Mixtape Captures the Essence of Teen Life Through Music
Playing Mixtape feels like diving into a video game adaptation of a classic high school film. The characters engage in lively discussions about life’s big questions and the perfect theme songs for their entrances. They’re preoccupied with their image at an upcoming party and on a quest for some drinks. Yet beneath these familiar tropes lies a heartfelt narrative about nostalgia, friendship, and the struggles of adolescence, all set to an incredible soundtrack filled with timeless tracks.
Set over a single summer day, you step into the shoes of Stacey Rockford, a music enthusiast and fresh high school grad. With plans to leave her quiet California suburb for New York City the next morning to pursue a career as a music supervisor, she spends the day with her two best friends — the laid-back Van Slater and the rebellious Cassandra Morino — as they prepare for a big evening bash.
Rockford, Slater, and Cassandra truly embody the essence of teenage life. Much of the gameplay revolves around hanging out in their rooms and lounging around. They chat about music, their aspirations, relationships, and whatever else occupies their minds, exuding the overconfidence typical of teens who are still figuring things out. Rockford, in particular, loves to flaunt her music knowledge, often breaking the fourth wall to speak directly to the player about her carefully curated playlist for the day, featuring iconic artists like Portishead, Iggy Pop, and The Cure.
The core of Mixtape involves exploring as Rockford, examining various items like CDs or road trip maps, while listening to the trio’s banter. It evokes the slower-paced nostalgia of games like Life is Strange or Gone Home. Interacting with certain objects can transport you back to playable scenes from their past, each featuring unique situations or mechanics. These moments are so vividly specific — from mixing slushies at a convenience store to drunkenly navigating a video rental shop, or snapping photos with a Game Boy Camera-like device at a dinosaur-themed amusement park — that they constantly prompted me to reflect on my own suburban teenage years.
As the narrative unfolds, the game deepens the characterization of each friend. After encouraging Slater to share one of his original songs, Rockford realizes that despite her extensive music knowledge, she doesn’t actually create music herself. Cassandra wrestles with her desire for freedom against her controlling parents, while Slater, who initially seems like a slacker, reveals himself to be genuinely kind and thoughtful. Even Cassandra’s father, a party-crashing cop who serves as the game’s main antagonist, gets a moment of depth.
Much of Mixtape may seem ordinary at first glance. At one point, I spent a solid 10 minutes skipping rocks — a significant chunk of time in a game I completed in about four hours. Yet that mundanity is what lends the game its authenticity. My own high school experience as a nerdy band kid didn’t mirror the antics of Mixtape’s trio, but I still connected with the story of friends reminiscing about their shared moments while anxiously looking toward the future.
Mixtape is now available on Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
