A roguelike where every footstep must match the beat or you lose your momentum. That rhythmic constraint completely reinvents dungeon movement and demands ruthless timing. Punishing yet brilliant, with a soundtrack that gets right under your skin.
Your verdict
Category
Rhythm2 players7+
Co-op
Description
Cadence delves into a dungeon where you must move and strike to the beat or lose it all. Published by Brace Yourself Games, released worldwide in 2018. Dungeons generated each run, permanent death, a driving soundtrack and a two-player co-op mode.
Crypt of the NecroDancer review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Danny Baranowsky turns the dungeon into a dance floor: every move must lock onto the relentless tempo of his electro-rock tracks, or you fall out of step. The music stops being scenery and becomes the rule of play itself, dictating your every move down to the beat. The option to pipe in your own library never once dethroned a score this nervy and irresistible.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Making tempo the core mechanic rather than mere dressing: that's the daring that makes this roguelike singular. Every step, every attack must land on the beat, and dungeon crawling becomes a dance under constant tension. The entry barrier intimidates, but the mastery it grants is immensely rewarding. Danny Baranowsky's soundtrack is a character in its own right, and the concept stays intact.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Every step lands on the beat, and that wild idea makes the whole descent electrifying: move, strike, dodge, all in time. The roguelike structure keeps dungeons fresh, tension swells as the tempo climbs, and clearing a floor cleanly feels genuinely thrilling. You come back to master the groove, run after run.
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,7 GB📅01/02/2018
Published by Brace Yourself
Crypt of the NecroDancer (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
In this dungeon where every step follows the beat, bosses become pure rhythmic challenges: Deep Blues, Coral Riff or King Conga force you to memorise a pattern while staying locked to the tempo. A single missed note breaks the flow. It's a test of reflexes and musicality where dodging and striking are one.
Better with friends
Everything rides on the shared beat: two players glued to the same tempo, every move locked to the music as you cross the living dungeon. The cooperation is exhilarating when the sync holds, but the tight timing makes mistakes contagious, one player's wrong note instantly throwing off the other. It's demanding, sometimes maddening, yet clearing a room in perfect cadence delivers a euphoria that quickly pulls you back to the controller.
Is Crypt of the NecroDancer still worth playing in 2026?
Crypt of the NecroDancer remains one of the most original roguelikes ever conceived because it makes rhythm the core mechanic rather than dressing. Every step and attack must land on the beat, turning dungeon crawling into a tense dance. The challenge is real and the entry barrier will intimidate, but the mastery it rewards is hugely gratifying. Danny Baranowsky's soundtrack is a character in its own right. Years on, nothing has truly replaced it, and the concept stays as sharp as on day one.
