Thumper

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,802 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Thumper Game Cover
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.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Oculus Quest
  • Oculus Rift
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR
  • Play​Station VR2
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,802 reviews
music589 positive mentions
grinding16 negative mentions
  • Unique and intense gameplay that combines rhythm and action.
  • Stunning visuals and immersive audio design create a captivating experience.
  • Challenging yet rewarding, with a satisfying sense of accomplishment upon completing levels.
  • Difficulty spikes significantly in later levels, which may frustrate some players.
  • Visual clutter can obscure obstacles, making it hard to react in time.
  • The soundtrack can feel repetitive and lacks melodic variety, which may detract from the rhythm experience.
  • music2,187 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 music can feel repetitive and lacks the melodic variety typically expected in rhythm games, often serving more as a backdrop than a guiding force. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the game's atmosphere and immersion, it may not satisfy those looking for a more traditional music experience.

    • “The music, the rhythm, the visuals get me in the zone like no other game can.”
    • “The combination of the rhythmic gameplay and pulsating electronic soundtrack creates a thrilling and immersive sensation.”
    • “The music is this exhilarating blend of dark electronic music, ambience, and massive drums and feels extremely epic.”
    • “The OST is just really bland & repetitive.”
    • “The repetitive soundtrack and long segments between levels don't help either.”
    • “For a music-based game, the music is really not that good.”
  • graphics1,120 mentions

    The graphics in *Thumper* are widely praised for their stunning, psychedelic aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience, creating a unique and immersive atmosphere. However, some players find the visuals can be overwhelming and distracting, making it difficult to react to gameplay cues, particularly in high-speed sections. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight of the game, they can also hinder clarity and gameplay flow at times.

    • “The visuals are incredible and the flow state is sublime.”
    • “Not only are the visuals a transcendent experience, but the gameplay is very fun and keeps you wanting more.”
    • “The visuals and audio all work very well together to create a satisfying game.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “This game's visuals make it very difficult to see what's coming up next, and things just pop up in front of you and give you only about 1-2 seconds to react at best.”
  • gameplay1,052 mentions

    The gameplay of Thumper is characterized by its fast-paced, rhythm-based mechanics that are easy to learn but challenging to master, creating an exhilarating experience for players. While the game introduces new mechanics progressively, some players find the difficulty spikes and visual distractions can hinder the overall experience. Despite these challenges, the combination of tight controls, immersive audio-visual elements, and a unique aesthetic makes for a compelling rhythm game that appeals to hardcore gamers.

    • “Not only are the visuals a transcendent experience, but the gameplay is very fun and keeps you wanting more.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are simple yet addictive, requiring precise timing and reflexes as you navigate through fast-paced tracks.”
    • “The combination of the rhythmic gameplay and pulsating electronic soundtrack creates a thrilling and immersive sensation.”
    • “The levels are way too long, sections are effectively impossible to sight read, and the gameplay is extremely repetitive.”
    • “Was genuinely enjoying this game till level 3-1 when I had to google how to progress the game as a new 'stomp' mechanic is expected to be performed with no explanation.”
    • “However, the gameplay becomes boring, repetitive, and outright dull quite quickly.”
  • atmosphere169 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unsettling yet beautiful qualities, combining abstract and psychedelic visuals with a haunting soundtrack that creates a unique, immersive experience. Players describe it as a blend of dark sci-fi and cosmic horror, with a tense, oppressive ambiance that enhances the gameplay, making it feel both captivating and challenging. While some find the atmosphere addictive and engaging, others note that it can be overwhelming or alienating, particularly for those unfamiliar with the rhythm genre.

    • “The atmosphere is unsettling but weirdly beautiful, and the gameplay is perfect for what the game tries to do.”
    • “Thumper's atmosphere is utterly intoxicating and addictive, and I've never played a rhythm game like this that captures such raw energy.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is top-tier and I love the dark sinister music to accompany it.”
    • “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 is definitely somewhat dark and eerie, but it's not a horror game and the aesthetics aren't particularly thought-provoking, so if that was a draw factor, then I would put it aside.”
  • replayability93 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability, primarily driven by its scoring system, leaderboards, and the challenge of achieving S-ranks on each level. While some players find the static nature of the levels limits replay value, many appreciate the ability to revisit stages with new skills and the adrenaline rush of high-score chasing. Overall, it is considered a well-crafted experience with ample replay potential, especially for competitive players.

    • “An adrenaline-pumping, fast-paced, high skill ceiling, psychedelic roller coaster experience with so much replayability.”
    • “Thumper is an incredible title that has extremely responsive controls, both beautiful and horrifying visuals, and immense replayability with 9 levels, each with 15+ stages.”
    • “Matched with a leaderboard system, this game offers an endless amount of replayability with the possibility of future DLC to add on top of that.”
    • “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.”
    • “This reduces replayability for me, as I want to improve my score on small sections, not have to play long levels.”
  • story90 mentions

    The story in "Thumper" is minimal and often described as vague, with players noting that it serves more as a backdrop to the intense rhythm gameplay rather than a focal point. While some appreciate the Lovecraftian themes and interpretative elements, many agree that the game prioritizes gameplay over narrative, making it suitable for those seeking a fast-paced experience without the need for a deep story. Overall, the consensus is that while the story exists, it is not the main draw of the game.

    • “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 on 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.”
  • optimization40 mentions

    The game is highly praised for its optimization, with users reporting smooth performance and perfect graphics across various platforms, including VR. Many reviewers noted no performance issues, highlighting the game's ability to maintain consistent frame rates and responsiveness, even on lower-end hardware. However, some mentioned that latency optimization is necessary for the best VR 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 performance and accuracy.”
  • humor24 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and whimsical elements, such as the "funny metal beetle" and quirky sound effects that evoke laughter. Players find the experience both entertaining and challenging, often relying on instinct rather than traditional rhythm counting, which adds to the comedic chaos. Overall, the game is described as a fun and immersive journey filled with unexpected humor and engaging gameplay.

    • “I play it with Oculus Rift (which is totally optional, you can play on a normal screen) and I must say I almost regret the time when I used to smoke because I'm sure I would have loved playing this game after a 'funny cigarette.'”
    • “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.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable initially, but it quickly becomes tedious and repetitive, leading to a loss of motivation. While some appreciate the psychedelic visuals that accompany the grind, many feel that the difficulty spikes and lengthy level durations contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, the grinding can detract from the game's enjoyment, making it a challenge to stay engaged for the long haul.

    • “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.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    The game is noted for its surprising emotional intensity, evoking a range of feelings such as fear, anxiety, and awe through its music and visuals. Players describe it as an immersive experience that can be mentally exhausting yet cathartic, particularly when played in shorter sessions. The strong emotional impact, especially during climactic moments and the satisfying ending, sets it apart as a standout in the rhythm game genre.

    • “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.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability is generally solid, with smooth performance and no major glitches reported. However, some players have experienced bugs during boss fights that can lead to frustrating moments, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While the game runs well and has tight controls, these occasional issues may impact the experience for some users.

    • “The game looks and sounds good, runs great, the controls feel tight, and the atmosphere is very unique.”
    • “Runs smooth, with no glitches that I've seen, lightweight and small download.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    Players express frustration with the monetization model, highlighting that excessive advertisements disrupt gameplay and detract from the overall experience. Despite their love for the game, many feel that the presence of ads undermines the value of their purchase, leading to disappointment in what they perceive as poor programming.

    • “I loved the game, got to level 9, but now when I click the icon, an ad comes across my screen and then instantly back to Windows. I believe paying for this game and ending up not being able 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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy Thumper

Play time

6hMedian play time
13hAverage play time
8hMain story
18hCompletionist
3-23hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs

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