Mixtape Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 & PC)

Mixtape strives to encapsulate the world according to the youths of yesteryear—the nineties teens who were born to sideline adulthood and prioritize friendship, summer romance, and the pursuit to retain the heart of adolescence. Like a flashback with a thousand clips and illuminating moments, the slice-of-life adventure highlights the most important lesson of all: that life is a precious gift, and that, in spite of all your efforts to prevent the inevitable, nothing is built to last forever. But, for three friends, one night is all it takes to instill a trip down memory lane. Life may be moving forward at a concerning pace, but Mixtape reminds us that there’s always time to reflect on the past and, above all, the moments that helped shape us as people.

Mixtape is a lot of things, but above all it’s a tribute to friendship and camaraderie—a soundtrack, if you will, that chimes and beats to the rhythm of a familiar drum that most, if not all of us know too well. And I suppose that’s what Mixtape is: a personal MV that chronicles the lives, the spells of summertime bliss, and the “little” details that helped shape three friends’ personalities. It doesn’t waste your time with cookie cutter jargon; it reels you into the front of the crowd and it performs a snapshot discography in a way that feels both intimate and so incredibly nostalgic.

There are hundreds of things I could say about a game like Mixtape, most of which would merrily illuminate the golden years of the nineties as a sweet, charming, and almost perfect era for pre-pubescent misfits. And for the most part, that’s exactly what Mixtape does: it captures the essence of nineties pop culture, from the Iggy Pop infusions to the late-night theme park break-ins, the hillside firework escapades to the scenic rides through the autumn-kissed woodlands. If you’re even the slightest bit familiar with any of these things, then boy, Mixtape will feel like the ideal homecoming gift for you. And for those of you who aren’t familiar with them, well, let’s just say that you’re about to have your entire world rocked by this short but oh-so-fitting serenade.

For the most part, Mixtape is all about living “in the moment” and glorifying adolescence and teenage rebellion in a flip book-like fashion. In the one moment you could be barreling through the woods, skateboard beneath your feet and the timeless echo of an eighties cult classic score pulsating in your ears. In the next moment, you could be perched at the highest point of a lookout, marveling at a cascading display of fireworks and sharing that all-important panoramic image with friends who, at least in your mind, will never lose sight of what makes your friendship, well, special. A perfect summer unravels, and you, as the spectator, simply roll with it.

What essentially unwinds over a three-hour adventure is, true to the spirit of its moniker, a mixtape of sacred memories of three young friends who, after coming to the realization that their time together is at an end, decide to go out with a bang—a party, of sorts. But, Mixtape isn’t just about a final summer blowout; it’s about reminiscing over a collection of memories—activities, emotional experiences, and idyllic feelings that brought them even closer together. And it’s here where you take the wheel, not as a mere viewer of a showreel, but as the glue that binds the friends to what can only be described as a lifetime of bliss. It’s charming, homely, and above all, about as close to being a perfect tribute to childhood as you could get.

While the journey itself is relatively short, Mixtape certainly doesn’t hold back on cramming its tape with jam-packed segments and time-appropriate ballads, all of which are neatly fastened into a vibrant and oh-so-nineties style that unapologetically bleeds old-school vibes and fashionable melodies. With a stellar score that snuggly fits the time period and three great characters who each bring their own distinct traits and personalities to the table, Mixtape, in all honesty, delivers one excellent performance that deserves to be celebrated for all of the aforementioned reasons — even from the folks who have little to no memory of the time period or the subject matter.

With thanks to its quality aesthetic and its various in-game mini-games and creative segments, Mixtape is a game that’ll most definitely stick with you long after the final track rolls out its crescendo. Granted, it’ll make you want an encore, and perhaps even a second tape. But it’s what it does with its short playlist that matters most here. Sure, it’s a little on the short side, but with a palpable chemistry between characters, a harmonious infusion of emotion, and a treasure trove of earworm anthems to keep you captivated from the beginning to the final chorus, it’s an easy one to pick up and jam out to. Heck, it’ll even make you miss the nineties like never before.

Verdict

Mixtape finds comfort in a time capsule of nineties culture, unbreakable friendships, and summertime bliss—a portal in which you, the collector of memories and adolescent sagas, are given exclusive access to a seemingly perfect timeline that’s both intimate and incredibly nostalgic. With a soundtrack that harkens back to a golden age of teenage rebellion and a trove of idyllic mini-games to ferry its characters’ journey into adulthood, it feels like a window into a world that, frankly, you just never want to depart from. It might not stick around long enough to comprise a full-fledged discography, but for an independent EP, it hits the nail on the head — and then some.

If games like Lost Records, Life is Strange, or Road 96 are to your liking, then I truly believe that you’ll enjoy just about everything that fleshes out Mixtape and its heartfelt discography. It’s a short experience, but let me tell you this: if you’re desperately searching for a trip down memory lane, then you needn’t look any further than this. It’s beautiful, hilarious, and arguably one of the best independent video games that you’ll put your hands on this year.