Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson

 PC
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 2 out of 12
  1. GameCritics
    Aug 28, 2025
    40
    It’s unfortunate that I find myself having to put the boot in this hard to what’s obviously a passion project from an indie developer, but my emotional state playing Fretless oscillated between boredom, irritation and occasionally finding it all mildly pleasant. Perhaps it will hit differently for someone who’s into the music scene or deckbuilders, but as a JRPG fan who’s partial to a good rhythm action game, it hit a bit of a bum note for me.
  2. Screen Rant
    Jul 17, 2025
    40
    The groundwork for a solid musical RPG is here, and the game’s combat contains the creative spark of something sticky and addictive, this combination of musical decks, FX, and rhythmic inputs. I’m restless after Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson, unclear about most of the game’s choices, like why it can’t even trigger a confirmation prompt before ending a turn during battle. I’d assume these basics are just a given, but sometimes a game reminds you of what we take for granted.
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  1. Kotaku
    Jul 17, 2025
    After I moved away from being a professional musician to write about video games for a living a decade ago, the compositions I once spun in my head like breathing became background noise in my everyday life. I’ll find a new song or artist I resonate with, one of my faves will put out a new album, or I’ll go to a live show and remember all my musical inclinations like I’m putting on an old glove. Fretless gave me that same feeling, all to the tune of a well-crafted deck builder.