Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson Review
YouTuber Rob Scallon stars in a nostalgic, music-themed RPG.
Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson from Ritual Studios and Playdigious Originals is a pixel art RPG journey through a musical world. Started as a passion project eight years ago between guitar YouTuber Rob Scallon and his friend Jeff, the game is a genuine love letter to both RPGs and music. The concept originated from Scallon's "Guitar Battle" choose-your-own-adventure video and evolved into this charming RPG journey.
The story follows Rob, a musician determined to win Rick Riffson's Super Metal Records Battle of the Bands contest, a competition that turns out to be rigged to trap musicians with soul-binding contracts. It's a straightforward setup that serves as an excuse to explore a world brimming with music, where flowers and waves have their own melody. The narrative isn't what kept me invested, though. I found myself more charmed by the game's sense of humor and how well it worked the theme of music into its world and systems.
You'll wander through whimsical biomes while fighting musical monsters in (thankfully) non-random encounters. The turn-based battles center around wielding one of several instrument weapons, such as an acoustic guitar, bass, and synthesizer, each with its own unique playstyle and deck of “riffs” that you can customize to create brutal combos. Adding to the musical theme is a Mario RPG-style timing system where hitting the beat during the action rewards you with attack or defense bonuses. That system sometimes feels overused these days, but it fits this game perfectly.
The real star here is the pixel art graphics. Fretless is absolutely gorgeous with its vibrant colors and richly detailed sprites. Enemy designs are cleverly built on the game’s musical theme, from amp spiders to xylophone lizards. The animations are smooth and punchy, breathing life into the instrumental attacks and all the creatures you face. Each biome feels varied and distinct, with environmental details that reinforce the musical theming.
The soundtrack by Dovetail, Rob Scallon, and Jeff Jennings features a wealth of guest artists such as Andrew Huang, Northlane, and Davie504. The music, along with the audio work in environmental sound effects, such as the reactive flowerbeds, helps make the game stand out.
Fretless succeeds in capturing nostalgic 16-bit RPG charm while creating its own identity through its cleverly implemented and designed musical theming. It’s a focused, lighthearted adventure full of personality that doesn't overstay its welcome.
Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson is available now on Steam.
Overall Score: 7/10
Played on: Steam Deck
