Phrasemaker

From the very first second I booted up Devil Jam and loaded into the main menu, I knew I would be in for a treat. The title screen alone had been bopping my head along enthusiastically, because, honestly? The music absolutely rocks. It’s perfect for the style and setting of the game, and it really does set the tone for the chaotic fun you’re about to step into.

Honestly, I almost missed out on Devil Jam entirely, because it is in no way the kind of game I’d usually find myself gravitating towards. I’ve just never been into the survivor-styled game genre; from the gameplay screenshots and trailers alone, they just seemed to look so hectic, busy, and overwhelming.

What made Devil Jam stand out to me is the dark aesthetics, stylized art, and the rock and metal music-driven soundtrack and setting. It just looked like it had a very punk theme and energy that would be right up my alley. Finally, I figured it was worth a shot, because hey… If there was ever a game to potentially connect me to a genre that I would otherwise avoid, this would likely be it.

Let’s just say that I’m incredibly glad I gave this game a shot, because Devil Jam absolutely shreds.

Gameplay – Demon Horde Battles Are Surprisingly Addictive & Relaxing

Devil Jam managed to surprise me from the get-go. In gameplay, I was expecting to find chaos and perhaps just a little bit of frustration. Yet, what I instead discovered was an intently satisfying gameplay loop that had me hooked from the first few seconds of my very first run.

The game never felt too punishing, which was a bit of a relief, but it’s still plenty challenging to keep you on your toes. Building your loadout is genuinely so much fun to play around with, and experimenting with the different weapons, passives, and abilities truly did make each new run feel fresh, to a degree.

There’s a lot of fun in trying out different combinations and builds to discover what you like, and then continuing to evolve your build around your strengths/preferred style of gameplay. It feels very rewarding rather than overly intimidating or grindy, which I appreciate.

However, I do wish that there were a little bit more variety in the environment and map. It seems that at this point, there is just one single map in which your runs take place. Don’t get me wrong, I liked this map a lot. In fact, I feel it was a brilliant design for the story/theme of the game. After a while, though, this map does start to feel a bit repetitive.

There could be a lot of potential to do a lot of cool things with different maps as ‘stage themes’, like a concert lineup. Neon lights, grungy smoke… There are endless possibilities. Some maps could even potentially host unique enemy spawns or utilize special VFX to really bring things to life.

Still, Devil Jam is a heck of a lot of fun. Somehow, the game manages to make the chaos and survival elements feel like a joyride. There’s something oddly soothing to the gameplay loop. I even found myself completely zoning out, nodding along to the guitar riffs as I sliced through waves of demons with just a few simple mouse movements. There’s a type of flow to the game that really hooked me, and because of this, I have opened my mind to the action roguelike/survival much more, encouraged to see what other games I may enjoy.

Art & Visuals – Rocking With Personality

The music isn’t the only striking aspect of Devil Jam, as you’ll find a lot of life and soul in the art. The 2D artworks are absolutely stunning to admire, and each and every character portrait is bursting with personality. There are lots of little fine details to admire in each one, from textured skin markings to dramatic voice acting. The voice acting takes things even further, bringing these characters to life with expressive, entertaining performances.

The gameplay art style and visuals don’t fall short of praise, too. The colors are bright, bold, and energetic, just as a rock show should be. It’s also a fun contrast against the darker environment, which really helps to make you feel like those attacks pop during combat. Even the character’s idle and run cycle animations are completely charming and enjoyable to watch, making the game feel alive (and perhaps just a little bit undead)

Narrative & Story – Too Busy Rocking Out?…

In terms of a story… There doesn’t appear to be all that much of one? After learning gameplay basics in a tutorial, you’re pretty much thrown right in the deep end by getting your first look at the quest board and then heading out. Apparently, according to the game description on Steam, you’ve signed a cursed contract with the devil, and you now find yourself in the underworld for a concert. However, you never really get this context upon playing for the first time.

As mentioned earlier, the character portraits are insanely gorgeous, and the voice acting is great. There’s a lot of life in these characters, but unfortunately, not a lot of depth. You never really get to learn all that much about them, other than the types of offerings you’ll be able to get from them, and a few of their classic one-liners.

It could have been really interesting to see some narrative elements woven into these encounters or additional story progression implemented somehow. I think this would keep me coming back, as ultimately, after getting a good amount of fun from a session of Devil Jam, the same old system can get a bit tiresome.

Soundtrack & Audio – Fun Metal Mayhem

It would be impossible to discuss Devil Jam and simply gloss over the soundtrack. It’s seriously good, providing a mix of catchy guitar riffs that are bursting full of energy, absolutely tying the gameplay experience together with a nice little bow.

The music also syncs with the on-screen chaos very nicely, creating an almost hypnotic gameplay pattern of swerving and dashing your way through demon hordes, interacting with mysterious objects, and adding to your loadout. The way the music flows so well with the action is so much fun to experience, and it was wholeheartedly what kept me invested each time I loaded into another run.

Final Thoughts

As much as I have been absolutely loving what Devil Jam has to offer, I can’t help but find myself wanting more. The game has a great foundation that I would love to see expanded in as many directions as possible, with the likes of new music tracks, even more characters (both playable and encounters/interactable), new maps, and then, of course, some new weapons/passives/buffs to keep things interesting over time.

Devil Jam was a big surprise for me. I went in expecting to play for an hour or two in hopes that, at the very least, it had a killer soundtrack and some lovely art. Instead, I found myself playing “just one more run” until I had completely lost track of time. I guess that’s just what it’s like when you’re putting on the concert of a lifetime, huh?

While I’d love to see some more variety across the board, I’m very impressed with Devil Jam at its core. The main gameplay loop is damn addictive, and the soundtrack is brilliant. There’s nothing more satisfying than moving in wild shapes, dashing between hellish monsters, and swinging attacks on every beat. Devil Jam has gone out and proven that even if a game may not be your usual tune, sometimes all it takes is the right riff!