Agents of Groove

Agents of Groove is a story-driven rhythm action game for the Playdate console with a dynamic original soundtrack and a fun cast of characters.

Watch the launch trailer for Agents of Groove right here!

Premise

In a world where music and dancing have real power, a group of undercover dancers stumbles upon a sinister plot -- but will they be able to stop it?

Meet field agent Daley Bellbottoms, information expert Melody Handler, and other friends and enemies as the new recruit of secret agency G.R.O.O.V.E.. Learn the ways of the Rhythm, handle H.Y.P.E. equipment and help your fellow agents find their... well, groove, on a daring mission to stop rival organization E.R.I.S..

The tools at their disposal? Dancing, of course! But also excellent taste, incredible style, and... okay, mostly dancing.

Gameplay

In Agents of Groove you'll play to the rhythm of eleven dynamic music tracks using the Playdate buttons and crank, often at the same time, with some surprises along the way.

Do well and the music tracks will expand, allowing Daley to attune to the Rhythm and build up hype until he can meet any challenge. Make mistakes and you may not reach enough attunement in time, or, worse, you may get caught by your adversaries -- and the world will be doomed! But, no pressure, really.

Agents of Groove progresses through fifteen levels across four variations of gameplay, all riffing on the theme of moving along with the rhythm: Daley may be called upon to sway others with his dancing skills, sneak into a mysterious facility, or slide out of the way of obstacles. When all else fails, the only way to solve a dispute may be a good, old-fashioned dance-off.

The Agents of Groove will have to draw upon their full network of connections and use all their resources to reveal what nefarious plan E.R.I.S. has concocted this time. They will meet many characters as the story unfolds via both gameplay and (fully localized) conversation, and they will need all the help they can get.

Main characters

Curious about who you'll meet throughout the course of the game? Here are some of the characters:

Daley Bellbottoms
Legendary undercover dancer and Rhythm wrangler of G.R.O.O.V.E., known as much for his skill as for his tendency to improvise, Daley often finds himself in improbably tight spots but usually manages to make it out of trouble (even if with some help). A veteran of many years, he's truly seen it all -- or so he thinks!

Melody Handler
The information expert for the team, Melody operates behind the scenes, researching, processing data, accessing systems remotely, and maintaining constant radio contact with Daley and the others. She's often Daley's last line of defense against danger, and just as often has to save him from himself.

Paul Hanover
A younger agent of G.R.O.O.V.E., he often teases Daley for relying on more time-tested methods and technology. Admittedly perhaps not the sharpest tool in the shed, Paul is nevertheless an invaluable ally and a skilled tinkerer with H.Y.P.E. equipment in the field.

Robot Detective
What is this robot after, and how is it connected to the G.R.O.O.V.E. case? A case more unsettling at every step, like a tall tale told by an excitable sailor in exchange for the promise of more attention. Still, its deduction logic could be of help... if it turned out to be an ally at all.

Angus Weathervane
Little is known about Captain Weathervane, and what common folk dare to whisper under cover of darkness remains steeped in mystery and rumors. Surely tales of pirates controlling the seas with an army of birds at their command cannot be true?

Accessibility and difficulty

We believe in making our games as accessible as possible, and Agents of Groove is no exception. Plenty of accessibility and customization settings allow you to tailor the gameplay experience to your desires:

• Play in English, Italian, French, Spanish, or Japanese with full localization of conversations and game UI elements.
• Can't (or would rather not) use the crank? No problem: turn on Crank Assist Mode, and let G.R.O.O.V.E.B.O.T. handle it for you, while you only use the buttons.
• Have trouble switching among the six Playdate buttons under pressure? Enable Single Button Mode without missing a beat, and use only your favorite button throughout.
• Want to make the rhythm matching portions easier, and focus more on enjoying the story? Choose among three difficulty presets, change individual precision settings at any point, or simply turn on Relaxed Mode and remove penalties for making mistakes.
• Prefer instead more of a challenge? Perfect Only Mode may be right up your alley.
• Having a rough time due to screen shake, flashing, having to hold buttons or tilt the console? Turn any of them off without a second thought.
• Have a better time with the A and B buttons rather than the D-pad? Try the Alterntive Input setting (for most levels).
• Wish the crank was on the left side of the console? Playdate's Upside Down Mode may be for you!

Videos

Here’s a collection of videos for Agents of Groove.

When can I play it?

Agents of Groove is currently under development for the Playdate console. We're aiming to release Agents of Groove in Q4 of 2025, and we'll have more to announce soon! You can follow us here, on Bluesky, Mastodon and on our homepage to stay up to date on news and announcements!

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