Fans tuning up for an epic musical brawl will have to wait a little longer: Playdigious Originals and Ritual Studios have announced that Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson, their turn-based RPG with a rockstar twist, is rescheduling its release. Originally slated for May 22, the game is now delayed to summer 2025, giving the team extra time to fine-tune its pixelated symphony before launching on PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store.
At its core, Fretless is all about restoring harmony to a world thrown out of tune. Players take on the role of Rob, a plucky musician determined to stop the villainous Rick Riffson, CEO of Super Metal Records, whose Battle of the Bands has sinister undertones. Riffson isn’t just after fame-he’s trapping musicians and stealing their very souls, corrupting the land with cacophonous cruelty.
Expect more than just standard RPG fare. Fretless stands out by weaponizing the power of music: riff combos, crescendo attacks, and an arsenal of guitar-based moves let players unleash melodic havoc. Alongside Rob’s band of rockstar friends, players will face off against monstrous instrument hybrids and legendary musical beasts in a campaign that’s as much about creative expression as tactical strategy.
The delay, while disappointing for eager fans, isn’t out of place in today’s development landscape-especially for indie titles aiming for a distinct identity. Ritual Studios, a Chicago-based team passionate about expressive arts and pixel visuals, is making Fretless their debut. Their stated goal is to deliver a game with “a soundtrack as central as its scenario,” promising both ears and eyes a treat. With Playdigious Originals behind publishing-fresh from successes like Dead Cells and Loop Hero on mobile—there’s reason to hope this extra polish will pay off.
While the musical RPG niche isn’t crowded, Fretless is entering a landscape that’s seen quirky, music-powered adventures like Crypt of the NecroDancer and No Straight Roads. But by weaving turn-based tactics with a narrative centered around the consequences of creative control, Ritual Studios aims to strike a unique chord. The pixel art direction and core focus on guitar-driven combat could set it apart—if the final execution matches the ambition.
For now, PC players can wishlist the game and keep an eye out for a playable demo on the major storefronts. Whether Fretless will ultimately harmonize its ambitious riffs with satisfying gameplay will depend on how Ritual Studios leverages this extra development time. With the summer 2025 stage set, it’s almost time to see if this new act can deliver a showstopper.
TL;DR: Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson, a guitar-powered turn-based RPG from Ritual Studios and Playdigious Originals, has delayed its PC release to summer 2025 for extra polish. Players can expect pixel-art musical battles, an eccentric cast, and a campaign to reclaim the soul of music—if the wait proves worthwhile.
Source: Playdigious Originals via GamesPress