Described by many to have Guitar Hero’s rhythm-driven riffs met with Hades’ roguelike intensity, Kill the Music is a game by Nikko Nikko that combines slick gameplay with energising tunes and a vibrant interface worthy of Persona comparisons. And good news—you can dive right into the action with the demo now available on Steam.

In Kill the Music, you’re Roxie, whose band is forever playing for Death—a towering, skeletal Grim Reaper. The goal? Earn their freedom by jamming through increasingly tough musical battles. Roxie’s bandmates bring their own instrumental flair, with drums, keyboards, bass guitars, and more, possessing her to power up her moves and help them escape this hellish gig.

In terms of gameplay, Kill the Music blends rhythm-based combat with roguelike progression. Picture a 2D Hi-Fi Rush—you’re dodging foes and timing your attacks to the beat, boosting your damage and adding a satisfying groove to the chaos. You start with one instrument but eventually pick up others, forming a fierce ensemble of rotating guitars, keyboards, and more that deal massive area damage to unfortunate enemies.

Throughout each level, defeated foes drop blue orbs that power up your character, allowing you to enter a “Solo” mode where attacks get stronger, and the music amps up for a rewarding burst of chaos. At the end of each round, the roguelike elements come into play: you can choose upgrades, additional instruments, or dial up the difficulty for bigger rewards next time around.

Nikko Nikko has teased plenty more for the full launch, planned for 2025, promising boss fights, new upgrades, cutscenes, a dialogue system, extra instruments, and even more wild challenges.

Try out the Kill the Music demo on Steam and get ready to jam out while dodging danger. And if you’re in the mood for more action-adventure excitement, check out our list of top games or some fantastic free Steam titles to keep the fun going without spending a cent.