Just Shapes & Beats is an interesting game. It is one that by all rights shouldn’t work, yet somehow the premise succeeded. Perhaps it was the strange premise coupled with above average gameplay, or just how good the music in game is. Regardless, Just Shapes & Beats is a rhythm game that is a step above the others.

To be clearer on what kind of game this is, Just Shapes and Beats is a combination of strategy and the aforementioned rhythm elements. It takes a very simple concept, that of having you try to avoid other such shapes coming at you from all areas. Just dodge the shapes and get to the end sounds easy but the game quickly shows how devious it can be. The more the game goes on, the more intense the action will be, and you will need to use every trick you can think of. Fortunately, there are several handy tricks to use such as the dash, which will help turn the tables in your favor.

The game does get a bit too intense later on, and while I did not have an issue myself, I do know that there were many that did. Fortunately, the developers have included a casual mode in order to accommodate those who have issues. I also suggest learning how to use the HD rumble to your advantage. To do this, you will need to become more aware of how to read the rumble patterns in the HD Rumble, and use that as a guide to dodge and progress forward. You will need to react fast if you are not using the casual mode, but I found it surprisingly easy to get into and I normally am not a fan of this genre (with some exceptions).

Overall, Just Shapes & Beats is a very unique game. It is far more than I had given to credit for, and I truly enjoyed my time with it. I most definitely recommend this to anyone with a Switch, and I suggest checking it out. You will not regret it.