Introduction

One of my absolute favorite indie studios is Iridium Studios. Way back when, they made a rhythm game I fell completely in love with called Sequence — later renamed Before the Echo — and then followed it up with the very different but equally impressive There Came an Echo. Both games were amazing in my mind, so when I learned they had made a new title fusing music genres with RPG elements, I was immediately intrigued. Enter People of Note. Published by Annapurna Interactive — the minds behind Cocoon and Stray — People of Note caught my eye right away with its colorful designs and music I already knew I’d adore. Will People of Note make me want to turn the sound up or shut it all the way down? I’m about to find out in our People of Note review! Yes, expect plenty of music puns throughout — I will not apologize.

Gameplay

People of Note takes us to a world where music is the soul of literally everything. We step into the role of Cadence, a vocalist with incredible power who isn’t gaining the traction she deserves in the musical world she inhabits. A dominant band has swept the public off their feet and appears cemented in the industry to the point where no one can overtake them — but Cadence isn’t about to be swayed. She realizes all she needs is a band built from a different beat.

People of Note is more or less a turn-based RPG with a heavy, unapologetic emphasis on music. Cadence and her party members each utilize different musical tones — rock, EDM, vocals, and more. That might make you wonder how music translates into an RPG experience. The answer is that it makes for something genuinely exciting and deeply engaging.

Battles operate on a tried and true turn-based system — your party acts, then the enemy responds — but where People of Note shines is in the push and pull it introduces, much like a great musical duel. Every action beyond a basic attack uses BP, the resource that fuels skills and special moves. BP is earned by using only basic attacks or by resting during a turn. When you do attack — skill or otherwise — you’ll need to time a button press to an on-screen circle that determines the quality of your hit. Perfect timing means maximum damage; poor timing means the bare minimum. What I loved is that there’s no randomness to the damage output — the game tells you exactly what an attack can do. You’ll know upfront whether a move deals 30 damage on a perfect or 22 on a miss. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Mash Up skills, earned later in the game by absorbing enough damage. Once the threshold is reached, players can unleash a devastating song-based attack on the enemy for serious damage.

Basic battles can feel straightforward at first, but where People of Note truly shines is in its boss battles. These encounters introduce a time pressure element — bosses grow stronger with each passing turn, becoming dangerously powerful if left undefeated too long. It doesn’t demand speed so much as smart thinking. Maybe rest a character to full to unleash a string of powerful skills, or buff your party and deal consistent damage each turn. The earlier bosses gave me quite a few deaths, but as the mechanics clicked, the combat system revealed genuine depth and possibility.

Outside of combat, People of Note lets you equip SongStones — items that grant characters different skills, buffs, or heals in battle. It might seem optimal to stack the best SongStones on a single character, but each stone carries a give-and-take element. A SongStone might deal high damage when used first in a Stanza — the game’s term for a character’s turn — but weaken if used second. And what happens if that character gets knocked out? Characters do revive after three turns at half health, but can your remaining party hold on that long? People of Note gives players a satisfying range of options for crafting a team that feels uniquely their own, and experimenting with SongStone combinations to find the right fit was something I genuinely enjoyed.

Exploration in People of Note is probably the most straightforward element of the experience — and that’s perfectly fine. You’ll move through various locations, meet NPCs who advance the story or offer fun insight into the musical world, and even spot a few Easter eggs nodding to Iridium’s past games. You can also manually trigger random encounters — not entirely random, as you’ll know the enemy type — to farm currency and XP, which is a welcome way to avoid being pulled into battles every few seconds. Vinyl records can also be collected and exchanged for equipment or SongStones.

My only real gripe with People of Note is the puzzle design. These puzzles are very basic and at times overly time-consuming — from repositioning laser relays to block-based challenges, they can feel tedious and a little frustrating. Thankfully — and somewhat amusingly — Iridium gives players the option to disable puzzles entirely, auto-completing them upon entering a room. Whether that’s a playful nod to puzzle-averse players or just a practical accessibility option, I’m glad it’s there.

Graphics

When I first booted up People of Note, I was immediately struck by the sheer color and vibrancy on screen. This is a gorgeous-looking game that, much like its musical themes, overflows with visual originality. From the character designs to the varied locations you’ll explore, People of Note could almost be compared to a playable animated film. There was rarely a moment where I didn’t want to wander off the beaten path to discover some small detail tucked into the environment. You can feel the clear inspiration drawn from animated productions like K-Pop Demon Hunters, and it’s an influence I’m very glad Iridium leaned into.

Sound

A game this deeply inspired by music had better deliver a great OST to match — and it would be almost blasphemous if it didn’t. Don’t worry, readers — People of Note absolutely delivers. The soundtrack spans a surprisingly wide range of genres: K-pop, musical theater, rock, EDM, and more. People of Note is about musical diversity, and the OST reflects that philosophy beautifully. Not every track landed for me personally, but the vast majority are excellent and genuinely appealing.

The voice acting in People of Note is equally spectacular — and as a longtime Iridium Studios fan, that doesn’t surprise me. These folks know how to find the right voices for their games, and People of Note is no exception. Cadence is voiced by Heather Gonzalez (Persona 3 Reload‘s Yukari Takeba, Trails of Cold Steel IV‘s Laura S. Arseid), joined by Erika Ishii (Ghost of Yotei‘s Atsu), Erica Lindbeck (The Asterisk War, Persona 5‘s Futaba Sakura), Jason Charles Miller (who performed Rules of Nature for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance), and many others. The talent here is diverse and exceptional — mirroring the OST in the best possible way.

Story

Cadence’s quest to rise to the top might sound like a familiar animated movie premise, but I know Iridium Studios — their stories are never that simple. From real-world themes like self-doubt to the desire to challenge the status quo, People of Note‘s narrative has genuine heart and consistently tugs at your emotions the deeper you get into it. Every character you encounter — especially the main party members — carries their own drama rooted in their musical pursuits, and as unexpected as it sounds, it can feel remarkably relatable. Cadence’s frustration at watching the same group dominate because no one dares to challenge the norm is a sentiment that resonates well beyond the game’s fictional world. Elsewhere, we see characters reckon with bonds drifting apart with age or wrestle with identity crises that feel grounded and honest. People of Note’s story is fantastic — one that builds and deepens like a truly great song.

Overall Impression

People of Note does something genuinely intriguing — it places music at the center of an RPG experience and follows that creative vision wherever it leads. At first glance, it might appear to be a simple RPG dressed up with musical aesthetics. But the longer you play, and the deeper you follow Cadence’s journey toward stardom, the more you realize that People of Note is something quite special — layered, emotionally engaging, and full of mechanical depth. It’s a reminder of exactly why indie games continue to shine even in a landscape dominated by big-budget triple-A productions.

Conclusion

Iridium Studios has done it again — releasing yet another title I’ll be talking about for weeks and begging people to experience. People of Note is a fantastic indie RPG, and like a perfectly tuned metronome, its beat never stops hitting on time. I love People of Note, and while a few small flaws keep it just shy of a greatest hits record, this is an indie game that deserves a wide and appreciative audience. Music fans and RPG gamers alike — buy People of Note today. You won’t be disappointed.