Mixtape is a short, music-driven narrative adventure by Beethoven & Dinosaur, the developers of The Artful Escape. Their latest game is not a 40-hour open-world checklist or a systems-heavy RPG, but a highly curated, linear, story-driven collage full of emotions, nostalgia, and a phenomenal soundtrack.
Mixtape game length
Mixtape takes around three to five hours to finish, depending on how quickly you move through its chapters and how much time you spend in optional free-roam sections, looking at all the photos, CDs, paintings, and other interactable objects.
Faster playthrough clock just above the three-hour mark, while a more relaxed playthrough could end up being up to five. Completionists should expect roughly five to six hours if they want to clean up achievements and trophies.
Yes, the game is rather short, just like The Artful Escape, but not everything should be as long as never-ending Crimson Desert. Mixtape plays more like an interactive album than a traditional adventure game, with scenes moving between conversations, memory sequences, minigames, skating, parties, and dreamlike set pieces. It is designed to be played in one or two sittings, only to stay in your memory forever.
All main Mixtape characters
The three main characters are Stacey Rockford, Cassandra Marino, and Van Slater. The story mainly follows Stacey, a 17-year-old who leaves for New York in the morning to pursue a music career, while Cassandra and Van join her for one final night together.
They are her friends she may never see again, and the game uses their memories to show what their friendship meant before the final goodbyes are said. They all know this is their last night together, but no one is ready to accept it yet.
Is Mixtape on Game Pass?
Yes, Mixtape is available on Game Pass. It launched day one on the service for Xbox Series X|S and PC. The Xbox store also supports cloud play through Game Pass Ultimate. This is probably the best way to experience the game, as it’s short, poignant, and focused, but definitely not for everyone.
Its appeal is mood, pacing, music, and lots of heart. If this sounds like your cup of tea, definitely give the game a try. And maybe purchase it separately to reward the small Australian studio for giving us two phenomenal experiences.
Mixtape is out on Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass.
