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Hi-Fi RUSH

Hi-Fi RUSH Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
monetization, stability
97% User Score Based on 20,240 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5CloudXbox Cloud GamingXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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Hi-Fi RUSH Game Cover

About

Hi-Fi RUSH is a single player hack and slash game with comedy and anime themes. It was developed by Tango Gameworks and was released on January 19, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Discover Hi-Fi Rush on the official PlayStation website. Check out trailers, screenshots and game features, and read about the powers Chai and his crew can use against evil corporate bosses.

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Hi-Fi RUSH screenshot
Hi-Fi RUSH screenshot
Hi-Fi RUSH screenshot
Hi-Fi RUSH screenshot
Hi-Fi RUSH screenshot
Hi-Fi RUSH screenshot
Hi-Fi RUSH screenshot
Hi-Fi RUSH screenshot
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97%
Audience ScoreBased on 20,240 reviews
music2.9k positive mentions
monetization50 negative mentions
  • The game features a vibrant, comic book-inspired cel-shaded art style with seamless 3D and 2D animations, creating an immersive and stylish visual experience that perfectly complements the gameplay and soundtrack.
  • The soundtrack is phenomenal, with expertly synchronized music and gameplay that enhances immersion and creates a satisfying rhythm-based action experience.
  • The gameplay offers a unique and highly satisfying blend of rhythm-based mechanics and fast-paced hack-and-slash combat, with smooth controls, rewarding combos, and innovative mechanics introduced steadily to keep the experience fresh.
  • Some combat encounters suffer from poor readability due to overly bright visuals causing difficulty focusing on the action, which diminishes the rhythm combat experience.
  • The story is somewhat generic and compressed, with certain characters experiencing limited or abrupt development, and some narrative elements feeling clichéd or underexplored.
  • Replayability can become tedious and repetitive due to forced multiple playthroughs, repeated enemy waves, and unskippable cutscenes, which may detract from the overall enjoyment especially for completionists.
  • music
    6,258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in this game is widely acclaimed for its phenomenal integration with gameplay, featuring a killer soundtrack that includes both original compositions and well-chosen licensed rock tracks from artists like Nine Inch Nails and The Prodigy. Every element of the game—from combat to environment animations—is meticulously synchronized to the beat, creating a deeply immersive and satisfying rhythm-based action experience. While some find the original tracks less memorable than the licensed ones, the overall soundtrack, including an alternative streamer mode, is praised for enhancing both the mood and flow of the game, making it a standout feature and a key reason to play.

    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal, and none of the songs ever feel out of place in any of the levels or boss fights.”
    • “Everything from the visuals to music and sfx is unabashedly colorful and joyous...something we need more of in big budget gaming.”
    • “The way the soundtrack and gameplay are intertwined creates an exhilarating sense of flow, where the music doesn’t just accompany the action—it becomes an integral part of it.”
    • “For a game that's supposed to be about music they sure as hell picked the most boring and least rhythm game music they could.”
    • “The music is ridiculous for a rhythm game: most of the soundtrack is generic rock slop with very little standout tracks, making it all blend together into a monotonous smoothie of denim and stupid haircuts.”
    • “The rhythm combat gameplay is bad since 1) you can't see what you're doing half the time, it's just color vomit and 2) you can't hear the music the other half the time to stay on the beat and attack anything when it matters.”
  • gameplay
    3,620 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Hi-Fi Rush delivers a unique and highly satisfying blend of rhythm-based mechanics with fast-paced hack-and-slash combat, creating an innovative gameplay experience that is easy to pick up yet offers depth for mastery. The game’s integration of music into all aspects of combat and world design enhances immersion and flow, while steadily introducing new mechanics keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging throughout. Despite some minor critiques regarding platforming and parry timing, the gameplay is consistently praised for its smooth controls, rewarding combos, and seamless synergy with the soundtrack, making it a standout in the genre.

    • “The core gameplay blends fluid combat with beat-driven timing that never feels punishing — instead it welcomes you in, making rhythmic inputs feel rewarding without ever demanding perfection.”
    • “Having played Hi-Fi Rush twice now, once on Xbox and once on PC, I can confidently say it is one of the most enjoyable and mechanically innovative games I've ever played.”
    • “The game kept introducing new mechanics every now and then, just at the moment when I'm like "hmm... is there more to the game or is that it?" the game introduces a new mechanic that keeps me preoccupied that further developed the combat system to make it easier to combo, and also enhancing the enemy encounters with more mechanics to use like parrying, magnet links, counters, battery farming, partner combo links, special attacks and my favorite one being the unique parrying/dodging sequence that tough enemies have after you break their posture, it's always fun to perfectly parry those.”
    • “Mechanics are introduced too slowly for my liking and most of the actual fighting is pretty short lived and lacking in player expression.”
    • “The game also throws in a lot of mechanics that don’t always work well together or feel "tacked-on", not giving the player enough time to experiment or get used to them, the game feels cluttered with mechanics and it feels like even the game barely knows what to do with them all.”
    • “Also the forced parry system events (and more forced gameplay elements like that) is very, very stupid.”
  • story
    3,178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in Hi-Fi Rush is a simple, lighthearted, and fun narrative reminiscent of a Saturday morning cartoon that centers on a ragtag group taking down a corrupt corporation. While predictable and sometimes cheesy, it features well-written, charming characters and witty humor that keep players engaged and emotionally invested. Overall, the story complements the vibrant art, energetic soundtrack, and unique rhythm-based gameplay, creating an entertaining and cohesive experience.

    • “Its combination of experimental mechanics, a linear story that still makes the world feel large and lived in, characters that are all given their own unique role, and a vibrant art style that pops with color and music that sets a tone of rebellion and energy create an experience I will always cherish.”
    • “The story, while not breaking new ground, never needed to as the depth of the story is in the characters, and it tells a beautiful tale of growth, acceptance, redemption, and culminates with a splendid emotional payoff and a glee-inducing final confrontation.”
    • “Hi-fi rush tells the story of an aspiring rockstar by the name of Chai. The plot takes a surprising turn when Kale throws away Chai’s music player, which accidentally embeds in his chest during the limb replacement process, allowing him to feel a musical connection with his surroundings. The game's graphics are also top-notch, with detailed environments and character designs that bring the story to life. The game's storyline is engaging and keeps players invested in the outcome, while the gameplay is challenging and rewarding.”
    • “To the game's credit, it doesn't need a strong story to have solid gameplay, but when the majority of the events surrounding Chai and the other characters seem not so fleshed out, it leaves a lot to be desired.”
    • “There is a 'twist' with one character which is about as subtle as an elephant in a window factory, and beyond that nearly every character is pretty much a cliche, comfortably filling their narrative purposes in the story.”
    • “The fairly compressed plot also makes the necessary character development very choppy and bare-bones; Chai spends the entire first half of the game being a raging jerk to Peppermint for no reason and insisting he doesn’t want to help her take down the corporation, then just suddenly stops, with no apology or explicit change of heart.”
  • graphics
    2,115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their vibrant, comic book-inspired, cel-shaded art style that combines 3D and 2D animations seamlessly, evoking nostalgia for early 2000s cartoons and games like Jet Set Radio and Devil May Cry. Users highlight the unique aesthetic, expressive character designs, and dynamic environments that move rhythmically with the music, creating an immersive and stylish visual experience. While some note minor inconsistencies or a preference for different styles, overall the visuals are considered a standout feature that perfectly complements the gameplay and soundtrack.

    • “The game features a vibrant cel-shaded art style that combines comic book aesthetics with anime influences, delivering stunning visuals reminiscent of early 2000s cartoons and titles like Jet Set Radio and Spider-Verse.”
    • “Hi-Fi Rush's visuals are an absolute treat, seamlessly blending 3D and 2D animation with colorful, lively environments that pulse and move in sync with the rhythm, creating a dynamic and expressive world full of personality.”
    • “The art style is superb and full of charm, with expressive character designs, cinematic cutscenes switching between hand-drawn and 3D animation, and an overall aesthetic that perfectly complements the game's upbeat tone and rhythm-driven gameplay.”
    • “It's a real shame, crisp visuals would help the art style shine.”
    • “The only downside is how high my expectations are for games with music and visuals as their focus.”
    • “The readability of some combat encounters is really bad just because of the visuals being so bright that your eyes can tend to have a sort of 'hard to focus on any one thing' effect, especially when you get all 3 assists.”
  • humor
    1,369 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews overwhelmingly praise the game's humor as a standout feature, describing it as genuinely funny, clever, charming, and well-timed with a playful, Saturday morning cartoon vibe. The humor blends goofy, slapstick, meta, and witty dialogue that frequently elicits laughter without feeling forced or cringy, enhancing character interactions and the overall vibrant atmosphere. While some find certain jokes hit or miss or cheesy, most appreciate the lighthearted, irreverent tone that complements the stylish animation, storytelling, and rhythm-based gameplay.

    • “The characters were so funny and packed to the brim with personality and well executed humor, and fantastic voice acting to boot.”
    • “From lovable characters, great humor, amazing music, and fantastic combat, this is a game I can easily recommend to everyone for a good time!”
    • “The writing, the humor, the characters, the music, the art direction... everything is firing on all cylinders here.”
    • “Arrogant, self-centered, obnoxious, unfunny, and yet everyone falls over themselves for him because he's the one who hits stuff.”
    • “What's not funny is Microsoft's decision though...”
    • “In terms of story, the writing is definitely going to be a hit or miss for people; that's for sure. I personally didn't have much of an issue with it, and I like that the game is aware of how it could be seen as unfunny and runs with it in certain conversations and story beats.”
  • replayability
    277 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers high replayability through a blend of rhythm-based combat, engaging characters, and a variety of post-game modes such as new game+ and challenges. Although the main story is relatively short (around 10-12 hours), unlockable content, collectibles, alternate difficulties, and scoring systems provide players ample incentive to revisit and master the gameplay. Some minor drawbacks include unskippable cutscenes and the initial restriction of content, but overall, replay value is considered a standout feature.

    • “Fun story, goofy and loveable characters, fantastic level design that rewards exploration, top tier gameplay, wicked soundtrack, impressive art style, tons of replayability, the list goes on.”
    • “Even when you pass through the game the first time, there's plenty of replayability, rhythm tower, arcade games, and even their own version of ng+ with the spectra doors.”
    • “If you like DMC, Bayonetta or MGS Rising, this game is the one for you people; art style as unique as it can get, story as goofy and fun as it can be, game is smooth as hell, replayability is through the roof, playing it many times doesn't feel bland, the challenge and combos make the game feel fun and good every time, overall just a have fun action game.”
    • “The levels only provide an additional playthrough worth of replayability yet it forces you to do it 3 more times, which gets painfully repetitive.”
    • “The game does fumble in the replayability aspect, so I'd recommend caution if you are a completionist.”
    • “Not all cutscenes are skippable, especially when the antagonists talk to you while you're controlling your character, which can be annoying for replayability.”
  • emotional
    253 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt, wholesome, and surprisingly touching story that balances humor and sincerity without taking itself too seriously. Many players felt genuine joy, nostalgia, and even tears, often describing a sense of childlike wonder and connection with memorable characters and their growth. The soundtrack and character interactions significantly enhance the emotional experience, making the game both uplifting and deeply engaging despite its straightforward narrative.

    • “The story, while not breaking new ground, never needed to as the depth of the story is in the characters, and it tells a beautiful tale of growth, acceptance, redemption, and culminates with a splendid emotional payoff and a glee-inducing final confrontation.”
    • “Every single character is written and voice-acted near perfectly, so much so that I genuinely shed a tear of joy at the end.”
    • “The story is simple but fun and heartfelt in places, all of the hero characters are likable and develop throughout, and all of the villains are delightfully devilish, even the NPCs have tons of flavor to them.”
  • optimization
    205 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Hi-Fi Rush is widely praised for its exceptional optimization and smooth performance across platforms, including low-end PCs and the Steam Deck, delivering consistent 60fps gameplay crucial for its rhythm-based mechanics. Users report minimal stuttering or bugs, with some rare, minor issues that do not impact the overall experience. The game's technical polish complements its stylish visuals and dynamic gameplay, making it a standout example of well-executed optimization in modern gaming.

    • “The game is very well optimized and has an amazing comic art style, well made character design and very fun experience.”
    • “It's polished both in gameplay and performance. The game is optimized incredibly well and it runs lightning-fast on my gaming laptop at default settings, and this a definitely a game you want running fast.”
    • “For anyone curious I played on Steam swapping between my desktop and Steam Deck and I got a solid 60fps on both the entire game with default settings, the game is insanely well optimized.”
    • “The performance of the game is quite erratic.”
    • “Please fix the RAM issues, my computer only has 4 GB RAM and this game requires 8. Most games I've played only needed 4 GB RAM, so if there is an optimization strategy please let me hear it so I can play the game.”
    • “Playing on Steam Deck, had bad audio stuttering problems but it ran.”
  • character development
    142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features exceptional and vibrant character design praised for its unique, colorful, and expressive art style that brings both protagonists and enemies to life with personality. While many reviewers highlight engaging and well-executed character development, especially for the main character and core cast, some note that development can feel limited or abrupt, with certain characters not evolving significantly. Overall, the combination of strong visual design, voice acting, and story arcs creates memorable, lovable characters that enhance the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The unique cartoon-and-comic storyline highlights the character development of Chai, the main character, and sub-characters like Peppermint, Macaron, Korsica, and CMNM, each with their own personal branding, skill movesets, and roles.”
    • “Speaking of Chai, he actually has decent character development; he doesn't evolve into a totally different person, but he does notably mature into a leader type character that everyone can trust... most of the time.”
    • “The story is amazing and I loved seeing genuine character development with all main characters slowly through the game so I could see them really develop into rock stars.”
    • “The plot and character development is focused on one character who doesn't ever get to shine outside the kooky antics of the developments; which is quite a shame since this sticking point is the only thing that would stop me from considering this an immediate cult classic.”
    • “The fairly compressed plot also makes the necessary character development very choppy and bare-bones; Chai spends the entire first half of the game being a raging jerk to Peppermint for no reason and insisting he doesn’t want to help her take down the corporation, then just… suddenly stops, with no apology or explicit change of heart.”
    • “The characters do not get any development throughout the whole game, least of all Chai, and if you disagree then you have to re-evaluate what qualifies as character development in your mind.”
  • monetization
    131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Hi-Fi Rush is widely praised for its straightforward, consumer-friendly monetization approach, featuring no microtransactions, no battle passes, and no intrusive ads or additional login requirements. Released at a reasonable $30 price with minimal advertising, it stands out as a refreshing alternative to typical AAA cash-grab models, delivering a complete, polished experience without monetization gimmicks. Many reviewers highlight it as a rare, passion-driven project that prioritizes fun and quality over profit, making it highly recommended for players tired of predatory monetization in gaming.

    • “Released on the actual date, no bugs, no advertisements, no microtransactions, no extra log in process or launcher, and at $30 not on sale.”
    • “Very refreshing to find a great and short game like that doesn't want to waste your time or include microtransactions.”
    • “Hi-fi Rush was clearly created by developers who were deeply passionate about crafting the best and most enjoyable gaming experience, rather than focusing solely on monetization.”
    • “Great game with charm but big corporations say no to fun games because they can't milk us for money. Better to do some cash grab and call it a day. I would love to see my favorite franchise back as a good game but I'm increasingly convinced it's impossible because higher ups see numbers, not overall enjoyment from quality products. Go support indie developers or smaller teams to overthrow this madness.”
    • “I believed 'voting with my wallet' would somehow encourage more studios to publish games that were passionate, finished, and bug-free on release without any form of predatory monetization.”
    • “Most AAA games are trash now anyway due to this and that's why there are so many cash grab live service shovelware.”
  • stability
    105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its exceptional stability, running smoothly and nearly bug-free across various platforms, including low-end PCs and the Steam Deck. Minor glitches are rare and do not significantly impact the gameplay experience, marking it as a polished, well-optimized title that stands out amidst the typically buggy modern releases.

    • “A rare breath of fresh air, neatly packaged up into a feature complete, bug free release with zero problems full stop.”
    • “The game runs great on all kinds of hardware—you'll get 60 fps on the lowest settings easily with not a single dip or stutter (especially where it matters, like boss fights and the like), and it looks beautiful on the highest settings.”
    • “No shader compilation stutter, no bugs, no glitches, no crashes, all on a game just released.”
    • “There are some glitches here and there, but the game doesn't let you get held up on them, so they don't impact the overall experience.”
    • “I did run into a few glitches when I played but it wasn't enough to hinder my experience; I did have to replay from a checkpoint once at one point because the camera wouldn't lock onto Chai!”
    • “Sometimes the sweet spot seems to be early or late, leading to rhythm puzzles becoming irritating roadblocks where you have to try again and again not because you suck but because the game is buggy and broken.”
  • grinding
    103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in the game is often described as tedious, repetitive, and sometimes overly difficult, especially with repeated enemy waves, QTEs, and platforming sections that can become monotonous. While some appreciate the replayability and post-story content, many find the required multiple playthroughs and achievement hunting to be a chore, detracting from overall enjoyment. However, the absence of heavy RPG or loot-based grinding is noted as a positive aspect, with grinding mostly affecting completionists.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Well-written story with innovative gameplay and a custom difficulty curve; no grinding required except for cosmetics.”
    • “Most of the time you'll just be running around hitting random enemies, which becomes incredibly tedious, especially with the soundtrack constantly repeating itself.”
    • “Arena gets very tedious towards the middle and end sections as you have to repeatedly do the exact same QTEs over and over, while the game keeps throwing more monotonous enemies your way.”
    • “I had fun but it's not a game I would play to get all achievements or finish post-game content as it becomes grindy and repetitive, requiring multiple playthroughs, clearing simple tasks that take ages, and finding missed collectibles without fast travel, meaning you must replay entire levels repeatedly.”
  • atmosphere
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its vibrant, energetic, and playful tone, seamlessly blending colorful visuals, dynamic environments that move to the beat, and a humorous, lighthearted style. The soundtrack and rhythm-based mechanics deeply enhance immersion, creating a feel-good, engaging experience that balances intensity with fun. Overall, the atmosphere is regarded as a standout feature that perfectly complements the characters, comedy, and gameplay, making it both memorable and inviting.

    • “The atmosphere is top notch and the environment moves on beat everywhere, plus the comedy in this game is absolutely amazing.”
    • “The characters’ voice lines and dialogue add to the humor and charm of the game, with each interaction further enhancing the playful, energetic atmosphere.”
    • “The world and atmosphere are alive and vibrant with bits and bobs that match the music and beat, giving you all kinds of fun stuff to look at.”
    • “Only the dialogue can be cringy at times, but it fits well to the game's setting, vibe and atmosphere, so it gets a pass.”
    • “The story is pretty generic but the world and atmosphere and characters all come together to make it feel so unique.”
    • “This game captures the atmosphere of the long gone PS2 era.”
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65%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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12h Median play time
29h Average play time
5-22h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 44 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Hi-Fi RUSH is a hack and slash game with comedy and anime themes.

Hi-Fi RUSH is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 29 hours playing Hi-Fi RUSH.

Hi-Fi RUSH was released on January 19, 2023.

Hi-Fi RUSH was developed by Tango Gameworks.

Hi-Fi RUSH has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Hi-Fi RUSH for its music but disliked it for its monetization.

Hi-Fi RUSH is a single player game.

Similar games include Pumpkin Jack, DmC: Devil May Cry, The Messenger, Katana ZERO, Bayonetta and others.