Playful Self-Expression and Musical Discovery Await in Rhythm Doggo
505 Pulse and Swedish developer Nicklas Nygren, better known as Nifflas, have announced that the Steam Playtest for their upcoming rhythm-platformer Rhythm Doggo is now open to everyone. After an initial closed playtest for select Discord community members on June 15, players around the world can now experience the game’s unique blend of music-driven platforming and exploration.
In Rhythm Doggo, players step into the paws of a musical dog whose every movement helps shape the game’s evolving soundtrack. Rather than simply playing alongside the music, every jump, puzzle, and exploration choice dynamically changes the procedural soundtrack in real time, making the music an essential part of the gameplay experience rather than just background audio.
According to the developers, the first round of testing provided valuable player feedback that helped refine the game’s audio-driven mechanics. The project also continues Nifflas’ signature approach to interactive game design, seen in earlier titles like Knytt Stories and Ynglet.
The game will also make its public event debut at ChinaJoy 2026, taking place from July 31 to August 3 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. Visitors will be able to try a new demo fully localized in Simplified Chinese, marking the first time the game has been playable in the language. Rhythm Doggo has also earned a nomination for the ChinaJoy × Game Connection Game Development Awards in the Best Music & Sound category, in recognition of its innovative use of interactive audio.
Rhythm Doggo is currently scheduled to launch for PC via Steam in 2027, while the Steam Playtest is available now for players eager to get an early taste of its musical adventure.
If you’re a fan of creative indie games that experiment with music and gameplay, Rhythm Doggo is certainly worth checking out.