Mad Rat Dead

An incredible blend of rhythm game and platformer, Mad Rat Dead combines fluid gameplay and an incredible soundtrack to create a truly unique experience.

Mad Rat Dead is a game that has a massive amount of heart, both literally and figuratively. The game’s killer soundtrack and innovatively slick gameplay will dazzle rhythm game veterans, and it has a unique charming style that’s unmatched by the competition. It’s time to catch the beat and fall madly in love with Mad Rat Dead.

With its wacky storyline and stylish graphics, Mad Rat Dead would be a confident platformer even without the rhythm mechanics. But with the help of an excellent soundtrack, it’s an experience that feels wholly original, even if it’s not the first game to blend the platforming and rhythm genres. It can be a tricky game at times, but with the help of the rewind function, it’s one that feels relatively breezy overall, letting you just sink into the music and bust out those sick moves.

It was a bold move for Ippon Nichi to go in this direction with an already packed release schedule full of stalwarts in the JRPG genre. Thankfully, it's a gamble that has paid off. Mad Rat Dead initially will frustrate as players get to grips with the early stages, but in truth most are likely to keep hitting that restart button to enjoy both the excellent soundtrack and gorgeous visuals. It's a morbid but fascinating 'tail' that may be a huge departure from the usual studio offerings, but a very welcome one.

Mad Rat Dead is a quality rhythm-based platformer that you may not have been expecting. If you can get past the problematic jump attack, you get to experience a blissful and upbeat soundtrack across an addictive gameplay loop and surprisingly unique story.

It’s by no means very deep, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do – with a few fun little twists along the way, and while managing to come together with a satisfying conclusion. While it’s by no means the best game that I played in 2020, it certainly made the list, and if you’re as much a fan of these same type of unique experiences as I am – I’m willing to bet you’ll find a lot to love about Mad Rat Dead, too.

It’s off the beaten path of platformers, but it also has a free demo to check out and once you experience that, you’ll either be sold or you’ll know it’s not for you. If it clicks with you, it sticks with you, though, and Mad Rat Dead is a surprisingly addictive game that makes you think about things differently after you play it.