Dead as Disco is self-described by the developers as ‘martial arts meets music video,’ and I’m not sure I could describe the game in a better way myself.
After an hour with a preview build—featuring two story missions and an endless mode—it’s clear the beat-based beat ’em up has real potential. Timing your attacks to the beat of the music feels immediately satisfying, blending performance and combat into one stylish loop.
It’s a familiar idea in some ways, especially with music-driven games making a comeback, but Dead As Disco leans heavily into its brawler roots. What stands out most is just how confident it feels visually and mechanically, even if some elements still need refinement.
Flashy, Fluid & Full Of Personality
The game’s presentation is easily its biggest strength. Its neon-drenched world is packed with personality, with levels ranging from subway tracks to surreal environments like planetary rings. Animations are slick and fluid, and when combat clicks, it looks fantastic in motion.
However, that fluidity comes at the cost of variety. Over time, moves begin to repeat, which slightly dulls the spectacle—there’s only so many times I want to counter-backhand someone. The environments themselves are creative, but transitions between them can feel abrupt.
That said, small shifts—like a brief side-scrolling section—hint at a surprising amount of variety beneath the surface.
Encounters themselves also benefit from environmental interaction, particularly in levels like the subway, where moving trains add an extra layer of awareness to combat. It’s these moments where Dead As Disco feels most inventive, blending its stylish presentation with gameplay ideas that could evolve into something truly memorable with more polish.
When The Beat Drops, So Do The Hits
Fighting to the beat is where Dead As Disco shines. When you’re in sync with the music, chaining attacks feels great, and the soundtrack itself is a highlight. Each boss even has its own dedicated song, ranging from heavy rock to punk pop, showcasing the diversity and fluidity of combat regardless of the track it’s backed by.
The ability to import your own music is a standout idea, and I soon found myself duking it out to the beats of Muse, Nothing But Thieves, and The Warning. That being said, it does require some effort to calibrate properly, and do people download music anymore?
It’s a fun gimmick, but probably not one I’d find myself enamoured by, especially when the base soundtrack does a killer job on its own.
The other side of the Dead as Disco coin is combat. While fun, it feels a little too easy in its current state, at least for my liking. Enemies can be slow to engage, and boss fights, while visually impressive, tend to drag and lack impact. There’s a noticeable absence of weight behind attacks, which holds the system back slightly.
That said, there’s clear replayability baked into the experience. Chasing higher scores, experimenting with different tracks, and refining your timing all add to the long-term appeal. If the full release can tighten the combat challenge and improve pacing, the core loop here has the potential to be incredibly addictive.
Dead As Disco Preview Round-Up
Dead As Disco is a stylish and promising rhythm-brawler with a fantastic core idea and striking presentation. While it currently lacks challenge and some combat impact, fighting to the beat has never felt so fluid, making it one to watch ahead of its Early Access release.
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Charlie is one of Insider Gaming's Guides Writers who's been in the gaming industry for a little over a year. Unfortunately for him, he enjoys every video game genre out…
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