Hi-Fi Rush

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 19,230 reviews

music2.7k positive mentions

monetization52 negative mentions

The game features a heartfelt and engaging story with quirky characters and witty dialogue that resonates emotionally with players.
The vibrant art style and engaging soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
Hi-Fi Rush stands out for its lack of microtransactions and DLC, offering a complete gaming experience that prioritizes fun and creativity.

Some players find the story to be clichéd and predictable, with certain characters lacking depth and meaningful development.
The gameplay can become repetitive due to unskippable cutscenes and tedious grinding elements, which may frustrate completionists.
While the game is generally well-optimized, some users report performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware.

music
5,807 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
1%
The music in "Hi-Fi Rush" is widely praised for its vibrant and engaging soundtrack, featuring a mix of original compositions and licensed tracks from well-known artists like Nine Inch Nails and The Prodigy. Players appreciate how the music is intricately woven into the gameplay, with every action, enemy attack, and environmental element syncing to the beat, creating a dynamic and immersive experience. The soundtrack not only enhances the combat but also elevates the overall atmosphere of the game, making it a standout feature that resonates with both music lovers and gamers alike.
- “Hi-Fi Rush is a prime example of how important music is to video games, harmoniously elevating gameplay and story moments alike.”
- “The soundtrack is a wonderful fusion of 90's-00's rock, with some modern electronic mixed in to spice it up.”
- “The music is fantastic, with one particular boss faceoff hitting really hard.”
- “I partially blame my lack of ability, but also the music just feels like background noise to me.”
- “The music is so well implemented; unlike other rhythm games where it feels like a background, here music is the foreground of our gameplay.”
- “The music could get a little repetitive at times, but I felt the action and the style made up for it.”
gameplay
3,359 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The gameplay of "Hi-Fi Rush" has been widely praised for its innovative blend of rhythm mechanics and hack-and-slash action, creating a unique and engaging experience. Players appreciate the fluidity and responsiveness of the combat, which rewards timing and skill while remaining accessible to newcomers. The vibrant art style, catchy soundtrack, and charming characters further enhance the overall enjoyment, although some players noted minor frustrations with certain mechanics, such as the parry system and platforming segments. Overall, the game is celebrated for its fun, addictive gameplay that keeps players invested throughout its runtime.
- “The gameplay is really fun, though I will say jumping back into it after not playing for a while can be tricky.”
- “This game is just dripping in style, solid gameplay, and great music.”
- “The gameplay is a rhythm-based hack and slash action game, and it's insanely fun mastering all the combos and mechanics and getting high scores from staying on beat.”
- “The only thing that the game gets ever so slightly wrong is the parry mechanics, and even there only the generally forced QTE finishing moves on hard mode and above.”
- “The gameplay is simple yet complex; for people who aren’t that good at rhythm games, there are a lot of accessibility features to help players that I really dig.”
story
2,865 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The story of "Hi-Fi Rush" is a lighthearted and humorous narrative centered around Chai, a wannabe rockstar who accidentally gains musical powers during a corporate experiment. While the plot is straightforward and somewhat predictable, it is enriched by charming characters, witty dialogue, and a vibrant art style that evokes a nostalgic cartoon feel. Overall, the game successfully combines engaging gameplay with a fun, feel-good story that resonates with players, making it a delightful experience despite its simplicity.
- “The story is heartfelt, it gives time to each character to give them growth, and has tons of replayability.”
- “The story and comedy are very well done.”
- “The story is surprisingly heartfelt and engaging, filled with quirky characters and witty dialogue.”
- “The story is kind of barebones, a rather cliché 'big corporation is evil and tries to make money in a comedically evil way, go stop them' story, but the writing does a really good job carrying that skeleton of a story and making it something greater.”
- “The overly woke characters are extremely annoying, the story is clichéd and mediocre, the locations are dragged out and repetitive.”
- “The story is predictable and the social justice themes really ruined what could have been a flawless game.”
graphics
1,958 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The graphics of "Hi-Fi Rush" have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant, colorful, and cartoonish cel-shaded art style, reminiscent of early 2000s animations and comic books. Reviewers highlight the seamless transitions between 2D and 3D visuals, which enhance the game's rhythm-based gameplay and overall aesthetic appeal. The combination of stunning visuals, engaging character designs, and a lively soundtrack creates an immersive experience that resonates with players, making it a standout title in the current gaming landscape.
- “The cell-shaded graphics give it a nice tone and gives off a living comic book vibe.”
- “The visuals are an explosion of colorful eye-candy but it never feels overwhelming.”
- “The art style is vibrant and alive, the characters are likeable, and the music here is a force to be reckoned with, naturally for this kind of game.”
- “The graphics were too flashy (probably due to me spamming my ally summons) but it just adds to the lack of thought process required to play.”
- “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.”
- “The visuals are tiring with their 'make it look like a cartoon but with 3D models so we can save money' animations.”
humor
1,274 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Hi-Fi Rush" is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, often drawing comparisons to the comedic styles of classic cartoons and games like "Scott Pilgrim." Players appreciate the witty dialogue, quirky character interactions, and self-aware humor that keeps the tone light and engaging throughout the gameplay. While some jokes may come off as cheesy or cringeworthy, the overall comedic execution resonates well with many, contributing to a fun and memorable gaming experience.
- “The characters and story had me laughing the entire time.”
- “The writing is funny and the story is enjoyable, with a great cast of characters that made me laugh out loud.”
- “The humor, the gameplay, the music - everything in this masterpiece of a game is just amazing.”
- “Arrogant, self-centered, obnoxious, unfunny, and yet everyone falls over themselves for him because he's the one who hits stuff.”
- “In terms of story, the writing is definitely going to be a hit or a 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.”
- “The cringey humor is perfect for the story, and the game can't help but make you feel like a badass.”
replayability
265 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
2%
The game boasts high replayability, with features such as a New Game+ mode, numerous achievements, and secrets to discover, appealing to both casual players and completionists. While many players appreciate the engaging combat and vibrant world that encourage multiple playthroughs, some note that certain repetitive elements and unskippable cutscenes can detract from the experience. Overall, the combination of post-game content, unlockable challenges, and a scoring system enhances its replay value significantly.
- “The game also has a bit of replayability to it: there's a new game+ system; there's a lot of achievements and secrets to find; and you can always improve your rank in fights.”
- “The main story isn't very long, but the game has tons of replayability in the form of challenges, higher difficulty, and so on, therefore it fits both for a casual playthrough and for more 'grindy' players who want to perfect games.”
- “There's a ton to discover and enjoy, so replayability is sky high.”
- “The levels only provide an additional playthrough worth of replayability, yet it forces you to do it three more times, which gets painfully repetitive.”
- “The only nitpick I have about this game is that its replayability is hurt by some unskippable walk-and-talk segments, especially the museum level.”
- “It's kind of sad that really the only replayability this game has is replaying the story on higher difficulties or the arcade mode.”
emotional
229 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Hi-Fi Rush" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, engaging character development, and nostalgic charm, evoking feelings of joy and childlike wonder. Players report being genuinely moved by the game's humor and emotional moments, often shedding tears during key scenes, while the vibrant characters and witty dialogue contribute to a wholesome and uplifting experience. Despite its lighthearted tone, the game successfully addresses deeper themes of growth, acceptance, and the importance of friendship, leaving a lasting emotional impact on players.
- “The story is surprisingly heartfelt and engaging, filled with quirky characters and witty dialogue.”
- “This game made me cry and made me realize the importance of having people on your side.”
- “The characters are super easy to get attached to, the story is so heartfelt that it still brings a tear to my eye when I hear 'Reflection' from the game's soundtrack.”
optimization
195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
6%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players noting its smooth performance across various hardware configurations, including low-end PCs and the Steam Deck. While some minor issues were reported, such as occasional audio sync problems and stuttering during cutscenes, the majority of users experienced flawless gameplay with no significant bugs or crashes. The game's polished performance and attention to detail in optimization have been highlighted as standout features, making it a refreshing example in an era of often poorly optimized releases.
- “It's well optimized and runs great; you have no reason not to buy this.”
- “The game is polished really well, the performance is great, and there are no bugs whatsoever.”
- “The performance alone is enough to make this game stand out.”
- “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.”
- “It has some shortcomings in the performance and gameplay department.”
character development
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
37%
4%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with many praising the vibrant and unique character designs, engaging voice acting, and the overall charm of the cast. While some players noted significant character growth and relatable arcs, others felt that certain characters lacked depth or meaningful evolution throughout the story. Overall, the game's art direction and character design received high marks, contributing to a lively and memorable experience, even if the depth of character development varied among the cast.
- “The beautifully crafted art style, impeccable, jaw-dropping animations, and spectacularly endearing story and character design reveal that this was more than a simple labor of love for video games - it was a culmination of the entire development team's greatest triumphs and roughest struggles in the face of the everyday corporate environment billions across the world experience.”
- “The characters are amazing and have fantastic character development, the jokes are well-timed and the gameplay is really fun.”
- “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.”
- “Maybe there will be character development later, but his lazy and stupid nature is already old before getting halfway through the game.”
- “Other characters did not seem stellar to me either, and I did not see any character development at all.”
- “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.”
monetization
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
52%
41%
The monetization aspect of "Hi-Fi Rush" has been overwhelmingly praised, with players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, DLC, and other predatory practices common in modern gaming. Reviewers highlight the game's refreshing approach as a complete product that prioritizes fun and creativity over profit, contrasting it with the prevalent cash grab mentality in the industry. This lack of invasive monetization, coupled with its surprise release and engaging gameplay, has made it a standout title in 2023.
- “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.”
- “This is a rare gem of a great game in an era of shady microtransactions and live service models.”
- “In a market of half-baked game launches with flaws and microtransactions galore, it's refreshing to have that feeling of 'nostalgic' fun gaming.”
- “Great game with a charm but big corpos say no to fun games because they can't milk us for money. Better to do some cash grab and call it a day. Man, I would love to see my favorite franchise back as a good game, but the longer I live, the more I'm convinced that it's impossible because higher-ups see numbers, not overall enjoyment from a quality product.”
- “In a time where so many 'AAA' games come out with monetization up the wazoo and try to justify it with 'high-end' graphics, this game came in with little to no ad campaign and reminded everyone how games can just be fun.”
- “The gaming industry has had so many bad releases recently, a spike that's become associated with a proportional rise in video game prices, questionable monetization practices, and sometimes unfinished products.”
stability
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
2%
54%
Overall, the game is praised for its exceptional stability, with many users reporting a smooth experience free of significant bugs or glitches. It runs well on various hardware, including older PCs and the Steam Deck, and is noted for being a refreshing change from the often buggy releases typical of the industry. While a few minor glitches were mentioned, they did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “An absolutely amazing game, the style is done beautifully and runs great on slower hardware (I ran it on 4K on my 7-year-old PC!)”
- “A rare breath of fresh air, neatly packaged up into a feature complete, bug-free release with zero problems full stop.”
- “No bugs (that I've experienced), no glitches; it was complete at launch, something that should be expected from more games.”
- “It is a shame because the music and cinematography really sets it up so that it's supposed to feel like an epic moment, but then falls short because it feels like a buggy mess.”
- “Sometimes the sweet spot seems to be early, sometimes late, and by varying degrees leading to any of the various rhythm puzzles being just irritating roadblocks where you have to try again and again and again and not because you suck...because the game is buggy and broken.”
- “It just freezes sometimes for no reason but more importantly its sounds will cut out or lag and there is no setting to offset the sound.”
grinding
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
22%
72%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the lack of variety in environments and the need for multiple playthroughs to achieve 100% completion. While some appreciate the replayability and challenges offered, others feel that the grinding aspects detract from the overall enjoyment, especially when it comes to tedious platforming and lengthy tutorials. Overall, the game seems to balance fun gameplay with moments of grindiness that may frustrate completionists.
- “No grinding, no DLC, no microtransactions, no bullshit.”
- “Pros: character art, background art, character design, voice acting, soundtrack, innovative gameplay, custom difficulty curve, well-written story, no grinding required (except for cosmetics).”
- “- Respects your time (no grinding, and if you lose you continue at the last phase of the boss fight you were in, you can finish the game in ~15h).”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “My big complaint is the boring environments; it feels like every level has you trudging through factories and backrooms for the most part, and it gets really tedious and repetitive.”
- “I had fun, but it's not a game I would play to get all achievements or finish post-game stuff as it becomes grindy and repetitive since you need to finish the game again multiple times, clear simple tasks that take ages to finish, find missed collectibles without being able to travel to them.”
atmosphere
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
47%
6%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant art style, engaging soundtrack, and lively character interactions, creating a unique and immersive experience. Players appreciate the seamless integration of rhythm-based gameplay with the energetic environment, which is filled with humor and colorful visuals reminiscent of classic animated shows. Overall, the game's lighthearted and expressive atmosphere, combined with its well-composed music, enhances the enjoyment and keeps players engaged throughout.
- “The atmosphere and combat of this game are amazing, with secrets hidden anywhere you can think to look.”
- “The music, gameplay, atmosphere, and aesthetic of this game are so unique for 2023.”
- “Everything from the graphics to the animation, the story, the atmosphere, and the soundtrack make this beat-em-up rhythm game enjoyable from start to end.”
- “The story is pretty generic, but the world and atmosphere and characters all come together to make it feel so unique.”
- “The graphics are bright and eye-catching, creating a lively atmosphere that is further enhanced by the upbeat and energetic soundtrack.”
- “Everything from the atmosphere to the action to the goofy dialogue just fits together seamlessly and will have you laughing at the chaotic humor, rocking alongside a great soundtrack (both licensed and original) and sinking your teeth into a surprisingly deep and engaging combat system.”