Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands

Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands

Released Aug 2023

The party-based RPG where you kick down doors and fight with music as a 3-piece band of idiots.

98% positive · 745 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence

Where to buy

Steam $19.99
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Evaluation

Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands launched on August 8, 2023 and has received consistent post-launch support from the developer. The game received multiple balance and feature patches in the weeks following launch, a major gameplay overhaul in Patch 1.1 on May 18, 2024, a significant technical update (v1.2.0) on November 27, 2024 focused on console port preparation, and a bug fix on January 7, 2026. The game's largest post-launch update, v2.0.0, shipped on June 30, 2026. This free update added new optional hard-mode boss variants (the "Mad Zone"), an Easy Mode difficulty, new items, a new animated startup cutscene, and brought the game to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and the Microsoft Store simultaneously. A follow-up bug fix patch (v2.0.1) released on August 10, 2026 addressed a small set of issues introduced by the v2.0.0 update. The developer has made no announcements of further planned content since v2.0.0 shipped. The DLC list contains only a soundtrack release with no unreleased entries. The v2.0.0 update represented a clear content milestone — the console launch — and the subsequent August 10, 2026 patch was purely a bug fix addressing issues from that release. There are no outstanding commitments or roadmap items visible. The game appears to have reached a natural endpoint for content development.
Evidence
v2.0.0 launched as a major free update alongside the game's multi-console release, adding the Mad Zone (hard-mode bosses), Easy Mode, new items, and a new animated cutscene
news post · Jun 30, 2026 source content shipped
high
Developer officially announced v2.0.0 for June 30, 2026, detailing Mad Bosses, Easy Mode, new items, and the simultaneous console launch — all of which subsequently shipped on schedule
news post · Jun 10, 2026 source content shipped
high

Content

1 of 1 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
Deathbulge
Achievements
24
Platform
Windows, macOS, Linux
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Verified
Players
Single-player

About this game

You play as Faye, Ian and Briff, a 3-piece band of dysfunctional friends who unknowingly stumble into a cursed battle of the bands contest, where all entrants can attack with music and must fight to the death.

Kick down every single door you come across. If you're gonna rudely enter every RPG house despite lack of invite, might as well enter in style.

Customise the band with 9 musically-themed classes to choose from, each with their own attacks, perks and COOL OUTFIT. Inspire your bandmates as a BUSKER or recklessly deal huge damage at the cost of damaging yourself as a HEADBANGER.

Fancy combat system that focuses on MEASURE EFFECTS. What happens BETWEEN turns makes all the difference, combining real-time elements with turn-based combat in a way that we're ALMOST CERTAIN has never been done before. (It's been over a year since release and no one's said otherwise yet!)

Other features:

  • Roughly 15-20 hours of game time.

  • Late game dating segment.

  • Sew patches of band logos onto your BATTLE JACKET for extra perks in battle.

  • No Random Encounters! Monsters will be shown on the field for your avoiding leisure, and 3 different FIELD ABILITIES with which to avoid them.

  • Unique item system. Say good bye to individually stocking up on consumable items! Once you get a piece of MERCH, you keep it forever, and it simply costs STOCK to use, a refillable global resource for all your merch.

  • Original soundtrack that'll make you say things like SIIICK and OH RIGHT ON.

  • Incredibly rich world boasting a wide variety of colourful characters whose dialogue changes as you progress through the game. Every single NPC is unique, armed with their own dialogue portaits to express themselves TO THE MAX.

  • Even the ITEMS have personality. Say bye bye to the generic "health potion". Local NPC Barry Friendly is taking care of the soothing beverages around here. Sink into a warm cup of BARRY FRIENDLY'S TEA whenever your health is low. Maybe you'll even have the pleasure of meeting Barry at some point.

Last evaluated Aug 27, 2026
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