ROCKBEASTS Is Game of the Week #76: A ’90s Band Management RPG

A 1990s band-management RPG where the hard work happens offstage

ROCKBEASTS puts you in charge of a struggling grunge band, with the gigs, money, arguments, and difficult choices falling on your shoulders.

You’re the manager, not the lead singer. Set in an alternative 1990s America populated by animal characters, ROCKBEASTS mixes role-playing decisions with band management and rhythm-based concerts. It follows Car Park Capital, our Game of the Week #75, as this week’s indie pick.

I’ve worked with many artists and bands myself, and a lot of the responsibilities described here are familiar: booking gigs, handling budgets, and dealing with different personalities. My own music was grunge, too, so the setting has a personal connection for me. What interests me most about ROCKBEASTS, though, is the management side. You’re handling the people and everything that happens around the shows, rather than stepping into the frontman’s shoes.

Watch the ROCKBEASTS Release-Date Trailer

Watch the ROCKBEASTS release-date trailer on YouTube

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Keeping the band together

Developer LICHTHUND has built the game around the less glamorous side of a music career. You book venues, manage limited money, arrange rehearsal time, fix broken equipment, and deal with musicians whose priorities do not always match yours.

There are bigger decisions too. Record labels and promoters offer opportunities, but the choices you make can affect the band’s relationships and creative freedom. The question isn’t just whether you can make the band famous. It’s what you are willing to give up along the way.

From rehearsals to the stage

Concerts are more than a menu option. You prepare the setlist and equipment, then take part in rhythm-based performances. A good show can bring in money and fans; a poor one can damage the band’s reputation and morale.

The game features 17 original full-length tracks inspired by the alternative-rock scene of the era. Its hand-drawn cartoon presentation gives the fictional band and the people around them their own personalities.

A familiar era and a notable cast

The story is written by Jakub Szamałek, whose credits include The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. The voice cast includes Iggy Pop, Matthew Mercer, and Sam Riegel.

We previously interviewed Jakub Szamałek about his RPG writing, his novel Inner Space, and his work on The Blood of Dawnwalker. Read our full interview with Jakub Szamałek.

But the part that caught our attention is the management angle. You are responsible for the band between the shows, not just the few minutes spent onstage. It’s a subject we’ve covered before in our Road to Headliner Fix Stories feature, though the two games approach it differently.

Why ROCKBEASTS is Game of the Week #76

The appeal is straightforward: a band-management RPG that mixes difficult decisions, day-to-day planning, and live performances. The 1990s setting and music are a good fit, but keeping the group together looks like the more interesting challenge.

The full game is scheduled for January 2027, and a free demo is available on Steam. The developers also announced a third demo episode for Steam Next Fest on October 19.

This is an editorial spotlight based on public footage and game information, not a hands-on review or a verdict on the finished release.

ROCKBEASTS is Fix Gaming Channel’s Game of the Week #76.

ROCKBEASTS

Release: January 2027 (planned)

Genre: Adventure, RPG / Band Management

Developer / Publisher: LICHTHUND / LICHTHUND, Critical Role

Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

View ROCKBEASTS on Steam

Related Reading

Car Park Capital Is Game of the Week #75

Fix Stories: I Always Wanted to Run a Band, So I Built One

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