPG is managing the stress and sanity of your team. Also part of the game is Murphy's Law: anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Darkest Dungeon is a game of chaos, but intellectually stimulating chaos that doesn't completely feel like the game just wants to screw you over.

Darkest Dungeon - sale price $9.99 - normally $24.99

SOMA

SOMA is an interesting entry in the genre of horror games. It's not really one about jump scares or surviving a ton of enemies. The underwater, sci-fi elements play into very specific phobias and create an uneasy, uncertain environment. On top of all that, SOMA has a compelling story, further driving both the game and the player toward continuing and finishing the game. A refreshing title when it comes to horror games, and one worth purchasing.

SOMA - sale price $7.49 - normally $29.99

Hollow Knight

The popular Metroidvania is perfect to purchase now if you haven't already, as the free expansion "The Grimm Troupe" just came out on Oct. 26. "The Grimm Troupe" is a new questline with new bosses, enemies and items, and players can access it at any time. Even without the free DLC, Hollow Knight is considered one of the best games of the year, if not the best. It's beautiful, challenging, engaging, and worth every penny.

Hollow Knight - sale price $9.89 - normally $14.99

Crypt of the Necrodancer

Crypt of the Necrodancer is a rhythm game even rhythm game haters would enjoy. The soundtrack is phenomenal, or players can add and play their own music if they disagree. The game also has tons of replay-ability, not just with the ability to add your own music, but with the different characters that require different playing styles. The game is a few years old, but manages to never get old. If you haven't picked up Crypt of the Necrodancer yet and given it a try, then every time is a good time to do so, but especially now during the GOG.com sale.

Crypt of the Necrodancer - sale price $4.49 - normally $14.99

Grim Fandango Remastered

Halloween isn't the only holiday happening this time of year. Those who love and celebrate the Day of the Dead will also love Grim Fandango Remastered. Everybody's a skeleton, you're in the Land of the Dead, and the dialogue is top notch. This horror isn't in the jump scares or enemies, but the level of corruption Manny Calavera has been dealing with in the Department of Death! Grim Fandango Remastered is an excellent game to pick up if you rather laugh out loud than scream this Day of the Dead.

Grim Fandango Remastered - sale price $3.79 - normally $14.99

Hand of Fate

Hand of Fate does a great job of combining many gaming elements together. It's part card game, part board game, part RPG. The player is in control during combat but still subject to the RNG of the cards. Overall, the game has a fantastic concept and is a grind, albeit a rewarding one, for achievement hunters. If you haven't yet tried Hand of Fate, then now is a great time to do it. The sequel, Hand of Fate 2, is coming out Nov. 7.

Hand of Fate - sale price $6.29 - normally $24.99

Don't Starve

Don't Starve isn't an easy game, and with each DLC release, it doesn't get any easier. The base game alone presents a ton of challenge, and most players will spend hours in trial and error figuring out how to not only survive, but thrive in a world where nearly everything is designed to kill you. The horror in Don't Starve isn't the creepy wilderness or the arrival of Deerclops, but the oversight of forgetting your thermal stone during your winter venture.

Don't Starve - sale price $3.79 - normally $14.99

Outlast

Sure, Outlast II came out earlier this year and it may be tempting to play the newest game. But, don't skip over the original Outlast, where the object of the game is in the title. There's no fighting; just a lot of running and hiding while trying to record as much as possible. Not everyone is an enemy either, so there's the suspense and tension in who to watch out for and where you need to go. Outlast is a must-play title for any fan of the horror genre.

Outlast - sale price $2.99 - normally $19.99

Hotline Miami

Hotline Miami is fast-paced and action packed. If you want your heart to race because all you're doing is moving, reacting and paying attention to every detail, then Hotline Miami is the game for you. The main character goes on murderous rampages and all the enemies can kill you in one hit. You can sneak by, but that's not going to work every time. The scare here is the blurred lines in who's controlling the main character's actions. Are you really in control, or are you just doing what the answering machine tells you to do?

Hotline Miami - sale price $1.99 - normally $9.99

Layers of Fear

Layers of Fear isn't about action. It's not about resolving one scary scenario only to move on to the next scary scenario. It's drawn out. It's meant to feel like you can settle while, in reality, there's no room to get comfortable. Layers of Fear is meant to be about endurance. It's an excellently detailed game, designed to force the player to explore the complexities of fear much in the same way the paintings in the game can be much more than they appear.

Layers of Fear - sale price $4.99 - normally $19.99

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Are you planning on taking advantage of the Halloween sale? What games did you buy, or are you wanting to buy? Let us know in the comments!

The Steam Summer Sale is here again. And as always, the gaming community has come together to empty their wallets as their most desired games go on sale.

If you're a fan of dungeon crawling, you're in luck with this year's sale. There's a bevy of wonderful dungeon crawlers seeing serious deals this year. Here are five of the best you can add to your collection for under $10.

Ziggurat

Regular Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $3.74

Ziggurat takes the best qualities of both FPS and roguelikes and combines them together into one great game. Rather than using guns, you use different staffs and spells to blast your way through randomly-generated levels fighting hordes of minions. Check out our Ziggurats review for more info on this one. 

Get Ziggurat on Steam

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Regular Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $7.49

The Binding of Isaac is a game that needs no introduction. But if you somehow don't already own this game, now's the perfect chance. A take on the biblical story of Isaac and Abraham, Isaac's mother hears a supposed message from God that tells her to sacrifice her son to him. Isaac, hearing this, flees into the caverns under his house to escape the murderous matriarch.

Get The Binding of Isaac Rebirth on Steam

Crypt of the NecroDancer

Regular Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $2.99

Crypt of the NecroDancer is a dungeon crawler with a twist: it's also a rhythm game. Every action you take is in time with the music, even moving and fighting. As is expected of such a game, the soundtrack is incredible -- but if you somehow get bored of its tunes, you can even play to your own music MP3s. Its pixel art is top-notch too, and it's overall well worth your purchase -- especially so now that it's on sale at a steal of a price.

Get Crypt of the NecroDancer on Steam

Victor Vran

Regular Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $9.99

Victor Vran is a title in the vein of favorites like Diablo, in which you and three friends control a party of four characters as you quest together. But where many games in the genre fall back on the age old trope of grinding EXP, Victor Vran instead has a much more open approach by allowing you to set the difficulty of different areas yourself -- meaning that you can choose what pace you want to take.

Get Victor Vran on Steam

Enter the Gungeon

Regular Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $7.49

For those who like a little more shock and awe in their dungeon crawler, Enter The Gungeon is exactly what the doctor ordered. Taking cues from bullet hell games, Enter The Gungeon is fast-paced, brightly colored, and (as it's name implies) chock full of guns. You'll need some pretty good reflexes to get through this one -- but if that's your style, Gungeon is for you.

Get Enter the Gungeon on Steam

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Those are our picks for some of the best deals this side of the Summer Sale. Did we miss another good deal? Did you pick one of these up because of us? Do you agree that ziggurat is a really cool word? Let us know in the comments below, and keep posted to GameSkinny for more articles on the best deals during the Sale.

Unexplored

Standard Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $7.99
Rating: Very Positive

Unexplored it is easy to play, but it’s also easy to die. This is a real-time, roguelite dungeon crawler that has you solving puzzles and engaging foes both big and small in melee combat in order to reach the dragon in the dungeon’s depths. Both the dungeons and puzzles are procedurally generated, fruther adding to the variety and replayability of the game.

Get Unexplored on Steam

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That wraps up our list of the best roguelite games currently available at a discount through the Steam Summer Sale! Do you plan on picking any of these up? What other roguelites are you wishing you'd see on sale? Let us know in the comments!

Streets of Rogue Collector’s Edition

Standard Price: $19.98
Sale Price: $8.98
Rating: Very Positive

Streets of Rogue is a roguelite Early Access game that revolves around the player’s choice, freedom, and anarchic fun. Instead of a dungeon, the game takes place in a functioning, procedurally generated city full of citizens trying to go about their daily lives. There is no set way to play the game, so you can complete the missions how you see fit. You can avoid combat altogether, or bring the pain to those who get in your way. 

Get Streets of Rogue Collector’s Edition on Steam

Starward Rogue

Standard Price: $11.99
Sale Price: $2.39
Rating: Very Positive

Traverse through the Megalith -- a roguelite labyrinth that’s lodged into the side of a star -- while dodging wave after wave of bullets and claiming both weapons and upgrades. In Starward Rogue, you must uncover the secrets of a massive structure while losing your head (don’t worry, it grows back). Defeat the Warden and rescue Rodney, a mysterious AI with uncertain motives.

Get Starward Rogue on Steam

One Way Heroics + Plus Edition

Standard Price: $9.98
Sale Price: $4.53
Rating: Very Positive

Travel the multiverse to face the Demon Lord, but keep moving because with each action you take the Darkness will creep ever closer until it engulfs everything. One Way Heroics is almost constantly scrolling in one direction. It features procedurally generated worlds, multiple classes that have their own skills and advantages to unlock, and a dimensional vault where you can store items in case of death. The + Plus Edition includes the DLC One Way Heroics Plus, which includes new classes, new skills, and new NPCs.

Get One Way Heroics + Plus Edition on Steam

FTL: Faster Than Light

Standard Price: $9.99
Sale Price: $2.49
Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive

Ready to take command of your own starship? FTL is a roguelite spaceship simulation that allows you to become the captain of a starship crew and vessel. The galaxy you explore is randomly generated -- full of glory and defeat. Be careful as you take on enemy ships, though. Because once you’re dead, there’s no coming back.

Get FTL: Faster Than Light on Steam

Dungeons of Dredmor

Standard Price:$4.99
Sale Price: $2.49
Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive

Are you ready to test your luck in Lord Dredmor’s Dungeons, where you have to craft, cast, and pillage your way through them? You are? Lovely! This roguelite RPG game has classic roguelike gameplay with point-and-click interfaces, randomly generated dungeons, old-school pixels, and...some lutefisk?

Get Dungeons of Dredmor on Steam

Downwell

Standard Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $1.49
Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive

As the name implies, Downwell is a game where you jump down a well and continue to fall, and fall, and fall trying to get to the treasure at the bottom -- oh, and watch out for all the things trying to kill you on the way down. Thankfully, you have your fashionable and lethal Gunboots to help destroy all the nasty creatures and debris in your way.

 Get Downwell on Steam

Dead Cells

Standard Price: $16.99
Sale Price: $14.44
Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive

Kill. Die. Learn. Repeat. Dead Cells is a roguelite, Metroidvania action-platformer (try saying that 5 times fast) -- also called a RogueVania for short.

This Early Access title boasts progressive exploration of an interconnected world, along with the replayability of a roguelite and the adrenaline pumping threat of permadeath. However, with each death, you unlock a new area and you get to keep the abilities you’ve already gained, allowing you to get to different areas you couldn’t get to before.

Get Dead Cells on Steam

Crypt of the NecroDancer: AMPLIFIED PACK

Standard Price: $21.98
Sale Price: $8.15
Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive

Have you ever wanted to dance your way through a crypt full of grooving undead? Yes? Well, check out this rhythm dungeon crawler! Deliver a beatdown to zombies (and more) to the rhythm of a seriously epic soundtrack. And if you’re not impressed with the tunes in Crypt of the NecroDancer, play the game with your own library of music instead.

This pack includes the Amplified DLC.

Get Crypt of the NecroDancer: AMPLIFIED PACK on Steam

20XX

Standard Price:$14.99
Sale Price: $11.99
Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive

Looking for a roguelike action platformer? Well, look no further than 20XX! In this Early Access game, you’ll jump and shoot your way through levels that are constantly changing, upgrade your hero, and battle epic bosses to save humanity...maybe.

This game also supports co-op, so you can play with a friend!

Get 20XX on Steam

It's that glorious time again -- the Steam Summer Sale, where your pockets become suspiciously lighter and your Steam Library expands. There are numerous deals to be had, including many under $15! With all those various titles dangling in front of you, what should you buy?

If you’re looking for of fun challenge, might I suggest a roguelite game? With some challenging features like permadeath, these are great if you really want to git gud and test your skills as a gamer. And until the Steam Sale ends on July 5, these 10 roguelites are currently at a discounted price, and they're definitely worth picking up.

Some roguelikes have a difficult learning curve, while others are easy to learn but hard to master. Those seen on this list all have their similarities and differences, but are all roguelike games at their core. 

While playing these games on other devices would probably prove to be beneficial, having these games available on mobile devices gives players an alternative option to their console counterparts. No matter which one mobile gamers are most interested in, hopefully, they'll be able to provide an enjoyable experience.

Ananias

Platforms: Android & iOS
Price: $4.99

Ananias is a game that released in February and was developed by Slashware S.A.S.

In Ananias, players explore five different worlds and engage in turn-based combat by choosing one of eight different player classes -- with four "Legendary" classes added in the Fellowship Edition. Each class has been designed with their own playing style, with some being more combat oriented and others using magic spells from four separate types of magic. As players progress, they will encounter various monsters that can be recruited by using certain spells. 

In the story of Ananias, an evil serpent named Kramora has been released from the underworld. The last hope to defeat it is a hidden magic ring that holds the power of the ancient king, Ananias, which the player will be searching for as long as they can survive the dangers that await them.

The art style of Ananias isn't quite exactly pixel art, but is similar to certain computer games of the late 80's, such as Drakkhen.

Ananias is a great choice for any mobile gamer or roguelike fan who wants a good nostalgia kick from the computer games of the past.

Sproggiwood

Platforms: Android & iOS
Price: $4.99

Developed by Freehold Games and released in 2014, Sproggiwood breaks the roguelike genre down to its core parts: six different unlockable customizable character classes -- Farmer, Warrior, Archer, Thief, Wizard, and Vampire -- plenty of items and weapons to collect, and procedurally generate dungeons with monsters and traps that combine to provide distinct tactical challenges. Each dungeon dive follows the heroic rise of one adventurer from your civilization. Journey through teeming forests, haunted swamps, teetering cliffs, and glacial mazes to uncover your civilization's whole story. *A wondrous and humorous setting inspired by Finnish mythology

Each dungeon dive follows the heroic rise of one adventurer from your civilization. Journey through teeming forests, haunted swamps, teetering cliffs, and glacial mazes to uncover your civilization's whole story. 

In Sproggiwood, players start out as a simple farmer from an island known as Clog. The player character is then led through a strange portal by a talking sheep. The character then becomes a prisoner of Sproggi, and the rest is history from there.

The art style of Sproggiwood is much unique when compared to many other roguelikes, which helps it stand out amongst the rest. It's hard to explain without use of the word "adorable," but just play the game and you'll see what I mean. 

Sproggiwood is a charming and humorous roguelike that should be recommended to any mobile gamers interested in the genre.

Tallowmere

Platforms: Android & iOS
Price: $0.99

Tallowmere was developed by Chris Mcfarland and released in 2015. It is unique in that it's one of the few sidescrolling roguelikes available on mobile devices.

In Tallowmere, one of the player's most important weapons is his or her shield, which they can raise to block enemy attacks or lower to strike foes when the timing is right. The player will also collect weapons, outfits, headgear, and more powerful shields as they search for the key to the next room. As with most Souls inspired games, souls from defeated enemies allow the player to increase their character's stats and abilities.

The player will also collect weapons, outfits, headgear, and more powerful shields as they search for the key to the next room. As with most Souls inspired games, souls from defeated enemies allow the player to increase their character's stats and abilities.

Tallowmere's art style is unique: characters are drawn in a pixelated format, while backgrounds and set pieces are rendered in a three-dimensional style, which helps make it easier to distinguish enemies and items.

Tallowmere would be a great game for any Souls series fans who want to try playing a roguelike on their mobile device. The story of Tallowmere is minimal, but one of survival. How far can you make it through Lady Tallowmere's dungeons? 

Wayward Souls

Platforms: Android & iOS
Price: $6.99

In Wayward Souls, players choose one of six different characters -- Warrior, Mage, Rogue, Adventurer, Spellsword, and Cultist -- who all have their own unique playstyles, abilities, and equipment. Each character can also find equipment that will change or enhance their playstyles. On top of that, players will journey through 13 different area types, each with a variety of different enemies, traps, and rare encounters, which can kill them and steal all their items if they're not careful. 

The bosses and overarching story of Wayward Souls are the same for all six characters. The tower featured in the game has been cursed after its residents stumbled across evil magical relics. But as the overall story is the same for each character, each of the six characters has their own separate story as well. These are unveiled through text interludes between sections and scripted encounters.

The art style is inspired by games like Secret of Mana and Chrono Trigger and adds a bit of charm to this otherwise standard roguelike. Wayward Souls would be a good pick for any mobile gamer who enjoys Super Nintendo-era RPG graphics and a variety of different gameplay styles.

Crypt of the NecroDancer Pocket Edition

Platforms: iOS
Price: $4.99

Crypt of the NecroDancer -- a game developed by Brace Yourself Games and released in 2016 -- is perhaps the most unique game on this list. In it, players move their character to music -- either with the game's original soundtrack or their own iTunes library. 

Unlike traditional roguelikes, the player can only move or attack when they execute an action to the beat of the music. As with most rhythm games, each successful movement boosts a coin-scoring multiplier. If the player fails to match the beat, they will not be directly harmed in most situations, but the scoring multiplier will be reset and the character may be harmed by a nearby monster if they are in their attack path. When (or if) the character's health meter depletes, the game ends.

In addition to various temporary items that are lost upon player death, there are permanent character ability enhancements that can be purchased in the game's lobby. 

Crypt of the NecroDancer also has quite a story, which adds to the game's replay value, and due to its ability to play and utilize music from the players iTunes library, it's addicting gameplay, and it's Super Nintendo RPG isometric graphics, players should have a ton of fun jamming to this game.

Pixel Dungeon

Platforms: Android & iOS
Price: Free

In this 2015 game developed by Watabou, players explore the eponymous area as one of four classes -- Warrior, Mage, Rogue, and Huntress, -- to collect various items and fight formidable foes while hoping to find the Amulet of Yendor. As with most roguelikes, permadeath is a key feature in this game, and when players die, they lose all of the items gained from their past run.

Pixel Dungeon has a bit of a story, mostly provided through text summaries given before each stage, which range from dungeons and caves to even a dwarven metropolis. But overall, the story elements in this roguelike are light. 

The art style of Pixel Dungeon is generic pixel art -- which doesn't make it stand out much -- but players should be having such an enjoyable time with the gameplay that the art style will be nothing but an afterthought.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Platforms: iOS
Price: $14.99

From the creator of Super Meat Boy comes the Legend of Zelda- inspired nightmare fuel known as The Binding of Isaac. An RPG shooter roguelike with some truly grotesque imagery and controversial anti-religious themes, The Binding of Isaac is a great game overall.

In The Binding of Isaac, the player takes the role of the titular character as he journeys through various dungeons and faces the horrors that await him. Certain items can change Isaac’s form and give him powerful abilities, while most items gained will be lost once the player is killed.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is an enhanced remake with a new game engine, all-new hand-drawn pixel style artwork, an all-new soundtrack, and plenty of revamped enhancements. Offering more 500 hours of gameplay, this game would be hard for any mobile gamer to put down.

Roguelikes are growing in popularity. From games like Enter the Gungeon to recent sidescrollers like Flinthook, the number of roguelike games releasing each year is seemingly infinite. Predicated on journeying through procedurally generated levels that predominantly showcase tile-based graphics, Roguelikes have carved a niche for themselves, especially with players that take permadeath seriously. 

There are a handful of roguelikes on each console, but most seem to start on the PC before moving over. Once these games gain good enough reception, they're typically ported to consoles or mobile devices. 

And although your Android or iPhone may not be the best device on which to play roguelikes, there are tons of great games that exploit those devices' best features. So if you're a heavy mobile gamer and would like to take a chance at playing some truly punishing roguelike games, here are 7 great entries you can choose from right now. 

It might not be romantic in the traditional sense, but we’re sure that a day or night spent with some of these games is time well spent with your partner. Happy Valentine’s Day!

For the couple who just got back from seeing Deadpool: Killing Floor

Killing Floor leaves the fourth wall fairly firmly intact, but it’s definitely cut from the same cloth as Deadpool. The Merc with a Mouth would probably enjoy a few rounds of this well-regarded co-op shooter. But the real question is which one of you gets to play as the Pyro, and which one as Harold Lott -- an homage to Harry Enfield’s LOADSAMONEY act.

For the couple who want to test the strength of their love: New Super Mario Bros U

“True love can conquer anything,” say couples who have never found themselves in shouting arguments over a platform in New Super Mario Bros U. Test the depth of your relationship with this bright, happy-go-lucky divorce simulator.

For the couple who build blanket forts: Terraria OR Minecraft

If you’re dating somebody who’s irrationally afraid of spiders, maybe skip over Minecraft in favor of Terraria. Both of these building/survival games deliver similar experiences in 2D and 3D respectively, so your choice is largely left up to taste here. Know that no matter what you pick, you’ll probably both blink and realize you’ve played it all night long.

For the couple who love a challenge: Risk of Rain

Risk of Rain is a genuine challenge. Crash land on an alien planet and use items scavenged from your downed ship to subdue the world’s wildlife. Play as one of twelve characters with your co-op partner and be ready to be taunted over and over by the game’s death messages.

For the couple who high-five in the bedroom: Double Dragon Neon

Plug in your controllers and get ready for a deluge of synth-pop; Double Dragon’s been remade. It’s exactly as over-the-top and totally radical as you’d expect. High-five to power up and to split life and take on one of Skeletor’s college roommates… IN SPACE! It’s as brainless and fun as it sounds.

For the couple who don’t mind a bit of a mess: Magicka

And Magicka is an absolute mess: a glorious, bug-ridden, incredibly fun mess. Plug in a controller for your partner, make sure that friendly fire’s enabled, and have a blast killing everything between you and your goal… whatever that goal is. Saving the kingdom? In all the time I’ve played, I’ve honestly never known, and if you told me by this point, it would probably diminish the experience.

For the couple who still watches Survivor after 31 seasons: Don’t Starve Together

It’s still in beta, but don’t let that deter you from the standalone multiplayer version of Don’t Starve. Sadly, there’s no couch co-op, but Don’t Starve Together will happily run on laptops and over LAN.

In spite of the two negatives upfront, Don’t Starve Together is a truly excellent experience -- and one that will suck away all your time.

For the couple who love retro: Diddy Kong Racing

Enter “JOINTVENTURE” on the cheats menu and you’ll be able to play this game’s single player adventure in co-op. “DOUBLEVISION” will save fights over who gets to be T.T.

For the couple who got into gaming only recently: Portal 2

If either of you have only recently taken up gaming as a hobby, then you need to have a run through Portal 2’s co-operative campaign. Challenging, fun, and full of the wit and humor that has endeared the series to fans, you’ll enjoy learning to think with Portals.

For the couple who are spending the day apart: Saints Row 3

Sadly, there’s no couch co-op options for Saints Row: The Third. If you’re spending the day apart, however, you might be able to sink some time into this sillier take on the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Sure, Saints Row 2 is probably better -- but with no servers supporting it, setting a game up can be a hassle.

And besides -- Saints Row: The Third is the game that debuted The Penetrator, everybody’s favorite weaponized dildo.

For the couple who never got around to those dance lessons: Crypt of the Necrodancer

Never played Crypt of the Necrodancer? Then you missed out on one of 2015’s most original games. Blending roguelikes with rhythm games, this fantastic romp offers an oft-overlooked co-op mode.

An elaborate, romantic evening is great on Valentine's Day…if, of course, you’ve got the money and the time machine you’ll need to still book anywhere nice by this point. If you don’t or if that’s not your style, we’ve got the skinny on some great co-op games to snuggle up and play with your sweetheart on Valentine's Day.

Add another mystery to the world of video games. Found on a Reddit forum called r/GameDetectives, they found a mysterious symbol in at least 5 unrelated games. 

Along with this symbol, comes a puzzle piece that seems to link with all the other pieces to create a map. Four of these games were found on the Steam website and one was browser based. As of now, no one has figured out the puzzle piece formula or why these games have this symbol. The symbol has been seen in indie games dating back to October 2014. Many do agree on that is a part of an Alternate Reality Game (ARG).

The games in which these symbols and puzzle pieces were found are:

• Crypt of the NecroDancer
• Mini Metro
• Legend of Dungeon
• Magic Circle
• Kingdom of Loathing

An ARG is a game set up to challenge the player(s) to solve puzzles and work together as a community. They are most commonly used as viral marketing platforms to launch a movie, TV show, or video game. The campaign "I Love Bees" was used for release Halo 2. The GameDetectives are now asking for the help of other gamers to be on the look out for this symbol so they can solve this mystery. 

Crypt of the NecroDancer, the award winning game by Brace Yourself Games is coming to PS4 and PS Vita on February 2nd. 

You may be wondering what the game is about. Well, it is 2D dungeon crawling game with a twist, and shout. The player's movement is based on the rhythm of the beat. So get your dancing shoes on and foxtrot your way through the dungeons.

Bringing Crypt of the NecroDancer to Playstation is not the only news, there will also be exclusive content. A bonus soundtrack is included that is created by the composer of Shovel Knight, Jake "Virt" Kaufman. There will be another surprise but PlayStation has remained silent on what it is. 

Sony offers cross platform support allowing you to buy Crypt of the NecroDancer for the PS4 but also playing it on the PS Vita for no extra charge.

However, only the PS4 supports a dance pad integration. That's right, you can Dance Dance Revolution your way through a dungeon in true Crypt of the NecroDancer fashion. You can even buy customized game pads featuring characters from the game. 

(Fanart by 45me on Twitter!)

So that's that, our top 20 video game tracks to groove to on Crypt of the NecroDancer! Of course, the original NecroDancer soundtrack is classic and can never be replaced, but sometimes we just need to kick it with our own tunes.

What are your favorite songs to use in custom music games?

Let us know what songs you love using in Crypt of the NecroDancer, osu!, and other custom music games! We may use your suggestions in another custom music list.

Join the discussion in the comments below!

The Opened Way (extended) - Shadow of the Colossus OST

BPM: 130

Custom Music Length: 3:38

Recommended Zone: 1-2, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1

Last but definitely not least, Shadow of the Colossus has a brilliant soundtrack and sounds like it fits right into the Crypt of the NecroDancer's atmosphere.

DJ Sona’s Ultimate Skin Music - Kinetic (The Crystal Method x Dada Dada Life)

BPM: 130

Custom Music Length: 4:03

Recommended Zone: 1-2, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1

League of Legends, the internet's favorite MOBA sensation. The effort they put into their characters means DJ Sona has some epic jams to pull from, and Kinetic has a really sick beat.

Valkyria Chronicles - Desperate Fight

BPM: 150

Custom Music Length: 3:31

Recommended Zone: 2-3, 3-2, 3-3, 4-2

Valkyria Chronicles' lovely Desperate Flight is paired with a subtle but surprisingly effective beat that really knows itself.

FTL Advanced Edition Soundtrack: Lost Ship (Battle)

BPM: 120

Custom Music Length: 4:07

Recommended Zone: 1-1, Conga King, Deep Blues

A nice beat with an exotic feel.

Portal 2 Soundtrack - Reconstructing Science

BPM: 135

Custom Music Length: 3:24

Recommended Zone: 1-2, 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1, 4-1, Coral Riff

Portal 2's original trailer song has some solid electro-tones and is an obvious choice for a shimmy with the NecroDancer.

Banjo-Kazooie - Freezeezy Peak Complete [HD]

BPM: 145

Custom Music Length: 8:17

Recommended Zone: 1-3, 2-2, 2-3, 3-2, 4-2, Coral Riff

Banjo-Kazooie has some incredible music, and we're all very excited to hear what will come of the music in Yooka-Laylee. Until then, we will boogie with the greats that we've got!

Half Life 2 Apprehension and Evasion Extension

BPM: 140

Custom Music Length: 7:11

Recommended Zone: 1-3, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, Coral Riff

Half Life 2 strikes again with another rhythm-heavy beat worthy of grooving down the dance floor.

Xenoblade Chronicles Music - You Will Know Our Names

BPM: 180

Custom Music Length: 4:21

Recommended Zone: Death Metal

This quick-paced battle music from Xenoblade Chronicles is not for the faint of heart — you'll be hopping around at 3 beats per second! This one deserves to be at 2x speed in the NecroDancer's Crypt.

The Impossible Game OST | Heaven 

BPM: 150

Custom Music Length: 3:15

Recommended Zone: 2-3, 3-2, 3-3, 4-2

This beat-heavy track from The Impossible Game is another wonderful piece to groove to with the skeletons.

Soaring the Skies - Day (Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire OST)

BPM: 150

Custom Music Length: 2:39

Recommended Zone: 2-3, 3-2, 3-3, 4-2

This is a great new song unique to Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. Soaring through the Skies of Hoenn was fun with it, now waltzing with the NecroDancer can be too!

Transistor Original Soundtrack - Impossible

BPM: 170

Custom Music Length: 5:09

Recommended Zone: 4-3, Death Metal

For Transistor being a game about a "mute" singer, it sure knows how to pump out the beats! Be sure to tick on 2x beats if you're playing Crypt of the NecroDancer.

Sword & Sworcery's Soundtrack - Lone Star by Jim Guthrie

BPM: 145

Custom Music Length: 2:35

Recommended Zone: 1-3, 2-2, 2-3, 3-2, 4-2, Coral Riff

Sword & Sworcery's indestructible soundtrack can find its use in games that are all about music and rhythm. I found Lone Star to be particularly nice and beat heavy.

Luigi's Mansion Series Medley - Super Smash Bros. Wii U

BPM: 155

Custom Music Length: 3:48

Recommended Zone: 2-3, 3-3, 4-3

The Luigi's Mansion Medley in Super Smash Bros. 4 has a great feeling to the music and is extremely fitting for crypt crawling.

Super Mario World Medley - Super Smash Bros. Wii U

BPM: 140

Custom Music Length: 4:06

Recommended Zone: 1-3, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, Coral Riff

Super Mario World was full of upbeat melodies, and this great Super Smash Bros. Medley throws it all into a song with a consistent beat — fantastic!

Poké Mart - Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Music Extended

BPM: 160

Custom Music Length: 15:29

Recommended Zones: 3-3, 4-3

Don't laugh, the PokéMart theme in Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire is really great with a rock-solid tempo! Just make sure the titles of your files don't have funky characters like 'é' in them.

Animal Crossing: Population Growing - Opening Theme

BPM: 120

Custom Music Length: 7:00

Recommended Zone: 1-1

Animal Crossing's original main theme has a great beat pattern that works well for a nice, calming feel. A great pick if you get overwhelmed easily.

Half life 2 Episode 2 Soundtrack: Vortal Combat

BPM: 125

Custom Music Length: 3:14

Recommended Zone: 1-2, 2-1, 4-1, Deep Blues

Vortal Combat is a sweet beat from Half Life 2: Episode 2 that plays as if it deserves a spot on the NecroDancer floor.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - Mt. Tamaranch (Tal Tal Heights)

BPM: 150

Custom Music Length: 7:00

Recommended Zone: 2-3, 3-2, 3-3, 4-2

Not only is Tal Tal Heights a fantastic classic Zelda song, but it's solid beat makes it great for any game that heavily relies on rhythm.

Pokemon X/Y & SSB. for Wii U - Team Flare Battle Music [Mashup] (HQ)

BPM: 170

Custom Music Length: 2:59

Recommended Zone: 4-3, Death Metal

Good Pokémon battle themes usually end up with some insane tempos with 200+ BPM — that's more than 3 beats per second! Luckily the Team Flare theme is catchy and not too quick for your fingers (or feet).

M.O.O.N. - 'Hydrogen' [Hotline Miami Soundtrack]

BPM: 125

Custom Music Length: 4:50

Recommended Zone: 1-2, 2-1, 4-1, Deep Blues

Hydrogen is one of Hotline Miami's better songs, featuring an unmistakable beat and a great mix you can really bob your head to.

(Credits to kidneydone3 for the sweet NecroSans font!)

Custom music to a music/rhythm game is like homemade whipped cream on a cup of rich, dark hot chocolate. There is nothing sweeter than grooving it out to the beat of your favorite tunes.

If you're boogieing with the NecroDancer, it turns out he's not the most fluent in every song. The beat detection software can be a bit wonky, particularly songs that don't have an incredibly clear beat — who would have guessed.

If you have a solid sense of inner rhythm, you can always plug the beats in manually. That's not easy to do though, which is why we've compiled a list of beat-heavy songs for you, and it won't make the game absolutely ludicrous to play.

In Crypt of the NecroDancer, there are two major aspects of each song that affect the overall gameplay:

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1. Tempo — or Beats Per Minute (BPM) — is used to determine how frequently you are allowed to take action.
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2. Total Song Length dictates how long you're allowed to stay on each level before dropping you to the next floor.
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Each song on this list has been tested and proven to jam well with Crypt of the NecroDancer. If a song jiggles well with the NecroDancer, you can be sure it'll jiggle nicely with other custom music games!

Be sure to check them out with Beat Hazard, Audiosurf, the FtP MMO osu!, or any other custom music game you can think of!

Sport + horror is a genre combination you wouldn’t expect to work. Racing + strategy would be another. You’d think dance + roguelike would be the same, but somehow Brace Yourself Games have managed to make it work with Crypt of the NecroDancer.

Bouncing from tile to tile, dodging the dangerous fire blast of the red dragon while parrying the lunge of a knight with a sword and making sure a monkey doesn’t leap on your face means any false step is lethal. Despite the pixel art style, the gameplay has a beautiful elegance to it and the feeling of achievement once you successfully manoeuvre your way through the advancing enemies and pick up their precious gold is second to none.

Crypt of the NecroDancer’s disco floor, singing shopkeeper and grooving enemies will have you bopping your head along and tapping your feet in time to the beat in no time, but it’ll likely be short lived as most slip-ups will likely send you right back to the start. Time is of the essence as failing to defeat each floor’s miniboss before the song reaches it’s conclusion will result in a trapdoor appearing beneath your feet, plunging you into a small room with four enemies, one of which is another miniboss you must defeat before leaving the room. This is where Crypt of the NecroDancer excels compared to more traditional roguelikes as usually time is the one thing you have plenty of; pausing for a minute or two to plan your moves and which enemy you’ll take out first is a common theme among classic roguelikes and dungeon crawlers.

Zone 2 in an All Zones run playing as Cadence

Another mechanic that is prevalent among most, if not all roguelikes is learning enemy movements and patterns; The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, Spelunky and Rogue Legacy are three popular ones which spring to mind. Crypt of the NecroDancer nails this aspect perfectly, you may often find yourself in the early stages dancing around enemies for a few beats before you go in for the kill, simply to try and memorize the patterns for the future. When you do inevitably fail it’s just a few seconds before you can restart your groove and shuffle through the NecroDancer’s lair.

You start by playing as Cadence who has to delve into the NecroDancer’s lair to save her father Dorian, however her heart has been cursed by the NecroDancer to forever beat in time to the song on each floor. The lair is sectioned into four zones, each with three floors and a unique musical themed boss at the end of each zone. For beginners, it’s surprisingly forgiving as you can play through each zone individually, provided you’ve achieved the requisite of beating the previous zone to unlock the next.

Zone 3 as Cadence

Replayability comes in two forms; despite Cadence being the starting character and main protagonist, there are also plenty of other characters you can unlock through various means, each with their own unique gameplay trait. Eli, for example, cannot wield any weapons but has an infinite stock of bombs and can also kick them at enemies. Bard, who is widely considered as the easiest character to play as, doesn’t have to move in time to the beat and all the enemies simply move when he does. Monk is another; he dies if he picks up any gold whatsoever however he gets one item from every shop for free.

The other main feature to entice players to keep playing is the daily challenge; resetting every day at midnight GMT, players have one attempt to beat the entire game as Cadence and finish with as much gold as possible. It brings an interesting dilemma while playing; should I spend this gold on a better weapon or item in the shop? Or should I save it and go to kill enemies at the other side of the level before progressing to earn more gold but also risk taking damage at the same time? After either dying or completing the run, your score will be submitted to the global leaderboards to see how you fared.

Here’s a friendly warning: some players are bloody good at the game! There’s also an instant replay function so you can watch other players’ runs and try to learn from the best, provided they have the feature enabled.

Intro for the King Conga boss

In a game which features dancing and music as one of its key selling points, it’s pretty important that the soundtrack is, at the very least, good. Thankfully, it is; composed by Danny Baranowsky, it features a mix of electronic and rock alongside a very neat feature which allows you to add your own songs, provided you have the mp3 file. Personal recommendations for players looking for a challenge would be Bangarang by Skrillex and Through the Fire and the Flames by Dragonforce. If you're insane enough, the game is also compatible with a dancemat so channelling your inner Dance Dance Revolution is a possibility!

Crypt of the NecroDancer has a lot of subtle touches which really enhance the experience. The shopkeeper sings along to some part of the tunes, provided you’re within hearing range and the floor will flash disco-style if you’re on a combo. For their first title, Brace Yourself Games undoubtedly nailed what they were going for. It goes without saying that the game might not be for everyone but for existing roguelike fans, Crypt of the NecroDancer is one of the best.

If you'd like to see a short review in video form, click here.

Love rhythm games? Love Mega Man? Have I got the mod for you!

Let's be honest here. We all have danced to at least one song from Mega Man. Whether it's the Storm Eagle stage from Mega Man X or the Wily stage from Mega Man 2, at least one of those songs has got your head bobbing.

Crypt of the Necrodancer, a 2D rougelike dungeon crawler, got a new mod today in the Steam Workshop. Players now have the option to play as the blue bomber and his friends in the latest mod created by developer CutmanMike, and let me tell you this game looks amazing.

Going back to Mega Man's 8-bit roots, players will be able to take out Wily's bots to the pumping Necrodancer soundtrack. While CutmanMike stated that he has no plans to change the music to songs from the Mega Man franchise, players will still have the option to create thier own playlist and add it to the game. So dont worry you'll be able to Necrodance to the Wily theme from Mega Man 2.

Crypt of the Necrodancer is available on Steam for $14.99 and has seen positive reviews across the board. The mod will be available on the Steam Workshop. Interesting side note: this game is dance pad compatible, so all you DDR fans out there might want to check this one out.

Of course, there are plenty of other games out there that are good for short sessions. Mario Kart 8 is another Wii U game that features short, fun races, each one lasting around 2 minutes.

The entirety of the rogue-like genre would also be a safe bet. Ziggurat, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, and Rogue Legacy are all great examples, though Isaac is a bit harder to progress in.

What games do you like playing when you're low on time?

We'd love to hear about the games you play when you're pressed for time and want a quick-fix! Make sure to let us know in the comments below.

Super Smash Bros. 4 (3DS, Wii U)

Settle it in Smash!

Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Wii U

Average Match Time: 2 - 6 minutes

Find It: Website, Nintendo eShop (3DS / Wii U)

Super Smash Bros. 4 is among the greatest entries in the Super Smash Bros. franchise, and has finally made itself accessible to gamers on the go with the 3DS release!

Super Smash Bros. for 3DS is one of the best 3DS games you can have if you need to cram your playtime into short, less-than-10-minute matches. There is even a unique mode in the 3DS version that mixes up the game a fair bit and takes no more than 8 minutes to complete an entire round! There's nothing like a quick round of Smash.

Unreal Tournament 2004

Cult Classic Futuristic FPS

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

Average Match Time: 5 - 30 minutes

Find It: Steam, Website

Despite its age, Unreal Tournament 2004 manages to keep an active playerbase even 11 years after its release. Unreal Tournament 2004 is a first-person shooter that defined the genre years back, and is somehow completely age-defying.

The graphics may look outdated, but the gameplay is just as fun as you'd remember it. Unreal Tournament 2004 is a great example of a game that aged well. Hop in and play for a round or two when you have the time, and see if you can round up some of your friends to play with! UT04 will never get old!

Mirror's Edge

Cityscape Free-Runner with Action Sprinkled In

Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows Phone, iOS

Average Chapter Length: 25 minutes

Find It: Website

Mirror's Edge is a great platforming action game, but it can get a tad repetitive at times and is best digested in segments rather than a full sitting (the story runs for about 4 hours). Play a chapter or two and put the game down - chances are you'll appreciate it more than if you just blundered through.

Games with shorter campaign lengths often benefit from segmented and short play sessions, so long as the story isn't so complex that you'll forget it all by the next time you want to play again. And Mirror's Edge fits the bill. 

Crypt of the Necrodancer

Rhythm Rouge-Like Groovy Dungeon Crawler

Platforms: Windows, Max, Linux

Average Zone Length: 12 minutes

Find It: Website

Crypt of the Necrodancer is a unique take on the rogue-like genre that sends you down the Crypt to the beat of a spectacular soundtrack. Not to mention, Crypt of the Necrodancer has the most expertly crafted features ever seen in a rogue-like game.

Each and every character you can play in Necrodancer has their own unique play-style that often drastically changes how you play the game. Each character also has their own background, and the lore behind Crypt of the Necrodancer is the best we've ever seen from the genre. The zones don't take too long to complete, especially if you end up dying a lot, and it has endless hours of fun just waiting to be had (a few lunch breaks at a time).

Borderlands

Treasure-Hunting RPG FPS

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Average Play Time: Any

Find It: Website

Borderlands, despite being an interesting mix of first-person shooter and RPG, is actually really easy to jump into and play for just a short while. No matter what you do - whether you're clearing simple quests, taking on the main mission, or just doing some character grinding - it always feels like you've made progress.

Too much Borderlands in one sitting honestly could make you sick of the game, but it's perfect for short bursts of play where you just want to knock out a couple of objectives and move onto something else.

Trine: Enchanted Edition

3-Character Fantasy Action Puzzler

Platforms: Windows, Max, Linux, Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360

Average Level Time: 30 - 45 minutes

Find It: Website

Trine: Enchanted Edition was a huge upgrade from the original Trine game, and it wasn't just the graphics that got updated either. Trine Enchanted Edition takes Trine 2's engine and puts it into Trine 1, making the game a hundred times more accessible than ever before.

It doesn't matter where in a level you quit the game. You will reappear in the exact spot you left off when you come back. That way, you can play your three character puzzle-platformer without worrying about saving early to leave on time! Happy adventuring!

Limbo

Eerie Puzzle-Platforming Adventure

Platforms: Windows, Max, Linux, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Android, iOS

Average Play Time: Any

Find It: Website

Limbo is a silently charming game following the journey of a boy through this land of shadows, where everything is open to interpretation. This critically-acclaimed future classic has carved its own unique place in the gaming world, and most certainly deserves a spot on this list.

No moment in this game feels dull, and overcoming each obstacle is incredibly rewarding. Best of all, it doesn't matter where you leave off, the game will pick itself back up from the same place when you decide you want to play again. Huzzah for no back-tracking!

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

3DS Village/Life Simulation Game

Platforms: Nintendo 3DS

Average Play Time: 1 hour

Find It: Website

Animal Crossing: New Leaf is the newest and most well-received game of an already classic Nintendo franchise. Not only do you get to move into a town full of animals and customize your home like the previous Animal Crossing games, but you stumble upon the time right when they are in desperate need for a new mayor.

Who better to fill the shoes of mayor than the next person to step off the train (a.k.a. you)? Animal Crossing is a great game that goes at the pace of a peaceful, day-to-day life. There's never a whole lot of things to do in one day, so it's hard to play for much more than an hour, unless you're really good and finding something to do out of nothing.

Pour your heart into your very own town in Animal Crossing: New Leaf and make it anything you can dream of. It's your world, make it what you will.

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

Multiplayer TCG w/ Smart Phone Support

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Andriod, iOS

Average Game Time: 10 minutes

Find It: Website, Google Play, Amazon Apps, App Store

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is a free-to-play Trading Card Game (TGC) by Blizzard Entertainment that features simple gameplay in the form of short, turn-based battles with digital collectors cards.

The goal of Hearthstone is simple: drop your enemy's health to zero before they can do the same to you. Use a combination of the cards in your deck and your Hero's abilities to wipe out your opponent and come out victorious.

While Hearthstone may let you pay to get a little bit ahead of the game, there's nothing you can pay for that you can't obtain just by playing the game a bit more. Hearthstone is a fantastic choice to kill 15 minutes, even if all you have with you is your smart phone.

Team Fortress 2

FPS Team Multiplayer Lobby-Based Shooter

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Average Match Length: 20 - 40 minutes

Maximum Match Length: 1 hour

Find It: Website, Steam

Team Fortress 2 is a free-to-play lobby-based first-person shooter for PC (via Steam), PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. You pair together with other players online to form two separate teams, RED (Reliable Excavation & Demolition) and BLU (Builders League United).

Team Fortress 2 is the biggest free-to-play first-person shooter on the PC, and it's no wonder why. There are a plethora of game modes to play in, such as Arena, Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Special Delivery, Territorial Control, and more with plenty of maps to play them all on.

Each match can last up to an hour, but that's about it. Most in-game matches last around half an hour and are good for a quick play session!

There's nothing quite like immersing yourself in a fantastic game. That feeling you get when you set down the controller and peek at the clock to find you've been playing for 12+ hours is completely unmatched. Having copious amounts of time like that in 2015 is becoming increasingly difficult, and the demand for games that are easy to pick up and play in short bursts is staggering.

With so much going on in our daily lives, it can be hard to find more than an hour at a time to play games anymore. Some games — infamously RPG and open world games — make it hard to get the satisfaction of progress without dumping an absurd amount of time into each title.

If you're looking for something to play that will satisfy your gaming fix without taking up more than an hour of your time, then you've come to the right list! One of these games is bound to give you the satisfaction of progress no matter how little time you have to play.

Anyone who attended PAX East in the last two years has probably meandered by Crypt of the Necrodancer in the Indie Megabooth. Just look for the crowd, upbeat tunes, and the DDR pad.

Brace Yourself Games' upcoming title is definitely one of the more innovative ideas from the indie scene in the last few years--a rhythmic roguelike dungeon crawler is certainly unique. Players guide the protagonist through dungeons to the rhythm of her still beating heart, which was stolen by the Necrodancer.

Ryan Clark, the one-man team behind the programming and design of Crypt of the Necrodancer, shares some details about the game, its release, and the upcoming custom DDR pads.

 Firstly, please, tell us about you and your team!

Ryan: "Well, "Brace Yourself Games" is just me, but an all-star cast of indie devs have joined me on this particular project!  I'm Crypt of the NecroDancer's designer + programmer; I've been indie since 2004 and have released 10 games, 4 of which have been IGF nominees. You may also have heard of Ted Martens, our pixel artist, best known for Hexels and Pixel Fireplace, or DannyB, our composer, best known for the soundtracks of Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac.  The rest of our rather large team have similarly interesting resumes, and you can find out more about them here!"

Crypt of the Necrodancer is obviously a unique game that offers a very... well, rhythmic challenge. What is the single hardest part of developing it?

The most difficult design challenge has been to keep the controls simple enough that moves can be executed on the beat of the music without being overwhelming, while still complex enough to offer depth of gameplay.  We want it to be easy to get into the groove right away, but still have layers of gameplay strategy to explore as players improve in skill.  This is in contrast to most rhythm games that simply have you follow a script -- hit this button, then this, then this, etc -- with gameplay challenge coming from increased speed or accuracy requirements, rather than gameplay strategy.

"This game is truly a test of your skill and knowledge, not of your luck.  I felt that many roguelike games relied too heavily on luck (and the accompanying frustration of dying due to poor luck)."

On that same token, what is your favorite aspect?

My favorite aspect is the fact that the game is 100% "fair", in my opinion.  We refuse to include any enemies, traps, or items that make damage or death unavoidable.  In fact, it's possible to complete the entire game without ever taking a hit, and without ever missing a beat, even with the most basic weapon and equipment.  This game is truly a test of your skill and knowledge, not of your luck.  I felt that many roguelike games relied too heavily on luck (and the accompanying frustration of dying due to poor luck).  Crypt of the NecroDancer is my attempt to resolve that problem, and I'm pleased that this solution seems to be working reasonably well!

Was Necrodancer developed with the idea of using a DDR pad, or did that idea come later?

No, the dance pad integration came much later.  In fact, even the rhythm aspect came later!  My goal was to make a "fair" roguelike game, so I started out by bringing skill into the equation by forcing the player to move quickly.  But moving quickly felt kind of like moving to a beat, so I tried playing to the beat of "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, and it felt great!  It was clear that this needed to be a rhythm game.  As mentioned above, rhythm games are mentally demanding so I needed to keep the controls simple to avoid overwhelming the player.  As a result, I decided that the game would be played with only the four arrow keys.  My friend Alec Holowka (Aquaria, Towerfall, Night in the Woods) saw this and said, "Hey, you could totally play that on a dance pad!"  And so we did :)

The dance pads are great for parties and shows, but I actually prefer to play on the keyboard myself!

This game has received a lot of positive attention and people are pretty excited about it. Do you ever feel nervous about Necrodancer’s ability to meet expectations, or are you pretty confident?

Certainly a bit nervous!  But we have a large pool of testers, and I've been getting feedback from every indie dev that I know, so hopefully we have worked out the major kinks.  We've even let a few Twitch streamers have the game, and they seem to really enjoy it, so fingers crossed that it will meet everyone's expectations.

Are you confident about releasing on Steam? Did you explore other distributors, or was Steam the main focus throughout development?

We've been traveling a lot (PAX East was our 8th show in 9 months!) so it has been hard to find solid chunks of time to work on the game.  Releasing a game on even a single platform is a ton of work, and since we've been so busy with travel we decided to simplify things and focus 100% on our Steam launch.  We will consider other platforms after that.

As part of the indie community, how do you feel about the indie scene right now, especially in terms of support from big names like Sony and Microsoft?

The indie scene is solid!  Indie developers are so supportive of one another, I find it to be an extremely rewarding environment to work in.  Sony seems to be doing whatever they can to help, and we've had some great conversations with them.  Microsoft are playing catch-up a bit, but I think they've seen the light and will hopefully also be a positive force in the indie scene.

 "As long as the game feels amazing on that platform, we'd like to do it.  But there's no way we'll ship something less than awesome.  This is our baby. :)"

Necrodancer is coming out for PC, Mac, and Linux on Steam sometime this year; any plans or thoughts on trying to adapt the game towards the new indie support systems on Xbox and Playstation, or even the Wii U? Any thoughts about using the Xbox Kinect or PS Eye?

We'll definitely be exploring consoles after our Steam launch, and yes, we have considered using their peripherals for unique NecroDancing experiences. :)  It'll all boil down to the feel.  As long as the game feels amazing on that platform, we'd like to do it.  But there's no way we'll ship something less than awesome.  This is our baby. :)

How will players be able to use their own MP3s for Necrodancer (and why would they want to, the soundtrack is perfect!)?

It's quite simple!  Just point the game to the MP3 on your hard drive, and away you go!  It performs beat detection on whatever song you choose, and does a pretty darned good job of it.  We're using one of the best beat detection algorithms in the world.  It's open source, too, if any other aspiring rhythm game developers are reading this.  Go have a look! http://essentia.upf.edu/

The Necrodancer Twitter account is really active! How important is your community to you?

Very!  I've always been a community guy, active in the forums of the games I've created.  The community has given NecroDancer so much already: Tons of pre-orders, alpha testers, and amazing gameplay feedback.  NecroDancer would be a lesser game without their help.  The least I can do is to respond to tweets, forum posts, and emails!  And I really enjoy doing it.

I noticed that there was a tweet about a Kickstarter for custom DDR pads, and I think it’s a fantastic idea. Can you expand a little more on this project?

Whenever we demo the game at shows like PAX people ask us, "Where can I get a dance pad?!"  Unfortunately the creators of the high quality pads of yore (like Cobalt Flux and Red Octane) are now defunct, but luckily there's a guy in Tennessee who runs a family business making high quality pads! We've used his pads successfully at numerous shows now, so we decided to team up to create NecroDancer-themed dance pads.  You'll either be able to buy them via a Kickstarter, or direct from our website, later this year.

--

A big thanks to Ryan for taking the time to sit down and talk with me! You can expect Crypt of the Necrodancer to release on Steam later this year for an estimated price of $14.99. The game will be playable with a gamepad, your keyboard, or a dance pad!