Brain Jar Games' upcoming debut indie,Dead as Disco, appears to be the perfect blend ofHi-Fi RushandSifu, meaning it’s something which players should keep an eye on if they’re a fan of martial arts and rhythm-based gameplay. While fans of bothSifuandHi-Fi Rushcontinue to hope for sequels, they can look toDead as Discofor their fix of the brawler and rhythm genres. Based on the gameplay teased viaDead as Disco’s social media, the indie game seems to combineHi-Fi Rush’s rhythm andSifu’s seamless fighting for its own hybridized combat.
Projected to release sometime in 2025 on PC and eventually mobile and consoles, Brain Jar Games has been promoting its debutindie gameprimarily through Discord, TikTok, and YouTube. It seems that the game is still a work in progress, with the studio remaining open to feedback, but what it has revealed aboutDead as Discoso far appears promising enough for the game to gain a substantial following. With videos showcasingDead as Disco’s combat set to various songs, with players even able to import their own, the upcoming indie game could be just whatHi-Fi RushandSifufans have been looking for.
Indie games likeHi-Fi RushandSifuhave been well-received thanks to their focus on rewarding gameplay and distinctive designs. Duringan interview withSifu’s developer Sloclap, the studio touched upon how the game was inspired by the likes of cult classic brawlers likeGodhandor martial arts films likeThe RaidandJohn Wick. Similarly, the publisher that bought and savedHi-Fi Rushdeveloper Tango Gameworks from closure stated that this was done to preserve the studio’s legacy and creative ideas.
But while Tango Gameworks explores a potentialHi-Fi Rushsequel, andSifuis receiving a live-action adaptation, players searching for a gaming experience similar to these games can look toDead as Discoas a blend of both. Based on the video posted toDead as Disco’s TikTok profile, which can be seen below, the game’s visual identity parallelsHi-Fi Rush’s iconic cel-shaded animation but with its own retro neon twist, likely influenced by the 80s-like synthwave music genre. Additionally,Dead as DiscocombinesHi-Fi Rush’s music-based combat with the same martial arts brawling that popularizedSifuamong gamers.
ThoughSifuandHi-Fi Rushkept a strong focus on gameplay,both games also included distinctive stories and premises to help structure this, ranging from cybernetic body augmentations to progressively aging after being resurrected. Similarly, Brain Jar Games has hinted at the potential story behindDead as Disco, with players taking on the role of “Charlie Disco,” the game’s protagonist who has been brought back from the dead for one last night to reunite their band. This could suggest that Brain Jar Games plans to break the game into different chapters or levels, with players defeating bosses for each band member, though this is purely speculation.
However, while Brain Jar Games actively promotesDead as Disco, there don’t appear to be anygame listings on platforms like Steamor Epic Games, which could indicate it isn’t ready yet for a 2025 release. Moreover, unless its PC and console versions differ, a mobileDead as Discoport could suggest the title’s story and gameplay may be scaled back compared toHi-Fi RushandSifu. Still, as long as Brain Jar Games maintains its momentum and offers more insight into its debut game ahead of its 2025 launch,Dead as Discocould be worth keeping an eye on.
