Music is illegal, and we do crimes | UNBEATABLE

Why UNBEATABLE?

What does it mean to create art in a world that actively works to suppress it? In UNBEATABLE -- a narrative rhythm game -- our protagonist, Beat, and her friends deal with that exact scenario.

In this world, music is illegal -- in fact, some folks don't even really remember what it is -- and the state is actively working to make sure you don't bring it back. Why is it illegal in the first place? And what's in it for the people who are working to keep it that way? The main story takes about 10 hours to complete, and it's divided into six episodes. I would recommend spreading these episodes out over the course of a few days, rather than binging them all, and each episode is approximately 1-2 hours long. Especially in the first few episodes, you may feel confused (the game starts without too much context), and I want to emphasize that this game leans more towards the narrative side than the rhythm elements, although there's also an arcade mode, if you're really digging the rhythm gameplay!

In addition to the narrative that the game presents, UNBEATABLE provides us an opportunity to think about the ways art is used as resistance. What does it look like to create with the goal of challenging power structures or illuminate injustices? Conversely, how can art be used to maintain the status quo? How can art move beyond the realm of symbolism and into the realm of social action? Especially after playing Chicory: A Colorful Tale last month, which explored the more personal and introspective elements around creation and confidence, I'm hoping to play UNBEATABLE through the lens of what it looks like to create art with a specific message, purpose, and audience in mind.

You may especially enjoy this game if you...

✅ Enjoy narrative-focused games that infuse other genres within their stories (this is more narrative than rhythm game, although the arcade mode is a blast if more rhythm focus is your thing).

✅ Want to reflect on the power of music – both as an avenue for personal expression but also as a way to resist oppressive, systemic powers in the world.

✅ Love the style and energy of anime like Fooly Cooly, Kill la Kill, and Digimon Adventure: Our War Game.

✅Appreciate media with emotional twists

Content Warnings & Notes

The developers have provided a full list of major and minor notes in terms of themes and content warnings ~ I highly encourage you to take a look if you have concerns related to specific topics:

https://whitelabel.unbeatablegame.com/content-warnings

Timeline & Important Dates

Reflection & Discussion

Discussion Questions

1. What’s a song (or songs) that evokes really strong emotions or memories with you? Then, if you’d like, create (and share) a playlist with tracks that you think best represent you in this moment in time.
2. Why is music illegal in this world?
3. What are the motivations for each main character in resisting HARM?
4. What does it look like to create with the goal of challenging power structures or illuminate injustices? Conversely, how can art be used to maintain the status quo?
5. How can art move beyond the realm of symbolism and into the realm of social action?
6. What did you think about the ending of this game? What elements really stuck with you (either positively or not)?

Pour Over ☕

Here's a list of activities and resources to help you expand your experience with UNBEATABLE –

• Listen: To the Unbeatable OST on Bandcamp! There’s also this one (from their [whitelabel] release:Unbeatable Demo Tapes​
• Read: This extensive interview with the dev team from GameRant. It goes into their musical inspirations, thematic touchpoints, and more. This was done pre-launch, so no major specific spoilers here!
• Watch: FLCL (Fooly Cooly) – an anime that was one of the many touch-points for this game. If you’re wanting some more of the anime inspirations for viewing, also check out serial experiments lain, Kill La Kill, and even Digimon Adventure: Our War Game!
• Play: If you're itching for more intense rhythm game fun, definitely check out Rhythm Doctor or Rift of the Necrodancer. If more emotional, anime inspired narratives are what you're seeking, I can't recommend A Space for the Unbound or Until Then highly enough. Mixtape, which just released, is also a short and beautiful coming-of-age adventure about the emotional power of music. Finally, if you wanna punch fascists, this port of the Lancer TTRPG -- Lancer Tactics – (which is narratively directed by last month's co-host and friend of the show, Josh Boykin!) has that in spades!

Episodes

May Indiescovery + Introducing: UNBEATABLE

Geeks & Grounds · Episode

Spotify

[Discussion Episode coming May 19th, 2026]