Tango Gameworks knocked it out of the park, and I cannot recommend it enough. Hi-Fi RUSH is one of those rare gems that ignites a thought, making us realize that video games can be so much more than what they are now.

Best of all, it’s wrapped up in a shell that brings me back to cartoons of the early 2000s while fundamentally reminding us of the best 3D games from the earliest iterations of the medium. From its phenomenally expressive cel-shaded aesthetic and adorable animations to an exhilarating sense of rhythm complimented by awesome hack-n-slash combat, this is an experience few will never forget. Hi-Fi RUSH had me fall in love with the medium all over again, but its ability to reinvigorate my perception of gaming doesn’t just boil down to it being great it’s because I have never played anything quite like it. Even after starting beloved titles like God of War: Ragnarok, Ghost of Tsushima, and Dead Space 2, nothing was sticking and I hadn’t beaten a single game since. I haven’t been in a gaming mood since October, 2022.

It’s commonplace to experience periods where we feel detached from something we love for one reason or another. Hi-Fi RUSH’s language is the music, turning us into the star performer within its rhythmic world.

Xbox games pass upcoming