Rift of the NecroDancer: Everything We Know

Brace Yourself Games’ Rift of the NecroDancer, an upcoming rhythm-based game for PC, has now been teased for Nintendo Switch. This news stems directly from the recently showcased Indie World event, which aired on April 19, 2023. And while it didn’t receive a concrete release date, it was confirmed that it would be shaping up for a 2023 launch.

So, what do you need to know about the upcoming spin-off of Crypt of the NecroDancer? Well, here’s everything we’ve been able to piece together based on the information supplied at the Indie World presentation. Rift of the NecroDancer: what is it, and why should you be keeping tabs on it over the next several months?

What Is Rift of the NecroDancer?

Rift of the NecroDancer is an upcoming rhythm game by Brace Yourself Games and Tic Toc Games. Serving as a spin-off of 2015’s Crypt of the NecroDancer, the upcoming chapter will cast you as Cadence, a crypt-dwelling fighter whose purpose is to tackle the various Rifts that cloak the modern world and its many crags and crevices.

In a nutshell: “The NecroDancer’s back in a brand new rhythm game spinoff! Help Cadence navigate the modern world while repairing the rifts that have torn her life apart. Do rhythmic battle via rift mode, minigames, and boss battles! All to the beat of a brand new soundtrack from Danny Baranowsky & friends.”

Story

Judging by the rather vague blurb that Brace Yourself Games painted on its Steam page, Rift of the NecroDancer will cast you as Cadence, a button-blazing fighter who’s tasked with sealing Rifts—portals that house countless armies of twisted creatures—that shroud the modern world.

That’s not all, either, as made clear by the elevator pitch. Fact is, outside of the standard Rift Mode, Rift of the NecroDancer will also host five unique Rhythm Heaven-type mini-games, all of which will correspond with each of the series’ characters and their respective story arcs.

Of course, there’s still plenty we don’t actually know about the actual narrative, nor the runtime that it’ll supposedly adhere to. That said, if it’s anything like the first game, then chances are it’ll clock anywhere from twelve to fifteen hours in length. Don’t quote us on that, though.

Gameplay

Going by what we’ve seen at the Indie World event, Rift of the NecroDancer will foster a lane-based combat system—a three-lane fretboard that players will need to wrap their heads around in order to tackle the foes that pour from the Rifts. In a similar style to Guitar Hero, beat masters and budding button-mashing rockers alike will need to hammer the correct notes in time with the beat; the faster the input, the higher the score.

It isn’t overly complicated, to be fair, and there isn’t a whole lot more to touch base on. Fact is, the spin-off will take one or two pages out of its peers’ books, which means you won’t have to travel all that far to brush up on your rhythmic abilities.

In addition to the primary modes that’ll be available to play right off the bat, Rift of the NecroDancer will also launch with full mod support, online leaderboards, and “more.” What more does it plan to unveil, exactly? It’s hard to say at this point, though Brace Yourself Games is likely to share another batch of details ahead of its eventual launch. On that note, it’s best to keep your eyes peeled, and preferably on the studio’s social feed as the year draws on.

Development

Brace Yourself Games’ Crypt of the NecroDancer was certainly something of a local hit back in its heyday. Being a roguelite rhythm game with a handful of additional pockets available to explore, it was only a matter of time until the studio cashed in on the opportunity. Long story short, eight years after the original game released, Rift of the NecroDancer was born, thus bringing forth a new batch of tales for Cadence and the rhythm-rocking crew.

We can’t say for sure what will come next for the IP, or even if the upcoming spin-off will breathe a second wind into the decade-old series. One thing’s for sure, though: Rift of the NecroDancer will rekindle a flame that, prior to its recent announcement, many had thought extinguished.

Trailer

Interested in seeing the rock and rhythm nodes and frets in the virtual flesh? Fortunately for avid beat makers and button mashers, Brace Yourself Games did in fact release a trailer for the game a fair ways back. Need we say more? You can see the sneak preview for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Rift of the NecroDancer will be coming to Switch and PC via Steam later this year. As for when exactly it’ll release is still anybody’s guess, though Brace Yourself Games has confirmed that it’ll be at some point in 2023.

As it stands, there are no special editions or pre-order bonuses to take advantage of on Switch or PC. That said, as it’s still early days, chances are there’ll be something of the sort stowed away in the pipeline and ready to come to light ahead of its release. But don’t take our word for it, though.

At this point in time, we can’t say for sure whether or not we’ll see a console port come to fulfilment. As the original game launched without one, however, it’s hard to imagine the spin-off will be any different. But who knows — maybe it’ll surprise us?

If you’re planning on keeping up to date with the Rift of the NecroDancer launch, then you should definitely consider checking in with Brace Yourself Games’ official social feed here. If anything major changes ahead of its 2023 release, we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Rift of the NecroDancer when it releases? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.