Thumper

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 127 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 87 out of 127
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 127
  3. Negative: 23 out of 127

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  1. B-Bog
    Apr 7, 2021
    7
    Fun game with good music and spectacular and unique visuals (sometimes even a little TOO spectacular, making it hard to see what's going on), but BOY OH BOY, is it hard!!

    I'm on Level 5 of what looks to be 9 Levels and the game is already suuuuuuuper punishing (keep in mind that I'm a drummer and have a really good sense of rhythm). It's become a super-cliched thing to say, but I think    Fun game with good music and spectacular and unique visuals (sometimes even a little TOO spectacular, making it hard to see what's going on), but BOY OH BOY, is it hard!!

    I'm on Level 5 of what looks to be 9 Levels and the game is already suuuuuuuper punishing (keep in mind that I'm a drummer and have a really good sense of rhythm). It's become a super-cliched thing to say, but I think I would not be wrong if I were to call this the Dark Souls of rhythm games. Unless you have the reflexes of an 18-year-old, you're going to have to do A LOT of trial and error and die hundreds of deaths.

    I think Thumper could have really benefited from an Assist/Practice-Mode where you're able to slow things down. After all, that's what you do with an actual piece of music if you cannot play it: You break it down into little pieces and slow it down to a pace where your brain can process it. Unfortunately, this is not an option here, so your only option is to fling yourself at the brick wall again and again and again and again...    … Expand
  2. 8bitmissingno
    Mar 31, 2017
    10
    An unparalleled rhythm experience. Its combination of simple and intuitive controls, excellent visual and auditory feedback, and compelling depth in movement mechanics and player strategies break new ground in the rhythm game genre. It is a difficult game to master on its own, a general understanding of rhythm is often what is needed to finish later levels (of which there are 9). ThoughAn unparalleled rhythm experience. Its combination of simple and intuitive controls, excellent visual and auditory feedback, and compelling depth in movement mechanics and player strategies break new ground in the rhythm game genre. It is a difficult game to master on its own, a general understanding of rhythm is often what is needed to finish later levels (of which there are 9). Though this seems daunting, levels are broken up in such a way that practicing and improving is as simple as playing them over and over. Though many rhythm games function like this, Thumper is different in that it asks you to memorize short rhythm sequences that are then later arranged into more complex patterns as opposed to entire songs. This makes the process of learning each level very streamlined and enjoyable because you begin to develop a feel for a set of rhythms and don't have to hold entire songs in memory. In VR, the game's visuals are incredible: an abstract, nightmarish glide through an infinite hell scape. They are so good that they often become a problem because you're not focusing on the track. Though it will likely be difficult and frustrating for those not accustomed to grind intensive, challenging game play, Thumper is a quintessential rhythm game for anyone interested in the genre, or in having an amazing VR experience.… Expand
  3. joshp177
    Apr 24, 2017
    10
    I thoroughly enjoyed this game. The whole game is played in single player, and I was able to get 20+ hours of single player which is hard to find for most PSVR games at the moment. There was no motion sickness after the first play through for me. I think this is do to constantly focusing in front of you and what is ahead. This games difficulty ramps up, and the person playing needs toI thoroughly enjoyed this game. The whole game is played in single player, and I was able to get 20+ hours of single player which is hard to find for most PSVR games at the moment. There was no motion sickness after the first play through for me. I think this is do to constantly focusing in front of you and what is ahead. This games difficulty ramps up, and the person playing needs to have fast reflexes. This game actually makes my adrenaline pump, and I enter a state pure focus for an hour at a time. I like to call this the "thumper zone", and I start playing worse right after leaving the zone.… Expand
  4. 9DAN
    Oct 10, 2016
    10
    game is great, but really really hard and disorienting. instead of focusing on making a rhythm game with difficult execution, the devs did everything possible to confuse and distract the player from being able to read the rather simple patterns, and to great effect. the note lane bends, contorts, flips, spirals, multiplies and dissolves while the pace rapidly climbs through the coursegame is great, but really really hard and disorienting. instead of focusing on making a rhythm game with difficult execution, the devs did everything possible to confuse and distract the player from being able to read the rather simple patterns, and to great effect. the note lane bends, contorts, flips, spirals, multiplies and dissolves while the pace rapidly climbs through the course until you encounter a boss. at that point, not only does the lane absolutely lose it as the central vanishing point is obliterated, but you are trapped in an infinite "do or die" 16-bar(ish) loop that requires building combos to power up shots you use to deal damage and clear the lane for the next pattern. do this several times, and you get dropped into the next section, and then fight a final boss after that.

    all in all, a single level can take somewhere around 20 minutes to over an hour (for me at least) depending on how much you fail. checkpoints are very generous, so you are rarely forced to replay much more than 20-30 seconds of a stage per failure. there are 9 levels so it is a good deal for the $20 imo especially since the replay value is high. not something i would play for an extended amount of time though, that's for sure. this one needs breaks.    … Expand
  5. OwtDaft
    Mar 27, 2021
    3
    + The visuls are the only good thing about this game.
    +- The game is very difficult.
    - This is suposed to be an music rhyeme game but the audio is rubbish. - A music rhyeme game with rubbish audio is just a bore to play. = The game is hard so you need to keep at it to progress but the game is too boring to make me want to. I'd rather play the Britney Spears rhyeme game on PS2 and    + The visuls are the only good thing about this game.
    +- The game is very difficult.
    - This is suposed to be an music rhyeme game but the audio is rubbish.
    - A music rhyeme game with rubbish audio is just a bore to play.
    = The game is hard so you need to keep at it to progress but the game is too boring to make me want to. I'd rather play the Britney Spears rhyeme game on PS2 and what's sad is, I am not joking.    … Expand
  6. SuperkenGaming
    Oct 15, 2016
    8
    Thumper
    A mix of frustrating and fun
    Thumper is a rhythm based game compatible with console, pc, as well as vr.. It starts out fairly simple.. tap x when a shiny part shows up.. and slowly the game adds more to the basics like sides to slide against and walls to crash through.. And thumper won’t let you leave an area until you get it down… Thumper consists of 9 levels with 15 – 30    Thumper
    A mix of frustrating and fun
    Thumper is a rhythm based game compatible with console, pc, as well as vr..
    It starts out fairly simple.. tap x when a shiny part shows up.. and slowly the game adds more to the basics like sides to slide against and walls to crash through..
    And thumper won’t let you leave an area until you get it down…
    Thumper consists of 9 levels with 15 – 30 sections in each level…
    You have to be able to pass through each section with an obstacle to move on, and you have to do it for real as the game allows 1 mess up per section…
    At first the game is thrilling.. It’s a blast dodging obstacles and adding beats to the music playing in the background…
    But every level adds a new gimmick and it ends up getting completely out of hand at times…
    Each level progressively gets harder as you go... and again youre allowed 1 mess up per section…
    So its not too much to ask of the player to get used to patterns and figure things out in each checkpoint…
    The issue comes down to the bosses…
    There are 2 bosses in each level that of course bring that levels gimmick to the table…
    The only problem is each boss has around 4 stages….
    This doesn’t sound too bad, but unlike the rest of the game... the actual fun part of the game… the bosses have no checkpoints…
    In a game about rhythm….
    This is a problem for numerous reasons…
    To beat the boss you literally have to complete each of the stages with complete perfection in terms of hitting each beat…
    with only 1 mess up allowed, with sometimes getting the opportunity to get that mess up back if you clear 1 stage sufficiently…
    But no checkpoints in each of these 4 stages is an issue because again.. This is a rhythm based game…
    Forcing me to go back to clear 3 stages perfectly after I’ve proven myself time after time only to get to the 4th stage and die to do it again kills the rhythm…
    You’re trying to figure out a pattern, and just as you’re about to get it, you have to deal with 3 other patterns that jumble the rhythm you had going on the stage of the boss you died at…
    Usually the stage that slams you with its gimmick, which some of them like the slam to break objects are complete garbage where timing feels more luck based
    This leads to the bosses feelings frustrating and not even the least bit fun….
    I appreciate the fact that the limited lives teach you the game in the obstacle portion of the game... but boss battles should either have check points or work off of a collection meter rather than force perfection 4 times in a row… or perhaps be a score challenge impossible to fail with penalties rather than the punishment of a restart loop…
    Thumper is an intensely challenging game..
    So much so that at the time of this review, only about 1 in every 200 people that play it, beat it
    if you’re a rhythm based master, this is the perfect game to test yourself with…
    As while yes the boss battles unfortunately left a sour taste in my mouth... The game play here and fast paced obstacle dodging is addicting and will definitely give you that one more try moment as your thumb begs for mercy…
    I give thumper
    an 8.0/10    … Expand
  7. rdekoch
    Oct 25, 2016
    10
    I love this game. It may be a rhythm game at heart, but it plays like combat. It's so beautiful and weird that if someone disclosed it was made by aliens, I might believe it. It's great with or without VR. The VR mode is more decorative than necessary. There's no VR based control. You don't aim with your head as with Rez. It's so gorgeous that the feature-free VR implementation doesn'tI love this game. It may be a rhythm game at heart, but it plays like combat. It's so beautiful and weird that if someone disclosed it was made by aliens, I might believe it. It's great with or without VR. The VR mode is more decorative than necessary. There's no VR based control. You don't aim with your head as with Rez. It's so gorgeous that the feature-free VR implementation doesn't matter. It looks great in VR but not having VR won't spoil your enjoyment. My only complaint is that I can't find a way to replay levels. If you want to replay earlier levels, you have to start over at 1.1 and lose all progress.… Expand
  8. Vanderblade
    Jun 4, 2018
    9
    One of the best games for PSVR, and it's not mentioned enough in PSVR conversations. It's a kind of rhythm game that kind of takes place in hell that features awesome music and super engaging, nail-biting, twitch mechanics.
  9. wesker2012
    Jul 1, 2018
    8
    A psychedelic rhythm game that gives you an otherworldly experience unlike any other in VR. It's really satisfying to complete an intense section although it can get repetitive. Good to play in small chunks if you aren't a hardcore rhythm game enthusiast.
  10. brockcheese
    Jan 20, 2017
    8
    This is a perfect game for any rhythm enthusiast. I did not find it to be too hard and beat all 9 stages in one sitting. I think that this game is meant for people who understand rhythm.
  11. RandomLetters27
    Jun 5, 2017
    9
    Play this in VR and you might just discover a new religion.

    I don't even usually like rhythm games but I am captivated by the sense of speed and the sublimely terrifying world and sound design. I hop in frequently to get my fix and zone in on that brave silver scarab. The only thing I'm not clear about is if you beat the game, does that mean you have -joined- some strange religious    Play this in VR and you might just discover a new religion.

    I don't even usually like rhythm games but I am captivated by the sense of speed and the sublimely terrifying world and sound design. I hop in frequently to get my fix and zone in on that brave silver scarab.

    The only thing I'm not clear about is if you beat the game, does that mean you have -joined- some strange religious cult, or -escaped- from one!?    … Expand
  12. DoubleTripple
    Oct 20, 2016
    8
    Great game, but gets a bit repetitive. Its amazing experience in VR until the effect wears off, which will happen roughly in about half hour. Stil,l its one of the better VR games you can play right now and when you plug in the headphones with volume on max, you will completely lose yourself in the game and thats a good thing.
  13. kylocosplay
    Apr 29, 2021
    7
    Ha sido muy entretenido, muchos niveles y todos distintos aunque algunas cosas se hacen un poco repetitivo pero muy divertido y engancha al ritmo de la música, ya os aviso que va subiendo de dificultad y hacer todos los niveles perfecto sacando S es casi imposible los finales, un gran reto que os gustará.
  14. gusman
    Oct 27, 2016
    9
    Excellent game. Just needs a bit more of help on how to play it, but when you get the game dynamics is really fun. Nice graphics, nice music and nice bosses, what else can you ask for? A must have for the PS VR.
  15. Thron2111
    Oct 24, 2016
    8
    Als ich zum ersten mal gameplay von Thumper sah bevor ich die Chance hatte eine VR Brille zu tragen habe ich gedacht das einem bei diesem LSD Trip ja nur übel werden kann.Als ich es dann gespielt hab wollte ich direkt nochmal.
    (Ich hab bis jetzt nur erfahrungen von der Demo
    Thumper ist ein minimalistisches kleines spiel bei dem man bis zu 3 stunden spielspaß mit nur zwei Tasten, der x    Als ich zum ersten mal gameplay von Thumper sah bevor ich die Chance hatte eine VR Brille zu tragen habe ich gedacht das einem bei diesem LSD Trip ja nur übel werden kann.Als ich es dann gespielt hab wollte ich direkt nochmal.
    (Ich hab bis jetzt nur erfahrungen von der Demo

    Thumper ist ein minimalistisches kleines spiel bei dem man bis zu 3 stunden spielspaß mit nur zwei Tasten, der x Taste und dem linken Stick, hat. wenn man auf der einen Bahn auf der das spiel spielt mit Guitar Hero manier Punkte sammelt oder auch stangen zerbricht oder Kurven nimmt macht das einen Sound der sich perfekt in den abgespielten Track miteinmischt und selbst wenn man mal einen Fehler gemacht hat macht das dem ganzen nicht viel. Man muss nur aufpassen den der Käfer den man spiel hat nur eine Schalle (zwei Leben) die zwar schnell wieder nachwächst aber wenn man schnell hinternander fehler macht was sicher mal vorkommt muss man vom anfang der übereinandergreifenden level beginnen. Die VR ist in so fern gut das man bei den Bosskämpfen die Immersion von größe richtig aufnimmt den viel platz zum umschauen lässt einem das spiel nicht da man wenn man auf der selben position verhart das sichtfelds angepasst wird. Das ganze war vom musikalischen wie auch vom obtischen musik für meine Ohren und Augen und hat auch ein gutes Preis Leistungsverhältnis dafür, für ein VR spiel.

    Pros:
    -kostet wenig
    -holt viel aus dem Konzept raus
    -ist ein spiel gemacht für VR
    -Gameplay passt zur Musik
    -steigert das Adrenalin :)

    Contras:
    -zu kurz
    -wenig abwechslung abgesehen vom Rhytmus
    -Nur ein Modi

    GRAPHICs: 7
    MUSIC: 10
    CINEMATICS: 7
    CONTENT: 4
    CONTROLLS: 8
    GAMEPLAY: 10    … Expand
  16. futureyesterday
    Jul 28, 2017
    10
    While the flat version of the game is a thrill - it can be more difficult to judge the timing and speed. In VR however, it becomes easier to judge the depth and it's the only game I've played that induces a trance like state of concentration and muscle memory reflexes thats a wonder to behold. Literally perfect.
  17. Liquidjoker
    Dec 5, 2016
    8
    Thumper is a nice game for PSVR the visuals are great and the game play is good. Overall the game is fun with some nice difficulty.You travel down a path and attack to the rhythm of the songs. It souds great with the supplied headphones for PSVR but its a lot nicer to play with sound blasting out of a home theater. It would be better if it allowed the user to upload music.
  18. WagyuMeatloaf
    Jan 1, 2017
    8
    Other reviews are not exaggerating, Thumper really is incredibly hard. This usually frustrates me and I eventually quit but Thumper stops just short of becoming a chore. I'm about halfway through the game and it takes me a lot of practice to beat these levels but it is also incredibly immersive and fun when you finally nail it. I'm still enjoying it a couple of months later but in smallOther reviews are not exaggerating, Thumper really is incredibly hard. This usually frustrates me and I eventually quit but Thumper stops just short of becoming a chore. I'm about halfway through the game and it takes me a lot of practice to beat these levels but it is also incredibly immersive and fun when you finally nail it. I'm still enjoying it a couple of months later but in small chunks at a time so as not to drive myself crazy. What they have now is fine as a hard mode but a normal mode with a slight notch down in difficulty would make it less frustrating for those that have less patience.… Expand
  19. BlakDak666
    Mar 9, 2017
    9
    Thumper is a beautiful and badass game that surprised me when PSVR launched. It takes a simple idea (a lone beetle going down a lane and surviving the hell awaits) and blends it with a stunning display a visuals and sound. It takes nods from rhythm games and music based games like Guitar Hero, but it puts a spin on its own functions that stands out from the rest. The game is quiteThumper is a beautiful and badass game that surprised me when PSVR launched. It takes a simple idea (a lone beetle going down a lane and surviving the hell awaits) and blends it with a stunning display a visuals and sound. It takes nods from rhythm games and music based games like Guitar Hero, but it puts a spin on its own functions that stands out from the rest. The game is quite difficult, even downright suicidal on harder modes, but with time and practice it can be rewarding when you complete it. As of March, there is a hard mode implemented and 4K possible with PS4 Pro, so it will offer a extra challenge for those wanting it even more intense than normal. If you have a PSVR headset, you are absolutely required to play this ALWAYS on (unless you get sick and such). The trip you will take will be absolutely beautiful and psychedelic. That all needs to be said there.… Expand
  20. pacific1
    Feb 7, 2019
    8
    Pretty cool rhythm experience in VR, definitely worth checking out. Making it to the end is beyond my capability however.
  21. DisneyGamer
    May 5, 2018
    10
    This is the best rhythm game since the glory days of Guitar Hero. Not only does this game have a sick and addicting soundtrack, it is also a violent combat game. I got hooked right from the start, and I found it hard to stop playing. No matter how frustrating it does get, I kept on playing until I finished the segment I kept messing up on. The level and boss design are beautiful, and theThis is the best rhythm game since the glory days of Guitar Hero. Not only does this game have a sick and addicting soundtrack, it is also a violent combat game. I got hooked right from the start, and I found it hard to stop playing. No matter how frustrating it does get, I kept on playing until I finished the segment I kept messing up on. The level and boss design are beautiful, and the environment around you just fills you with this existential dread that's just hard to resist. When I finished the final segments of the final level, I really had this overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Thumper is beautiful, fun, challenging, and addicting. Amazing game!!… Expand
  22. kch3691
    Dec 31, 2017
    8
    Thumper is a VR rhythm game. You control a metallic bug travelling along a rail at high speeds avoiding obstacles. It's a simple game but does it extremely well.
  23. tlcastle
    Apr 26, 2019
    10
    Every minute of this VR experience is a shot of adrenaline. I recommend it to any and every rhythm game fan.
  24. HelloThisIsTheo
    Jun 9, 2020
    9
    its a great game. i never played a rythm game before, but i dont think ANYTHING can be better than this. i do not have a vr but the game is still very fun. it is hard but it feels great when you finally kill the boss you were stuck on. the game dosent get boring in hard parts because the music is so damn good. dont trust the bad reviews, they are just impatient babies that only play COD lol
  25. Shenandoah
    Jul 25, 2020
    8
    Makes a lot of fun when playing in VR and having a good headphone. Without VR I would not like it as much.
  26. chr1so
    Oct 4, 2021
    10
    Real sleeper hit this one. Fun to play & the rhythm side of things makes it even better.
    Worth noting I played in VR.
    Managed to scrape into my top 50 games of all time as well.
  27. Coert
    Mar 31, 2023
    6
    It's a cool set-up, especially in VR, but it is also unforgivingly hard, sucking all the fun out of it, because you have to repeat certain sections over and over again. I barely got to section 5, after which I stopped playing because the game became too frustrating. Too bad, it really has potential. But right now it's for diehard rhythm game fans and masochists only.

    Edit: I still got    It's a cool set-up, especially in VR, but it is also unforgivingly hard, sucking all the fun out of it, because you have to repeat certain sections over and over again. I barely got to section 5, after which I stopped playing because the game became too frustrating. Too bad, it really has potential. But right now it's for diehard rhythm game fans and masochists only.

    Edit: I still got the PSVR2 upgrade and upping the score from 4 to 6. It's still a flawed game, but a unique experience with a modest pricetag.    … Expand
  28. TantFuriosa
    Jan 5, 2018
    9
    Great feeling in PSVR. I'm prone to motion sickness, but Thumper gave we no symptoms at all. The game is simple on the face of it, you just press combinations of x button and direction button on beat with the music. A few levels down the road however it gets viciously hard to get a good score. If all you want to do is get through the levels that is manageable by just skipping most of theGreat feeling in PSVR. I'm prone to motion sickness, but Thumper gave we no symptoms at all. The game is simple on the face of it, you just press combinations of x button and direction button on beat with the music. A few levels down the road however it gets viciously hard to get a good score. If all you want to do is get through the levels that is manageable by just skipping most of the beats, the difficulty comes if you want to get on the leader board. The joy of the game is when you let go of conscious control and get perfect scores on just pure instinct, something that happens far earlier in the game than you might expect. Don't be deterred hearing about the difficulty. The learning curve is kind. All this said Thumper appeals to a certain kind of player that embraces repetitiveness, hunts high scores and gets a kick out of getting immediate feedback on their improvements. My only complaint is that the music isn't really for me, but the game is so good it overshadows that.… Expand
  29. sebastianali
    Apr 20, 2021
    5
    Thumper es un juego de ritmo bastante adrenalinico, con un estilo artístico único y buenos sonidos y demás, sin embargo es bastante corto, ademas de ser demasiado repetitivo, sin mencionar de que la dificultad a veces se puede hacer bastante injusta, siendo algunos niveles mucho ensayo y error ya que hay "notas" que no se llegan a ver, especialmente al doblar una curva en los niveles masThumper es un juego de ritmo bastante adrenalinico, con un estilo artístico único y buenos sonidos y demás, sin embargo es bastante corto, ademas de ser demasiado repetitivo, sin mencionar de que la dificultad a veces se puede hacer bastante injusta, siendo algunos niveles mucho ensayo y error ya que hay "notas" que no se llegan a ver, especialmente al doblar una curva en los niveles mas difíciles puede ser que te choques con algo.
    Bueno... al menos es mejor que Rez...
    Podría llegar a recomendarlo, y es interesante cuando lo probas al principio pero luego llega a aburrir y a frustrar bastante. Ademas si bien el estilo artístico es bueno, lo cierto es que casi todos niveles se parecen y los jefes son siempre los mismos, ademas de que en la manera que el juego te muestra el recorrido que hace la "nave" a veces no pareciera que se esta moviendo.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 40
  3. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. Road to VR
    Jul 29, 2017
    85
    Thumper is a fun and visually aggressive, face paced rhythm survival game. As a space scarab you’ll enjoy banking and weaving your way through hours of increasingly intense levels. It doesn't make use of any mechanics that are unique to VR and plays identically on the screen as it does on the headset, however the novelty of being in VR enables a more focused experience and heightens the game's purposeful intensity. [Tested with PlayStation VR]
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Jan 12, 2017
    70
    Thumper’s oppressive atmosphere is amazing. Soundtrack, abstract visuals, breathtaking speed and palpable collisions build tension you would never expect from a runner/rhythm game. It’s a very interesting experience, but every time I removed PS VR after playing Thumper, I was completely worn-out by this intense, perpetual assault on my senses. [13/2016, p.77]
  3. Edge Magazine
    Dec 14, 2016
    80
    Fraught, oppressive and tense, Thumper has been built to a singular vision - and one we can certainly respect, if not always enjoy. [Christmas 2016, p.117]
See all critic reviews »