Introduction

I’m losing track of how many roguelike games I’ve played in the last few months. I swear every year several pop up, and they can be either really clever or just flat-out dull. I was intrigued by Devil Jam for being yet another roguelike—but this time with a musical twist. Here’s the question though: is this music-based roguelike a fresh take on the genre, or is it just a rock missing its roll? I find out in my review of Devil Jam for PC. Big thanks to developer Rogueside for the review copy!

Gameplay

You ready to rock out!? Well good to hear—grab your guitar filled with magical devil energy and fight against hellish monsters who want to tune you down! The premise behind Devil Jam is absurd but silly in a good way. As a guitarist who made a sketchy deal with the devil for more recognition, you’re sent to hell and must now battle evil forces. While you might think you’re not up to the task of fighting demon spawn with just a guitar, your fame precedes you and earns you a little love from the demons of the underworld.

Devil Jam is a simple roguelike—or roguelite—where the main goal is to survive as long as possible. Your main character—more are unlocked as you play—has the ability to strum their guitar and unleash powerful waves of energy. As you level up by killing enemies and surviving longer, one of several devils offers you a new ability that strengthens your musical power. Some abilities might let you summon fireballs that bounce around the map, while others create a giant metal bat that swings around you. The premise is simple, but Devil Jam does some clever things to mix it up.

Skills aren’t just random abilities—they’re placed on a music sheet of sorts. Unlike standard cooldown systems, as your rocker jams out, the skills unleash in rhythm. You need to organize your sheet carefully to maximize damage. Skills can even be linked by positioning them close to one another for added effects—I once chained a health regen ability with a charm effect so my health drops would push mobs away, making them safer to collect. These combos give each run a unique rhythm and strategy. The devil himself occasionally offers you super abilities at a cost, and some of his “gifts” can completely derail even your best runs. Like most roguelikes, RNG plays a big role, but even the best rocker knows how to feed off the crowd’s energy.

As you play, you’ll complete quests that unlock new characters, currency for permanent buffs, and other rewards. These tasks give you reasons to keep replaying Devil Jam, whether you’re slaying a certain number of enemies or maxing out specific skills. I liked that these objectives track progress even before being revealed—if you met the criteria early, it still counts when it finally appears.

Unfortunately, what kills Devil Jam almost instantly is its lack of variety. While different characters add some replayability, what you experience in your first few runs is essentially what you’ll experience twenty runs later. You’ll have more knowledge and better rhythm, sure—but the game plays all its tracks early on, and there isn’t much left to uncover after that.

Graphics

Devil Jam features a hand-drawn art style that immediately stands out—in a good way. From the various demons to the playable rockers themselves, every frame oozes attitude. While I wouldn’t call it the most visually stunning roguelike ever made, I appreciate the effort put into the details. The visuals are expressive and fit the game’s heavy-metal aesthetic perfectly. That said, I wish there were more backgrounds to admire and a greater variety of enemies. Too often, Devil Jam reuses the same designs, making later runs feel visually repetitive.

Sound

While the gameplay has its ups and downs, the soundtrack is where I’m most conflicted. I love rock and metal, and Devil Jam absolutely nails that vibe from the start. However, as good as the OST is, you’re going to hear those same tracks over and over—and over. Even the most diehard metal fan will start to feel the repetition set in after several runs. I wish there was more musical variety here. I get that this isn’t a high-budget indie, but adding just a few extra tracks could have gone a long way. Hopefully, future updates or DLC can expand the soundtrack because, as it stands, the songs are great—but overused.

Story

Honestly, Devil Jam does have a story, but it’s barely there. If you don’t read the game’s store description, you might not even realize what’s happening. You’re thrown into the tutorial and then straight into battle with little explanation. The story itself isn’t terrible—it’s just not fleshed out. A few cutscenes or more narrative context could have made a big difference, especially for players new to the roguelike genre who want a reason to keep shredding through hell.

Overall Impression

I enjoyed Devil Jam for what it is—a simple, music-driven roguelike indie. There’s definitely room for improvement, but considering its low price of only $7.99, it’s still an enjoyable time. Like any good song, your enthusiasm might fade after a while, but it’ll take a few solid runs before that happens. With multiple characters to unlock, some fun rhythm-based mechanics, and enough charm to keep you tapping your foot, Devil Jam is a solid gig for anyone looking to jam out in hell.

Conclusion

Price plays a big part in how I score Devil Jam. Sure, it only has one map and a handful of bosses, and yes—the soundtrack could use more variety—but I’ve played indie games that cost more and offer less replay value. Devil Jam isn’t a game I’ll sink hundreds of hours into, but it’s one I’ll definitely revisit when I want to jam out and blast some hellish minions. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rogueside adds DLC down the line, giving players even more reason to return to the mosh pit. Until then, Devil Jam stands as a fun, fiery, and rhythm-filled trip through hell worth the ticket price.

—Aaron