This year, the RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 got a lot of credit for its rhythm-infused turn-based battles. Rhythm combat in role-playing games isn’t new, of course, and while older games like Paper Mario are often cited as examples, a great, overlooked game from just last year put its own spin on it. And from now until August 7, it’s free to claim on PC through the Epic Games Store.
Set in a world where music is outlawed, Keylocker puts players in the role of the cyborg B0B0, one of the world’s few remaining musicians, and therefore, a fugitive. The game begins with a prison break, during which B0B0 finds Rocket, a sort of sentient robotic jukebox. From there, the pair team up with B0B0’s brother, Dealer, to foment a worldwide rebellion against rulers called Satellites, responsible for the ban, and who keep access to electricity under tight control.
