Trombone Champ

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 12,345 reviews
  • music
  • humor
  • story
Trombone Champ Game Cover
Though slightly held back by its visual presentation and potentially polarising humour, Trombone Champ is a respectable rhythm game with enjoyable gameplay that fans of the genre are bound to enjoy.
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"Trombone Champ" is a rhythm music game where you play as a trombonist, freely playing any note at any time to the beat of over 50 tracks. Collect Tromboner Cards to unlock new trombones and backgrounds, or improvise in Freeplay Mode. With baboons appearing on many screens and no microtransactions, this game is fun for all ages.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 12,345 reviews
music446 positive mentions
grinding56 negative mentions
  • music1,837 mentions

    The music in "Trombone Champ" is a delightful mix of classical, jazz, and original compositions, often presented with a humorous twist that enhances the gameplay experience. While the base game features a limited selection of songs, players can significantly expand their musical repertoire through community-created custom songs, which adds to the game's replayability and charm. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its fun and engaging nature, making it a standout aspect of the game.

    • “It is truly one of its kind and I highly recommend it to anyone who has even the smallest speck of love for music.”
    • “The songs used in this game sound even better with trombones.”
    • “The music is truly fantastic, some easy and some that give you a real challenge, and playing along with the tracks is a delight.”
    • “The game is fun but the song selection is horrible.”
    • “I saw someone on youtube playing take on me, my favorite song, and that was actually the only thing that tempted me to buy it, unfortunately this song is not available and regardless of that, there is only 1 good song in this game 'house of the rising sun'; other than that there are christmas carols and damn classical music.”
    • “The only way to currently do custom songs is to mod the game.”
  • humor1,268 mentions

    The humor in "Trombone Champ" is widely praised for its absurdity and charm, often drawing comparisons to classic slapstick and lowbrow comedy, including toilet humor and playful self-deprecation. Players find themselves laughing at both their own mistakes and the game's quirky narrative, which features baboons and hot dogs, making it a uniquely entertaining experience. While the humor resonates well with many, some players note that it can become repetitive or grating over time, particularly for those less fond of its specific comedic style.

    • “The game's humor here is top notch and really isn't afraid to make fun of itself or the player.”
    • “It's incredibly fun, it's hilarious, plus you've heard all the songs before (but not quite like this).”
    • “This game is literally one of the funniest games I've ever played, the humor is on point and just crazy enough for it to be tangible, and the actual gameplay of it is not too bad to get used to!”
    • “Kinda unfunny, not gonna lie.”
    • “Also not funny.”
    • “The rest of it is unfunny, annoying, and highly disrespectful to the trombone, the most noble of brass instruments.”
  • story369 mentions

    The story of *Trombone Champ* is a surprisingly deep and humorous narrative that intertwines with its rhythm gameplay, featuring quirky characters and absurd plotlines involving baboons and gods. While the main story can be completed in about 4 to 6 hours, players appreciate the hidden lore and secrets that enhance replayability, making it a unique experience in the rhythm game genre. Overall, the combination of comedy, engaging storytelling, and fun mechanics has led many to find the game both entertaining and memorable.

    • “With hours worth of secrets and even a crazy out-of-this-world storyline, the game is one of the most exciting rhythm games I have played as of late.”
    • “The story is fun, and easy to follow.”
    • “Definitely one of the most fun experiences I've ever had within a game; it takes about 6 hours to finish the game's hilarious story, and I was fully expecting to stop after that, but after installing mods and entering a small but incredibly wholesome and dedicated community of Trombone Champ players, I truly fell in love with the game.”
    • “Without mods, and without wanting to do the somewhat grindy aspect of getting the main story finished, you don't have much to do besides play a few instrumental songs.”
    • “The game itself has a strange judgment mechanism that makes it difficult for even players with more experience playing rhythm games to get used to quickly, and the hidden nature of the main story plot makes it largely difficult for players to develop the game's plot without searching for a guide.”
    • “The plot elements sprinkled in are honestly kind of forced, and the card collecting aspect was very tedious, making me convert one currency into cards, to then convert into another currency to then dump in a hole on loop over and over until the end.”
  • gameplay361 mentions

    The gameplay of "Trombone Champ" is widely praised for its unique and addictive mechanics, blending humor with engaging rhythm challenges that appeal to both casual players and veterans of the genre. While the core gameplay is intuitive and satisfying, some players note that it can become repetitive and may lack depth in certain areas, though modding support helps extend its replayability. Overall, the game successfully combines silliness with solid mechanics, making it a fun experience for those willing to embrace its quirky charm.

    • “The gameplay is where Trombone Champ hits all the right notes, quite literally.”
    • “It's the perfect blend of absurdity and addictive gameplay, guaranteed to turn even the most musically challenged individual into a bona fide trombone virtuoso.”
    • “The core gameplay is lots of fun and surprisingly addictive.”
    • “It gets a bit repetitive somewhat quickly, but mods help add a few more hours of gameplay before the experience gets too stale.”
    • “My main issue as of writing this is that during gameplay the rapid taps needed for some songs feel somewhat unresponsive and unforgiving.”
    • “But the core gameplay just doesn't feel right, and that's not really an issue they can fix.”
  • graphics86 mentions

    The graphics in "Trombone Champ" are widely praised for their vibrant, cartoonish style that enhances the game's humorous and immersive experience. Players appreciate the colorful visuals and attention to detail, which contribute to a whimsical atmosphere reminiscent of classic rhythm games. While some note minor technical glitches, the overall aesthetic is considered charming and engaging, making the game visually appealing.

    • “The graphics are so vibrant and silly, it's like playing in a cartoon world where trombones rule supreme.”
    • “The game's vibrant and dynamic graphics, coupled with its intuitive interface, provide an immersive environment that captivates players from the outset.”
    • “The graphics in Trombone Champ are top-notch, providing a visually stunning experience that enhances the gameplay.”
    • “Interesting rhythm game, with lots of classic songs but a rather annoying aesthetic.”
    • “If you get motion sick or too overwhelmed with the visuals, they give you the option to turn it off; however, then the game loses all its charm.”
    • “Maybe the technical problems will be solved at one point; the game reminds me a lot of the Japanese rhythm games like Taiko no Tatsujin, including the wacky graphics going on with the music, but it is not really close to that type of gameplay at the current stage.”
  • grinding60 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly due to the limited song selection and the need to achieve high ranks on individual tracks. While some players find the grind rewarding and enjoyable, others feel it stretches the game's humor thin and detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as fun but requires a significant investment of time to fully complete, often leading to repetitive gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Did 100% achievements, now normally some games are very fun to get achievements but this game felt so damn grindy and absurd especially with the song selection.”
    • “The elephant in the room is how the adventure toward the trombone champ title (campaign mode) feels ridiculously grindy given the short amount of songs available to play.”
    • “But its heavy lean into grinding a stagnant soundtrack takes every joke it makes and stretches them far beyond their limit.”
  • emotional52 mentions

    Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, describing it as a joyful and hilarious experience that evokes laughter and nostalgia, often leading to tears of joy. The heartfelt themes and community engagement enhance the emotional depth, making players feel like they are living out their musical dreams. Despite some criticisms, the overall sentiment highlights the game's ability to create an emotional rollercoaster that resonates deeply with its audience.

    • “Littered with rich, intelligent themes that could have only been procured by an individual with extensive life experience and a story to tell, topped off with a heartfelt message that eases the soul.”
    • “It's so overwhelmingly joyful and goofy and heartfelt all at once.”
    • “This game really made me feel like I was living out my childhood fantasy of being the greatest trombone player in the world.”
  • replayability42 mentions

    Overall, the game offers high replayability, particularly due to its modding capabilities and the ability to import custom charts, which can lead to theoretically infinite gameplay. While many players find the core experience fun and engaging, some feel that once the main content is completed, the replay value diminishes. The addition of multiple difficulties and ongoing updates with new tracks could enhance replayability further.

    • “There is absolutely great replay value when it comes to the music tracks.”
    • “Recommended overall because as a game it offers simple, satisfying, highly replayable arcade fun, and to be fair the game at no point locks actual gameplay content behind its 'story'.”
    • “For a rhythm game from an insanely small dev team (~2-3 people), there is an insane amount of replay value and easter eggs.”
    • “The replayability is there if you want it, but for me personally, once I've completed everything, I'm not particularly interested in continuing to play.”
    • “Replay value is extremely low.”
    • “At this point, it doesn't offer a ton of playtime or replay value for me (I made it through the whole 'story' and all the achievements in ~6 hours of gameplay), but it was fun while it lasted, and it seems like more tracks are still being added.”
  • optimization31 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report no significant performance issues and enjoy the extensive song library, some experience frustrating latency and stuttering that detracts from the experience. The game is fun and engaging, but it could benefit from further polish and optimization to enhance gameplay consistency and enjoyment.

    • “With a massive deck of songs to play through and, of course, a ranking system for your performance, it will be almost addicting to try and reach the highest grade for each song.”
    • “[*] No performance issues and very light.”
    • “I was in the top 200 in the leaderboards first try for most songs, so I think most musicians will enjoy this game once they get the finicky latency and stuttering under control.”
    • “Fun and promising idea but requires some more polish and better optimizations.”
    • “Neither of these is appropriate when you know your performance will be as ear-abusive as an excited puppy mauling a bulb horn.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of humor and grotesqueness, creating a fun and absurd experience. Players are treated to unique renditions of household songs played on the trombone, enhancing the comedic and quirky vibe throughout the game.

    • “The game as a whole is full of funny and grotesque atmosphere, allowing players to enjoy the absurd and unique versions of various household songs played by trombone.”
    • “--every aspect of the game is laden with humor and great atmosphere.”
    • “Oh, and don't forget the super fun atmosphere and comedy this game has.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability is inconsistent, with some players experiencing frequent freezes that hinder gameplay, particularly when attempting to play songs. While it features appealing graphics and runs well on the Steam Deck, there are reports of noticeable glitches that detract from the overall experience.

    • “It runs great on Steam Deck, and playing with the touchpad isn't as much of a hindrance as you would think!”
    • “When I first got this game, it was very good and I had loads of fun, but now I can't even play the game because every time I try to play a song, it freezes and doesn't work.”
    • “The game offers some nice graphics and environments; however, there are some ugly glitches here and there that detract from the experience.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The game features no microtransactions, which is positively noted by users, and is described as a humorous experience reminiscent of Facebook ads.

    • “No microtransactions.”
    • “No microtransactions.”
    • “No microtransactions.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is highlighted as well-crafted and genuine, with a focus on humorous elements such as the challenges of learning to play the trombone and the absurdity of the overarching goal of becoming a trombone legend. The character design complements this tone, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Everything from the character design to the inherent humor of playing trombones and failing terribly on your first time, or the comically absurd 'huge plot' of becoming a trombone legend, it all feels well designed and earnest.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy Trombone Champ

Play time

6hMedian play time
19821hAverage play time
4-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 46 analyzed playthroughs

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