The verdict
Annapurna releases Mixtape, a music-driven narrative game from The Artful Escape team, on PS5/Xbox/PC/Switch 2 for $19.99. Day One on Game Pass; OpenCritic at 94.
Four years after The Artful Escape, Annapurna’s music-driven narrative game has become 2026’s highest-rated release in the span of a single day.
Mixtape, the latest from Melbourne-based studio Beethoven & Dinosaur, launched worldwide on May 7, 2026, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), and Nintendo Switch 2 at $19.99. It’s free to play on Xbox Game Pass at Day One, per Annapurna Interactive’s announcement. The same studio earned international acclaim for The Artful Escape.
Key facts
- Story: follow three teenagers reliving memories on the last night of high school through a cassette mixtape they made together.
- Soundtrack: features real tracks from DEVO, The Cure, Joy Division, Iggy Pop, Smashing Pumpkins, Roxy Music, Lush, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, as Game Rant lists in its full track rundown.
- Review scores: OpenCritic sits at 94 across 27+ outlets, while Metacritic ranges from 85–91 depending on platform. IGN gave it a 10.
- Length: roughly 3 hours to complete — short enough for a single weekend session.
- Compatibility: Steam Deck Verified for portable play.
Why Mixtape stands out
Short narrative games can be a tough sell when buyers measure value in hours, but Mixtape side-steps that argument on two fronts. The $19.99 price is reasonable, and Day One Game Pass means subscribers can try it without paying anything extra (see our roundup of the Xbox Game Pass May 2026 Wave 1: 14 new games). PC players can buy on Steam and run it comfortably on Steam Deck. The biggest draw, though, is the soundtrack — a wall-to-wall lineup of ’80s and ’90s pop and rock that should land hard with anyone who grew up on these bands. If you’re after something short and emotionally resonant for the weekend, Mixtape is well worth a try.