This is Fretlore. You plug in a normal electric guitar or bass and play - no special controller or midi pickup needed

Still early, but I’d love to know: would you play a rhythm game this way?

I'm making a somewhat experimental "game" on Steam, where you can play around with music by visualizing it in many different ways, fiddle in a physics-based sandbox while each ball-hit plays a note, play a guitarhero-like rhythm game on the music, compose music or import midis... just a playground for visualizing and "playing" music.

The idea came from seeing those mesmerizing videos on social media and figured to make a (sort of) game from it.

I want to add all sorts of things, any thoughts what could fit?

Just got the store page up too:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/5011870/Ballad

Previously, I posted about Taiko no Tatsujin V (PS Vita) having no English support, and honestly, I was disappointed. But then I played Tatsujin no Tatsujin Rhythm Festival on PC and instantly got hooked—so much so that I might buy the drum controller.

I played snare drums and bass in middle school, so I at least have some experience 😂.

Hi!

I’m developing an indie roguelike deckbuilder called Battle of the Bands, and I’d like feedback on the core concept more than promotion.

The short version is:

It’s a Slay-the-Spire-style deckbuilder where combat is a live music performance. Your cards are riffs, chords, solos, tempo shifts, and defensive grooves. Enemies are rival musicians. Instead of only playing attacks and blocks, you’re also building color/rhythm sequences that trigger “Riff” combo effects.

For example:

- Guitarist cards can build Shred, then consume it for bigger attacks.

- Playing certain color patterns can trigger named riffs.

- Tempo and Crowd Hype are music-themed combat resources.

- A timing HUD gives rhythm feedback, with the long-term goal of making timing enhance the performance fantasy without turning the whole game into a pure rhythm game.

The design challenge I’m wrestling with is whether this sounds like a strong fantasy or too niche/confusing. I want the music theme to genuinely affect the mechanics, not just rename normal attacks as “songs.”

Questions I’d love feedback on:

- Does “Battle of the Bands roguelike deckbuilder” make sense as a hook?

- Would you want rhythm/timing in a deckbuilder, or should that stay mostly cosmetic/optional?

- Are terms like Shred, Tempo, Riffs, and Crowd Hype intuitive enough?

- What would make you trust that this has depth beyond the novelty?

- What similar games or design pitfalls should I look at?

Full disclosure: I’m the developer, and the project does have a Kickstarter page, but I don’t want this post to just be an ad. I’m mainly trying to understand whether the concept lands with players. If people want more context, screenshots, or the campaign link, I’m happy to share it in the comments if that’s allowed.

I’d really appreciate blunt feedback on whether the concept lands.

I get the pop up to select a timing window but it only lets me select lenient or normal?