Fretless PC Review
Summary: A deck building, pixel art, turn based RPG, where Guitar Hero meets Pokémon that absolutely shreds.
3.9
A Shredding GuitaRPG
Overview
At its core, Fretless is a turn-based RPG with a musical twist that sets it apart from the other games in the genre. Imagine Pokémon’s top down RPG battles blended with Guitar Hero’s quick-time note-hitting and the strategic deck building mechanics of games like Slay the Spire. That’s exactly what you get when you jump into Fretless, and it works brilliantly.
You play as an aspiring musician who finds himself in a world that’s been thrown upside down with musical creatures out to get you. The chaos is all thanks to Rick Riffson, the corrupt head of Super Metal Records, who’s set up a Battle of the Bands competition to ensnare the best artists in soul-binding contracts, siphoning their creativity to power his own twisted musical empire.
When I first started Fretless, I was instantly hooked to its vibrant pixel art style and catchy music. The game does a fantastic job of introducing its systems and mechanics in a way that feels deliberate and thoughtfully structured. You’re never overwhelmed. Mechanics and upgrade paths unfold gradually, giving you time to get comfortable with one set of tools before adding more. Just as you’re starting to master a weapon or strategy, the game hands you a new instrument to play with, keeping the sense of progression and discovery going.
Battles: Strategy Meets Rhythm
In battles, your weapon is your instrument, and each turn you’re presented with a random set of “riffs” that are attacks and abilities you can string together. You can pick up to three riffs per turn, combining offensive strikes, defensive shields, and passive abilities to counter your opponent’s moves. Over time, you unlock a huge variety of riffs, and building your “deck” of active abilities becomes one of the game’s most satisfying layers of strategy.
The real highlight of combat is the “Crescendo” mechanic. A powerful, music-driven attack that recharges over time. Pulling these off requires you to nail a series of quick-time prompts, like strumming along to a Guitar Hero track. When you execute one perfectly, it’s incredibly satisfying, both visually and musically as your instrument blasts out a massive attack synced perfectly with the music.
Bosses have Crescendos of their own, and learning to block their note sequences mid-battle adds a fun layer of tension and skill. Healing potions and support items round out your toolkit, while every victory rewards you with “riff scraps,” a form of currency you can use to upgrade your weapons and equipment.
Boss Fights: Tough but Fair
Boss battles in Fretless are challenging, requiring patience and adaptability, but they never cross the line into frustration. Instead of feeling punished for failing, I found myself analysing the enemy’s attack patterns and experimenting with different instruments or riff combinations to find the best counter strategy. Each victory felt like a genuine accomplishment, and I often caught myself headbanging along to the heavy metal soundtracks mid fight. It’s rare for a game to make retrying a boss feel this fun, but Fretless manages it with style because the music is so catchy.
Progression & Upgrades
Progression in Fretless is really rewarding. After every battle, you earn guitar picks, the game’s main currency which can be spent on upgrades, new equipment, and items. You can also sell rare loot found along your journey for extra picks.
The upgrade system ties beautifully into the musical theme. You can modify your instruments with new pickups and strings to boost their stats or swap out pedals on your pedalboard to gain unique passive perks. Each instrument has its own distinct playstyle: the acoustic guitar specializes in building shields, the bass guitar focuses on powering up riffs through “slap” mechanics, the synthesizer excels at applying status effects, and the 8-string electric rewards high-risk, high-reward strategies by sacrificing health for massive damage. Experimenting with these options keeps combat fresh and encourages you to mix up your approach.
Side quests also play a key role, often rewarding you with new riffs or valuable gear. The pacing of unlocks deserves special praise. Just when I thought, “This would be easier with a fast travel system,” the game delivered one. The same goes for maps, upgrades, and mechanics: they’re introduced at just the right time to keep the sense of momentum going without overwhelming the player.
Graphics & Sound
Visually, Fretless uses a stylized, cartoony pixel art style that fits its playful tone perfectly. I spent most of my time playing on Steam Deck, and it ran flawlessly, with no performance issues. The only minor inconvenience was the 16:9 aspect ratio leaving small black bars on the Deck’s screen, but it’s hardly noticeable once you’re immersed.
The soundtrack is where Fretless truly shines. Each instrument contributes its own unique soundscape to the music, and attacks blend seamlessly into the background tracks. Boss stages explode into high energy metal tunes, while acoustic solos weave effortlessly into calmer moments. The way that your in game actions sync up with the music is super satisfying and clever, turning every fight into a mini concert.
Final Verdict
Fretless is an awesome unique genre mashup that rocks hard. Its clever combination of turn-based strategy, rhythm mechanics, and deck-building progression makes an experience that feels really fresh, rewarding, and fun.
Constant progression, a deep and customizable combat system, and a killer soundtrack make this a must play for RPG fans and music lovers. Whether you’re unlocking a new instrument, upgrading your riffs, or landing a perfectly timed Crescendo, Fretless never stops making you feel like a heavy metal rockstar.
About the Author
Simon James Simon is a tech savvy gamer with a passion for shooters, platformers, and story-driven action adventures. When he's not playing games, he's jamming on his guitar.
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