Thumper

Thumper's trippy sights, sounds, and intense rhythm action create a terrifying VR experience I won't soon forget.

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Thumper: Pocket Edition+ is a rhythm-action game where you play as a space beetle, facing a maniacal giant head in high-speed challenges with brutal physicality. The game features 9 epic levels, psychedelic visuals, and an original soundtrack. Play in portrait or landscape mode, with increased challenge and speed in PLAY + mode, but use wired headphones for the best experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,896 reviews

music294 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Unique and intense gameplay that combines rhythm and action.
Stunning visuals and a captivating atmosphere that enhance the experience.
Challenging yet rewarding, with a satisfying sense of accomplishment upon completing levels.

Difficulty spikes significantly in later levels, which may frustrate some players.
Audio cues can be drowned out by the background music, making it hard to anticipate obstacles.
Visual clutter can obscure important elements, leading to unfair deaths.

music
1,091 mentions
27 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in "Thumper" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its intense, industrial sound that complements the game's fast-paced, challenging gameplay. However, some critics argue that the soundtrack can be repetitive and lacks the melodic variety typically expected in rhythm games, often feeling more like ambient noise than music. Overall, while the music enhances the atmosphere and immerses players in the experience, it may not satisfy those looking for a traditional rhythm game with diverse musical tracks.
- “The music, the rhythm, the visuals get me in the zone like no other game can.”
- “Beautifully abstract visuals, great music, fun bosses, fantastic gameplay.”
- “The music is this exhilarating blend of dark electronic music, ambience, and massive drums and feels extremely epic.”
- “The music is bland and repetitive.”
- “For a music-based game, the music is really not that good.”
- “The music feels way too slow half the time because there's a surprising amount of sleepy time drone that the trailer and most reviews never mention.”
graphics
558 mentions
49 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics in Thumper are widely praised for their stunning, psychedelic aesthetic that enhances the immersive experience of the game. Many players appreciate the unique combination of dark, abstract visuals and intense sound design, which create a captivating atmosphere. However, some reviewers note that the overwhelming visuals can occasionally hinder gameplay clarity, making it difficult to react to incoming obstacles. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal, despite some criticisms regarding their potential to distract from the rhythm-based mechanics.
- “The visuals are incredible and the flow state is sublime.”
- “The visuals and audio all work very well together to create a satisfying game.”
- “The visuals are absolutely gorgeous, especially considering when this game released.”
- “The visuals become so overblown that it's nearly impossible to see what's coming up and the sound cues aren't high enough in the mix to overcome the repetitive, uninteresting music, so you'll run into a lot of areas with turns and obstacles that come up seemingly out of nowhere.”
- “Sometimes, you just cannot tell what inputs to do by listening to the sounds or trying to read ahead with visuals.”
- “A lot of the gameplay involved very bright, flashy visuals that distracted and sometimes even covered upcoming beats, causing me to lose track of what was coming and take damage I would've otherwise avoided.”
gameplay
525 mentions
32 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Thumper is characterized by its fast-paced, rhythm-based mechanics that are easy to learn but challenging to master, with a steep difficulty curve as new mechanics are introduced throughout the levels. While the visuals and sound design create an immersive experience, some players find the gameplay repetitive and occasionally hindered by visual distractions. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of intense action and rhythmic gameplay, appealing particularly to fans of challenging rhythm games.
- “Not only are the visuals a transcendent experience, but the gameplay is very fun and keeps you wanting more.”
- “The gameplay is satisfying, and mixed in with the audio, it feels euphoric to match the beat, collect points, and to slam down onto the blue rectangles.”
- “The gameplay is simple to get a hold of but provides a nerve-wracking challenge when accompanied by the dreadful ambience.”
- “The levels are way too long, sections are effectively impossible to sight read, and the gameplay is extremely repetitive.”
- “The gameplay is limited, the difficulty ramps up too quickly for my taste and I'm sure it would have gotten old if I'd continued.”
- “However, the gameplay becomes boring, repetitive, and outright dull quite quickly.”
atmosphere
84 mentions
54 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unsettling yet beautiful qualities, combining abstract visuals with a haunting soundtrack that creates a unique and immersive experience. Players describe it as a blend of dark sci-fi and psychedelic elements, with a sense of tension and oppression that enhances the gameplay. The use of VR further intensifies the atmosphere, making it a standout feature that captivates and engages players, despite some critiques regarding gameplay mechanics.
- “The atmosphere is unsettling but weirdly beautiful, and the gameplay is perfect for what the game tries to do.”
- “The game's abstract and psychedelic visuals create a unique and atmospheric world that is both captivating and unsettling.”
- “Thumper's atmosphere is utterly intoxicating and addictive, and I've never played a rhythm game like this that captures such raw energy.”
- “Even within this already niche genre, Thumper takes the risk of alienating even more people because it is very difficult, has an oppressive, surreal atmosphere and all but strips out the music aspect of these games entirely, replacing it with industrial, instrumental tracks with strange, erratic rhythmic patterns.”
- “A horror game disguised as a rhythm game, this is probably the only game of its genre that I'm aware of that has this peculiar atmosphere: dreadful, oppressive and downright hostile towards the player.”
- “The atmosphere this game has is something many games could learn.”
replayability
46 mentions
30 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, particularly for players interested in achieving high scores and S-ranks, thanks to its leaderboard system and multiple game modes. While some players find the static nature of the levels limits replay value, many appreciate the challenge and adrenaline rush that encourages repeated play. Overall, it is considered a solid investment for its replay potential, especially at a lower price point.
- “Survival is the base challenge, but points and ranks grant the game plenty of replayability, which is easily and swiftly managed with the ability to replay earlier levels individually, and jump back if you fail getting the result you want from a section during a level.”
- “An adrenaline-pumping, fast-paced, high skill ceiling, psychedelic roller coaster experience with so much replayability.”
- “Thumper has a surprisingly effective carrot-on-a-stick that extends the replay value almost indefinitely as you strive to get a 'perfect' on every turn and rack up the multiplier while simultaneously crafting a beat that sends a feeling of frisson down your spine.”
- “Very little replay value if leaderboards are not your thing.”
- “Overall, the game is really well designed and relatively short to get through, and while I don't see it as having much replay value due to its nature as a rhythm game with no ability to play new stages once you've completed it all, I think the experience of the first playthrough alone is plenty fun enough for the price.”
- “The layout of obstacles in these levels will always be the same (meaning replay value will really vary from person to person), so you won't see any sudden variation when revisiting them, but at least you'll have some familiarity when coming back to them to go for higher ranks and scores.”
story
45 mentions
11 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The story in "Thumper" is minimal and often described as vague, with players noting that it primarily serves as a backdrop to the intense rhythm gameplay rather than a focal point. While some appreciate the atmospheric and Lovecraftian elements, many agree that the game is not story-driven, focusing instead on the exhilarating experience of navigating through a psychedelic world as a space beetle. Overall, the narrative is seen as secondary to the game's polished mechanics and immersive visuals.
- “An intense voyage through an eldritch land, Thumper combines the satisfaction of a rhythm game with the beauty and tension of a Lovecraftian story into an incredibly polished product.”
- “It tells you a story without any words or text, and it's up to you to decide what you want to interpret it as.”
- “Beginning with the gorgeous music, the gorgeous beats, perfectly matching the music, the gorgeous art design, ending with a gorgeous mysterious story about the trip of a space beetle... I personally couldn't find any negatives in this game, and, after all, I didn't even want to.”
- “There is little to no story, but that’s not why I play these types of games.”
- “Now, the story in Thumper is fairly nonexistent; you may piece something small together, but probably not.”
- “There's barely a story to speak of, and the most I've seen so far is a recurring boss that kind of changes with each level.”
optimization
20 mentions
45 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is highly praised for its optimization, with users reporting smooth performance and perfect graphics across various platforms, including VR. While some mention the need for latency optimization in VR mode, the general consensus is that the game runs consistently well, even on lower-end hardware. The combination of responsive gameplay and stellar sound design further enhances the overall experience.
- “Extremely well optimized game.”
- “Great music, beautiful graphics, and ridiculously well optimized gameplay.”
- “Rock-solid graphic performance; I have never experienced anything but buttery smooth perfection.”
- “The background audio functions as a sort of metronome intended to give you something to correct to, but the audio mix reduces that beat to a noisy growl under the din of your own off-center beats, meaning as levels increase in intensity your own off-ness creeps into your entire performance: since the beats sound 'right' to you but are in fact off by some margin, you slowly but surely creep closer to the offset where the game determines you straight up missed it.”
- “And for the sake of it, I played the game on mute for a while and not much was lost in terms of performance.”
- “100% not your typical music rhythm game, simple gameplay, can get hard real quick, has a scoring system that evaluates to performance & accuracy.”
humor
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and whimsical elements, such as the "funny metal beetle" and the chaotic rhythm gameplay that leads to unexpected moments of laughter. Players find joy in the game's quirky visuals and the challenge of embodying the rhythm, often leading to humorous frustrations and a surreal experience. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging mechanics, creating a lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere.
- “Funny space beetle go pahbbp bop pabnpb”
- “It is very fun, immersing yourself in a pounding dark dream of music and laughing technicolor skulls.”
- “The most important/funny aspect I experienced with this game is how it gets you to want to avoid making mistakes while playing.”
grinding
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-22 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable initially, but it quickly becomes tedious and repetitive, leading to frustration. While some appreciate the challenge and psychedelic visuals, many feel that the grind detracts from overall enjoyment, making it difficult to stay motivated as the game progresses. Overall, the grinding is seen as a double-edged sword, offering both a sense of mastery and a potential barrier to continued play.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but ultimately satisfying.”
- “It was fun for the first hour and a bit, but then it started feeling very tedious.”
- “A typical git gud game: becomes too boring and grindy later on for me to have the motivation to continue.”
- “Instead, levels on first encounter are 15-20 minute grinds followed by further grinding checkpoint by checkpoint to build 'mastery' that really just comes down to remembering patterns.”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a surprisingly intense emotional experience, evoking feelings of fear, anxiety, and awe through its music and visuals. Players report that it can be mentally exhausting yet immersive, often leaving them feeling emotionally drained but also providing a sense of catharsis. The game's ending is particularly praised for its satisfying emotional impact, making it a standout in the rhythm genre.
- “Also, this game is surprisingly emotionally intense for something this abstract.”
- “There were times where the music along with the visuals and colors made me feel anxious, in awe, dread, or eerie (for example, before you fight a boss), and I absolutely love how the developers were able to convey such strong emotions from me.”
- “The game's ending is honestly the most satisfying experience I have had in a rhythm game, most likely due to its strong emotional nature.”
stability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with smooth performance and no significant glitches reported. However, some players have experienced occasional bugs, particularly during boss fights, which can lead to frustrating moments. While the game runs well and has a unique atmosphere, certain design choices may detract from the overall experience.
- “The game looks and sounds good, runs great, the controls feel tight, and the atmosphere is very unique.”
- “Runs smoothly, with no glitches that I've seen; it's lightweight and has a small download size.”
- “The game is not buggy or broken, providing a stable experience overall.”
- “Can be buggy at times, especially on boss fights. I just rage quit because after finishing a phase perfectly, I got killed by a turn that should've been erased by my shot.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the monetization model, highlighting that excessive advertisements disrupt gameplay and detract from the overall experience. Despite enjoying the game initially, many feel that the intrusive ads undermine their investment, leading to disappointment in the game's programming and monetization strategy.
- “I loved the game, got to level 9, but now I click the icon and an advertisement comes across my screen, then instantly back to Windows. I believe paying for this game and ending up not allowing me to play is just poor programming. If by chance it gets fixed, I will play it again. I won't uninstall it because I paid for it, so it stays in my library.”
- “They should have just called this advertising the game.”
- “I love this game so much that I have become an advertisement for this game.”