Rockbeasts Preview: Bojack Horseman meets Nirvana

Rockbeasts (or RÖCKBEASTS in capital letters with an umlaut over the O, as it's actually called) is a rock & roll management game with RPG elements that puts you in the role of a newly graduated manager of a garage band consisting of anthropomorphic animals. Think Bojack Horseman meets Nirvana in a hand-drawn, adult animated world. You take care of a group of ego-driven, rowdy band members who start from scratch in an alternative 90s USA characterised by grunge, MTV, and the ruthless realities of the music industry. Your tasks include booking gigs, negotiating venues, managing resources, repairing equipment, creating setlists, and making difficult choices that affect the band's career and internal relationships.

• Don't miss: You can learn much more about Rockbeasts with our exclusive interview with the devs

The story is a dark comedy-drama written by Jakub Szamałek, who previously contributed to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077, with voices from, among others, veteran Baldur's Gate 3 actors and rock icon Iggy Pop as a dog radio host. You lead the band from small bars and rehearsal rooms to larger arenas, while navigating venues and their often rowdy/colourful owners, record label executives, and the members' personal demons. Each member has unique traits that affect the dynamics; think of a bassist who is a lovely Canadian but in debt, a drummer who lives only for drums and alcohol, or a guitarist whose ego has its own gravity, all while your decisions shape relationships, reputation, and the final outcome. The game features over 100 voice-acted characters and 90 locations ranging from Nashville to Denver.

The gameplay focuses on band management: balancing resources such as food and equipment, planning rehearsals for morale, setlists based on individual strengths, and rhythm-based concerts where you control performances in real-time to influence audience, revenue, and reputation. It mixes management, RPG choices, and mini-games, with 17 original tracks in an alternative rock style. The aesthetics are hand-drawn in a slightly gritty 90s vibe, including locations such as record shops, radio stations, and street scenes in a style inspired by animated series, with BoJack Horseman appearing to be the most obvious source of inspiration. The environments capture the chaos with posters, roadies, and backstage intrigue, while the soundtrack reinforces the classic Seattle sound.

I've played a couple of hours of the game and... I actually think this could turn out to be a very enjoyable game in the end. What I was lucky enough to experience is a fairly early build that is far from finished but shows the potential that is there. However, I did encounter some parts that didn't look particularly polished, and I also got "soft locked" towards the end of the version I played. Developer Lichthund has some work to do before the game is ready for release, but good things come to those who wait, and in this case, I hope we get to wait a little longer. Rockbeasts is currently a diamond in the rough, and it would be a shame if they didn't take the time needed to polish it properly.

This is an ambitious mix of gameplay elements and genres. I like the role-playing part where you get to know the band and upgrade both them and their equipment. It feels solid, and the way it's presented is the icing on the cake. It was also surprisingly fun to play the songs during the band's gigs, something that's done in a greatly simplified Guitar Hero mini-game, where I would have preferred to use a controller rather than the WASD and space bar. Hopefully, they'll fix that in the future. In addition to the rhythm concerts, there are quests based on moral dilemmas, such as negotiating with greedy record companies or dealing with internal conflicts, and everything is woven together into a narrative that feels promising despite the early and unfinished version I played.

We don't have an exact release date for Rockbeasts yet, but it's planned for 2026, and I hope it's not too close on the calendar. This game needs time and love, because - as I said - this could be something really special. Once it's released, it will be available on PC via Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.