Contrary to the name, disco most assuredly, is not dead. I mean, it would be with my gangly 6″2 frame desperately attempting those John Travolta moves from Pulp Fiction. Luckily, we’ve all been saved from that fate. In better news, Dead as Disco, from Brain Jar Games, is shaping up to not only bring Disco Stu back into popularity, but crack some skulls in style while doing so.
I first covered Dead as Disco in my June 2025 Steam Next Fest piece. I loved it, I love it even more after having the opportunity to try even more of this waltz of fists. If Strictly Come Dancing had dudes in bright yellow jackets throwing haymakers at each other mid-twist, it’d easily become the best show to grace TV. The preview build provided me access to a new level, as well as a handful of new songs for the Infinite Disco.
Opening to the tune of a rhythmic Batman: Arkham type brawler, Dead as Disco is remarkably intuitive to pick up and play. Hit your opponents with strikes, counter their blows, dodge un-parryable assaults, but most of all, keep that combo going. Cross Footloose with Arkham Asylum and Devil May Cry’s stylish system and this is the flamboyant, exhilarating result.
What I like most from what I’ve played so far, is that syncing up with the beat feels so natural, you’d hardly even realise you’re doing so. Unlike more meticulous rhythm-action games, ala Hi-Fi Rush, this dancing throwdown is much more forgiving with its timings. Instead, I found myself racking up combos in the 100s from the off, flowing from one goon to the next with stylish aplomb.
The two levels I sampled, Hemlock and Arora, showcased a small slice of both the general level design and the boss fights that can be expected in the Early Access release. That is to say, they’re full of spectacle and bombastic aura. I transitioned between alleyway street fights, to a side-on camera train brawl, and into a cosmic, space-themed swirling pool of neon lit madness.
As expected from an Arkham combat system, finishers and power moves are essential, owing to their i-frame importance. I’m curious about how Brain Jar Games plan on keeping the brawling mechanics fresh, whether that be through upgrades with new abilities, or new enemy types to keep you on your toes. From the small piece I was able to play, I had a blast, but I was left with a question mark on the game’s longevity, depending on how the formula shifts as the game progresses.
Boss battle wise, they’re quite the dance with the devil. Hemlock was a bruiser, throwing out 3-4 chain combos that hit hard and have long wind ups, ones that can be regularly punished. Arora, however, required more patience than a ballet dancer. She threw out projectiles, synced with AoE blasts and followed up by a dash attack. Getting the rhythm down nailed that flow state I hoped for, and bodes well for the full game’s roster of more challenging enemies.
None of that is to mention the Infinite Disco mode, which is just rhythm game wish fulfilment. The developers have a roster of songs prepared for the game’s release, but more pertinently, you can upload your own music and hammer away to your heart’s content. Hitting the top 10 in the leaderboard is enough to make anyone’s head feel as large as a mountain, nevermind mine.
The visuals are synth-punk luminous joy, owing to a rich contrast in colour with a more cartoon or animated style to accompany the slapstick violence. It could have been all too easy to clutter the screen with far too much of it, but it appears the developers have struck that ideal balance between appealing aesthetic but keeping it simple enough to not be intrusive upon the action.
So, if you couldn’t tell, I’m a fan. Dead as Disco has laced up its dancing shoes and its clobbered me with a meaty right hook or two already. The music is awesome, the synchronised violence is a joy and with a wealth of modes and songs promised to sink your teeth into, there’s much to look forward to. Will the game have the legs to win a long-haul dancing competition? We’ll have to wait and see, but it’s burst out of the blocks to make a good impression on this judge, at least.
Dead as Disco will be available in Early Access from May 5th on PC (preview platform).
Developer: Brain Jar Games
Publisher: Brain Jar Games
Disclaimer: In order to complete this preview, we were provided with a promotional preview build of the game.
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