Rhythm Doctor
- October 4, 2018
- Morphious86
- 15h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Rhythm Doctor" is a rhythm game where you use the spacebar to defibrillate patients in sync with their heartbeats, set to music with complex rhythms and time signatures. The game features 20+ levels that teach different concepts of rhythm theory, a cast of doctors and patients in a character-centric storyline, and both single-player and local drop-in drop-out multiplayer modes. A level editor also allows players to create and share their own levels using their own music.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Steam Deck
Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The gameplay is fluid and fun, with good challenges that make it comprehensible while still not making it easy.
- The art and music are great, creating a charming and engaging experience.
- The game consistently exceeds expectations with every update, offering unique mechanics and a delightful sense of humor.
- The calibration system can be frustrating and may not work well for all players.
- Some players find the difficulty spikes in later levels to be overwhelming and unfair.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- music1,949 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Rhythm Doctor" has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and variety, with players praising the soundtrack as one of the best in rhythm gaming. The integration of music with gameplay mechanics enhances the experience, allowing players to feel the rhythm deeply while navigating unique challenges. Many reviewers noted the emotional impact of the songs, with some tracks resonating on a personal level, making the game not just a rhythm challenge but a heartfelt musical journey.
“Best rhythm game I've played; the songs all slap, and the feeling you get once you get the rhythm after struggling at a song for a while is crazy. No other game I've played is like that.”
“Truly a must-play for any rhythm gamer, wonderfully unique soundtrack, and somehow manages to surprise and delight throughout!”
“The music in this game is incredible too! The soundtrack is fantastic, and the story is wholesome.”
“The music is bad at best and horrible at worst with a narrator shouting that a tempo change will occur.”
“I love the music, but I find at a certain point in the difficulty curve the inputs become untethered from the rhythm of the song and it becomes mush.”
“The music chosen at some parts really amplify the character's emotion both when they're happy and sad, which is a lot of what music is about.”
- story857 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story in this rhythm game is widely praised for its charm, humor, and emotional depth, with players expressing a strong attachment to the characters and their individual narratives. Many reviews highlight the effective integration of gameplay mechanics with storytelling, creating a unique experience that resonates with players, even those who typically overlook narratives in games. While the main story is considered relatively short, it is described as heartwarming and engaging, leaving players eager for more content in future updates.
“The story, the characters, the gameplay, the music, the fact they do collabs and stuff, thank you to the developing team for making such a good game!!”
“The characters that comprise each act are outstanding, as well - each one arrives due to a heart problem, and the game uses the underlying causes of their heart problems to tell a complex and beautiful story about each character's struggles, which really lets you become invested in each individual character's journey and the whole game's story as a whole.”
“This game is easily one of the best rhythm games I have ever played as the music is insane and the story is impeccable.”
“The story may be slightly cheesy to some, but I actually enjoyed it!”
“There's nothing linking the stories together besides that they happen to be in the same hospital, and so these stories don't link together well enough to form a cohesive, singular story.”
“The story is worse than an afterthought; it's a waste of time.”
- gameplay846 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Rhythm Doctor" is widely praised for its innovative use of a simple one-button mechanic that evolves into a complex and engaging experience. Players appreciate the fluidity and creativity of the mechanics, which introduce new rhythms and challenges at a steady pace, keeping the gameplay fresh and rewarding. The combination of catchy music, charming visuals, and a heartfelt story enhances the overall experience, making it a standout title in the rhythm game genre.
“The gameplay is fluid and fun with good challenges that make it comprehensible while still not making it easy.”
“Amazing music, great story, lovable characters, and fun gameplay... what more could you want?”
“The gameplay is simple yet challenging and constantly keeps the player on their toes by introducing new rhythm mechanics with which to play around.”
“A very well crafted game, I just happen to absolutely hate the x mechanic; it quite literally ruins the entire game for me.”
“The gameplay is simple, stemming off of 'hit on the seventh beat, that's it,' but throughout the game, this base gameplay mechanic is turned into something spectacular with all sorts of different ways to play.”
“However, when you are learning a brand new mechanic and this is the first level, not having the visuals to get your bearings straight at first is frustrating, making the level where swing tempo is introduced easily the most frustrating level I have played so far, and by far my least favorite.”
- graphics365 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics in this rhythm game have received widespread acclaim for their charming pixel art style and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the creative integration of visuals with music, which not only captivates but also challenges their sense of rhythm, making each level visually distinct and engaging. Overall, the game's aesthetic is described as both beautiful and innovative, contributing significantly to its appeal and replayability.
“The visuals are fantastic, the music and vocals are superb, and you can really tell how much love and care the devs put into it.”
“The graphics are mainly made of pixel art and it is phenomenal, the animations are amazing too, they feel really fluent and are really satisfying to look at.”
“The visuals, the music, the creativity, just wow.”
“The boss level is meant to punish people who mostly rely on visuals to keep time, as it forces the game into windowed mode, makes it tiny, and bounces it around a bunch.”
“The visuals often go out of their way to throw you off and take you off the beat which creates challenge.”
“There are cues, but they're not like cues in Rhythm Heaven; the cues in this game are useless... and it's not like the visuals help either.”
- emotional170 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly praised, with many players reporting that it made them cry due to its heartfelt storytelling, relatable characters, and impactful music. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend humor and warmth with serious themes, creating a unique emotional journey that resonates deeply, even within the rhythm game genre. Overall, it is described as a touching and wholesome experience that leaves a lasting impression on players.
“We all dream of the perfect game being a massive open world with a million features, but that game perfectly realized wouldn't even come close to emotionally impacting people the way this game does with text boxes and a spacebar.”
“The amount of love and attention the developers have given this game to fairly simple mechanics to things I've never seen a game do before to tell a heartfelt story and feature a compassionate and lovable cast of characters is outstanding!”
“The story is heartwarming and the music is an absolute earworm, so if you're a fan of rhythm games or music in general, I would 100% recommend nabbing this.”
- humor91 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, often eliciting genuine laughter through witty dialogue and amusing character interactions. Players appreciate the blend of light-hearted and heartfelt moments, with many noting how the humor enhances the overall experience, making it both entertaining and memorable. The game's ability to incorporate humor into its rhythm-based gameplay and narrative adds a unique and enjoyable layer to the experience.
“Charming, fun, scratches the rhythm game itch, and has a great sense of humor - I failed a level so many times that the characters' dialogue changed to comment on it, and I was so focused on the level I nearly missed it!”
“The story is well made, the dialogue is amazing, the humor is off the charts, and the intensity gets high!”
“The dialogue and story content are entertaining, even laugh-out-loud funny at times, and they never feel like a chore you have to get through just to play the game.”
- replayability44 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its unique mechanics, engaging visuals, and extensive customization options, including user-generated content and a level editor. Players appreciate the variety in gameplay, with challenging levels and community-created content that continually refresh the experience. Despite some critiques regarding the length of the main campaign, the overall consensus is that the game's replay value is significant, making it a worthwhile investment for players seeking long-term enjoyment.
“The mechanics are brilliant and unique; the visuals are great and the customization is a fantastic way to ensure endless replayability.”
“Custom levels, challenging guest game levels, and the replay value of amazing tracks add so much to the experience, and I can't wait to see what the devs and the community add to the game as it continues to be developed.”
“Honestly, between the creativity of the main game levels and the tons of custom levels out for download, this game has some of the best replay value I've seen in a rhythm game this polished and visually engaging.”
“Quite poor replayability.”
“Some of the songs are less interesting than you'd get from other rhythm games, which hurts the replayability of some levels, but I can't really even call that a fault since those songs were clearly chosen to create interesting gameplay.”
“YMMV depending on the quality of the community charts, but it definitely adds to the replayability.”
- grinding19 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 32 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be extensive and time-consuming, often requiring significant dedication to achieve S+ ranks. While some enjoy the process due to the engaging music and the challenge it presents, others criticize the tediousness of having to restart songs without the option to skip intros, making the experience feel repetitive. Overall, grinding is a prominent feature that can enhance or detract from the enjoyment depending on individual preferences.
“A lot of grinding.”
“Short and sweet: no grinding and non-stop new content.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“And as such, it's incredibly tedious to restart a song because you have to go through the intro and whatever nonsense is there prior to the song, keeping you from playing the game. You can't skip it easily.”
“The quality is definitely there but feels short if you’re just playing the base story mode without much focus on grinding out S ranks.”
- stability18 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the intentional use of glitches as a creative mechanic that enhances gameplay and immersion. However, some users report occasional stuttering, visual glitches, and freezing issues, particularly on certain platforms like the Steam Deck. Overall, while minor bugs are present, they do not significantly detract from the experience for most players, who view them as part of the game's unique charm.
“It is a masterpiece; I love it! There are no glitches that I've encountered, the community maps are awesome, and the songs in-game are as well.”
“The boss level has only one heartbeat, but the screen/beat frequently glitches in an attempt to throw you off.”
“I was getting this game for Steam Deck but it freezes every 5 seconds.”
“They try to get you to miss the beat with visual glitches, skips, silence, even bouncing the game window around and other gimmicky mechanics.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with some users noting it as a high point, while others report minor visual glitches and occasional stuttering, particularly during tutorials. Some players express a desire for more optimization options, but acknowledge that issues like stuttering or crashing are to be expected in an early access title.
“The optimization is also a high point.”
“Amazingly well designed and optimized game, but again, difficult.”
“I wish there were more optimization options.”
“Wait, did someone say actual moving windows flying across your 'x' number of monitors, camera zooming in effects, stuttering in time to the beat, and many, many other distractions!?”
“There have been a couple instances of the game stuttering or crashing on me, but I see no reason to fault a game in early access for that, as it's completely expected.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its emotional depth, unique setting, and immersive music, contributing to a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the combination of challenging gameplay and a wholesome ambiance, highlighting the developers' dedication to creating a captivating environment. Overall, the atmosphere is described as incredible and integral to the game's appeal.
“I feel like I'm going to end up crying at some point eventually; this game is a masterpiece—so fun, challenging, rewarding, atmospheric, unique, and wholesome.”
“I love the atmosphere, setting, and concept of the game.”
“Absolutely incredible game, amazing music, great atmosphere, and dedicated developers who have worked on this for so many years.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game features impressive character development, with depth and charm that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the thoughtful storytelling and the heartwarming interactions among characters, particularly in how they evolve and learn to connect with one another. The art style and design further complement the characters, making their journeys feel engaging and meaningful.
“The act 2 boss in particular is beautifully clever both in terms of mechanics and storytelling, the pixel art is adorable, and the character development has a surprising amount of depth.”
“I honestly thought it would be too simple...and to be honest the early levels are, but my god I never thought you could fit this much charm and character development in a game with one button.”
“Getting to know the doctors and solve the patients' problems and see them all learn to get along and have some character development is really heartwarming, and there's clearly a good amount of care put into their individual stories too.”
“I honestly thought it would be too simple... and to be honest, the early levels are, but my god, I never thought you could fit this much charm and character development in a game with one button.”
“Getting to know the doctors and solving the patients' problems and seeing them all learn to get along and have some character development is really heartwarming, and there's clearly a good amount of care put into their individual stories too.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game primarily relies on infrequent updates that mainly consist of minor fixes and advertisements for other games, which some players find disappointing given the game's quality. Despite this, players express strong enthusiasm for the game itself, suggesting a willingness to promote it on their own social media.
“The only updates are minor fixes and ads for other games.”
“The game is honestly brilliant, but it's currently being updated only once every few months, and only with non-essential updates that are essentially ads for other games.”
