There are a range of intriguing music games on Switch, and another to definitely add to the list is Backbeat, which will make its console debut on Nintendo's system later this year (alongside a Steam release). It's from Ichigoichie, which previously brought us Hexagroove: Tactical DJ on Switch and was founded by industry veterans that worked on a variety of titles, including the classic Elite Beat Agents.
As you can see in the gameplay video above it's an interesting blend of approaches, with puzzle solving and strategy combining into an end result that delivers unique music arrangements. Some of the official details are below.

Backbeat is a multilinear time-based puzzle/strategy set in 1995, built on jam music. Guide aspiring bassist Watts and her friends through over 40 levels of strategic puzzling madness in their pursuit to break free from monotony and achieve stardom. Use spatial rules of music making to slide your way past surly shift managers, suspicious security guards, and sticky-fingered children while playing gigs and winning fans. Over time you'll unlock new music, tricks, and stylish locales drenched in desaturated 1990s American suburbia.
- Rewindable, multilinear time-based environment puzzles
- Player-controlled songs created from your movement choices
- Real life jam band music rules and tricks for maximizing your score
- Character-driven story set in 1990s suburban America
- Unlockable instrument swaps and musical playing styles
There's a demo on Steam at the moment if you want to give it a whirl. Is this on your radar for later this year?
Comments 14
No.
Doesn't look like DDR or Beatmania IIDX style games.
Music games rely so heavily upon having a great soundtrack, and there can be no better example of this if you compare Ouendan with it's awful Western re-skin Elite Beat Agents.
They took away the great music and replaced it with forgettable blandness, and the game was ruined. It also didn't help that they took away the Ouendan squad themselves, which did rather ripp the heart and soul out of the game.
Agents are... GO!
Such a funny title
I really enjoyed Elite Beat Agents on the DS. This game I'm not sold on.
@ramu-chan Speak for yourself- I absolutely adored EBA!
Looks like it might be fun. Will keep an ear to the ground.
@ramu-chan Blandness ?! Queen, Madonna, David Bowie and the Rolling Stones will thank you !
This looks surprisingly bland. You had me at EBA but lost me with that trailer.
@ramu-chan This is kind of a surprising take between the version. I always assumed most Ouendan die-hards had a fair amount of love for EBA (even if they preferred one over the other).
It's such a shame the series had to live and die with the DS. OSU! keeps the gameplay alive, which I'm grateful for... but what's the point without agents/cheerleaders hyping up ordinary people to overcome over-the-top scenarios?
Ainda preferia Elite Beat Agents 2 ou um remaster
So you walk around and jazz music follows your movements?
No thanks. I'd like something closer to EBA, please!
@ramu-chan Nah. The music in EBA was largely pretty strong. You had tracks from, I believe, Queen, The Village People, Good Charlotte, Madonna, Chicago, The Rolling Stones, and so on.
This is fresh! It's FUNKY fresh!
It's really quite unlike anything I've seen before. ^^
Very creative idea, but the result doesn't look fun at all.
Also, it's so weird to me how creators lately enjoy setting things in the 80s/90s but totally ignore the aesthetics of the time. Like, the haircuts alone in this trailer; some are from the 80s and some are modern!!
@ramu-chan now this is a bad take. EBA is legendary
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