Just Shapes & Beats

Just Shapes & Beats is an indie rhythm-bullet-hell hybrid from Berzerk Studio that turns electronic music into a lethal obstacle course.

Up to four players, locally or online, guide simple geometric avatars through 48 handcrafted stages where every laser, missile, and boss pattern is synced to pounding chiptune and EDM tracks.



The Just Shapes & Beats game core loop is elegantly brutal: dodge pink shapes, ride the beat, and survive until the song ends.

Beneath the chaos lies a lighthearted story about a courageous blue square battling a corrupting force, giving the mayhem unexpected emotional weight.

Key Features

• 48 licensed tracks from over 20 artists (Monstercat, Nitro Fun, Noisestorm, and more)
• Four game modes: Story, Challenge Runs, Playlist, and Party Mode (no-fail, continuous play)
• Local and online drop-in/drop-out co-op for up to four players
• Difficulty toggles (Casual, Normal, Hardcore) plus adaptive hit-point scaling in multiplayer
• Cloud saves, full controller support, and Steam Remote Play Together
• Regular free updates, including The Lost Chapter expansion with new levels and bosses

User Interface

Visuals are minimalist yet vibrant: player shapes are cyan, hazards magenta, set against stark black backdrops with dynamic particle effects. The HUD shows remaining hit points and song progress in a thin upper bar, never cluttering the screen.



Menus use large icons and clear typography, navigable by keyboard, mouse, or gamepad, making it easy to host couch sessions or online lobbies without confusion.

Installation and Setup

The game is distributed via Steam and Epic Games Store. Download size is roughly 1 GB, so even modest connections complete in minutes.

After installation, launch options let you toggle full-screen, resolution, and input device before entering the main menu.

No additional drivers or launchers are required; Steam Cloud handles save syncing automatically.

How to Play

Controls are stripped to essentials: move with WASD or a stick, and dash with Space or a face button. Dashing grants brief invulnerability, essential for piercing dense bullet patterns or slipping through laser grids.



In Story Mode, you’ll clear a sequence of levels, interspersed with cinematic boss fights that remix prior mechanics.

Fall to zero health and you respawn at the last checkpoint; in co-op, surviving teammates can revive you by staying alive for a short count-in.

Challenge Runs shuffle three random tracks (two regular, one boss) and score you on survival time, rewarding Beat Points that unlock harder songs in Playlist Mode.

Party Mode removes fail states altogether, letting music run continuously for background ambiance.

FAQs

Can I play solo?
Yes. The entire Just Shapes & Beats game scales for one player and remains perfectly winnable alone.

Does progress carry between modes?
Beat Points, unlocked songs, and story completion are shared across all modes and profiles.

How hard is Hardcore?
Hardcore halves hit points, removes certain checkpoints, and speeds up enemy patterns—expect a genuine bullet-hell challenge.

Is there custom soundtrack support?
No. All stages are hand-animated to licensed tracks, so user-imported songs are not supported.

Does it support cross-platform multiplayer?
Steam and Epic users can play together via invite codes; console versions are siloed.



Alternatives

• Geometry Dash – precision platforming tied to rhythm, with a robust level editor.
• Thumper – “rhythm violence” on a rail, offering visceral speed and horror-tinged aesthetics.
• Beat Hazard 3 – twin-stick shooter that auto-generates levels from your music library.

Pricing

The base PC edition retails for approximately $19.99 / €16.79. Occasional seasonal discounts drop the price by 30–50 %.

All post-launch updates, including The Lost Chapter, have been free; there are no microtransactions.

System Requirements

Minimum — 64-bit Windows 10, Intel Core i3 3.0 GHz, 8 GB RAM, DirectX 11 GPU with 512 MB VRAM, 1 GB storage.

Recommended — 64-bit Windows 11, Intel Core i5 3.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, DirectX 11 GPU with 1 GB VRAM, 1 GB storage.

PROS

• Exhilarating, perfectly synced soundtrack
• Seamless four-player local/online co-op
• Accessible controls, instant pick-up-and-play
• Striking minimalist art with zero visual clutter
• Generous free updates and no DLC paywalls
• Party Mode great for casual gatherings
• High replayability through Challenge Runs and Hardcore

CONS

• Main story lasts only 2–3 hours
• Cutscenes cannot be skipped on replay
• Electronic soundtrack may not suit every taste
• Limited visual variety across themes
• No level editor or custom music support
• Solo grinding for Beat Points can feel repetitive
• Occasional online matchmaking lobbies are sparse at off-peak times

Conclusion

Just Shapes & Beats strips rhythm gaming to its essentials and then injects it with bullet-hell adrenaline, creating an experience that is as punishing as it is euphoric. Tight controls, exhilarating music, and a surprising dash of narrative heart make each failed attempt feel like a learning beat rather than a defeat.

Short length and niche musical focus keep it from being a universal crowd-pleaser, but for players craving a kinetic challenge—or anyone looking to light up a party with synchronized chaos—it is hard to beat. At its modest price and tiny install footprint, this relentless symphony of shapes is an easy recommendation.