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Keylocker Review: A Cyberpunk RPG Where Rhythm Shapes Every Turn

Keylocker’s striking music-ban premise and pixel-art world meet a divisive combat system that mixes turn-based choices with timed execution.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team

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Keylocker is a single-player cyberpunk role-playing game built around a distinctive compromise: you choose actions in turn-based combat, then execute attacks and defenses with real-time timing inputs. Its music-ban premise, pixel-art presentation and soundtrack give it a strong identity, but critics have also flagged combat timing, navigation and system clarity as potential friction points. Whether that mix sounds appealing is a better guide than the genre label alone.

What is Keylocker?

Developed by Moonana and published by Serenity Forge, Keylocker released on September 18, 2024. Steam describes it as a cyberpunk turn-based rhythm JRPG inspired by Mario & Luigi and Chrono Trigger. You play as B0B0, a singer and songwriter resisting a society on Saturn where music is outlawed. Steam’s listing describes the premise and features; the publisher also links to digital storefronts for PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Xbox.

The setting is not just window dressing: music, performance and rebellion are at the center of the game’s identity. Its official feature description also highlights selectable rebel paths, relationship and ending choices, exploration, equipment customization and direct encounters rather than random battles. The result is an RPG whose musical theme shapes both its story and its combat concept.

How does the combat work?

Combat has two distinct layers. First, you make turn-based choices about what your characters will do. Then attacks and defensive actions call for real-time timing inputs. The system therefore asks for more than choosing commands from a menu: execution matters after the decision is made.

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#1 Best Overall
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action
  • Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action includes: Full Physical Game (NSW/PS5) + All Updates + Stickers Sheet + Digital OST Download Concert Ticket.
  • Choose your path as a cyberpunk rebel, each with its own unique skill tree and storyline.
  • Control Electricity with your own music!: Transform it into attack or defense as needed, swapping between different movesets and tactics.
  • Classic Turn Based Combat with a twist: Real Time execution of moves in rhythm game style, aim your shots, time your attacks, parry and block your enemies in this unforgiving planet.
  • Heart Strings Update: New Weapons; New Romanceable NPCs; New Quests; New Features: Jam Session (The Concert Minigame can now be played directly from the Main Menu); New Map System (Maps can be accessed in the “Key Items” section of the “Downloadable Items” menu.

That distinction is the key purchase consideration. If you enjoy turn-based planning enhanced by timing prompts, the hybrid design may be a draw. If you prefer entirely menu-driven combat, its real-time inputs may feel like an interruption rather than an upgrade. The official description presents timing as a core feature, while critic reviews identify its intuitiveness and tolerance as concerns.

What do critics say about Keylocker?

Critical reception is mixed. Metacritic’s snapshot observed on October 8, 2026, lists a 69 Metascore for the PC version from six critic reviews and a 70 for Nintendo Switch from four. These are small review samples and time-sensitive aggregator scores, not a definitive measure of how every player will respond. Metacritic’s PC page and its Switch critic page provide the respective snapshots.

Rank #2
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action Collector's Edition
  • Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action includes: Full Physical Game (NSW/PS5) + All Updates + Stickers Sheet + Digital OST Download Concert Ticket + Collector's Box + OST CD + B0B0 singing acrylic standee + Magnetic Pin + Doubled-Sided Poster
  • Choose your path as a cyberpunk rebel, each with its own unique skill tree and storyline.
  • Control Electricity with your own music!: Transform it into attack or defense as needed, swapping between different movesets and tactics.
  • Classic Turn Based Combat with a twist: Real Time execution of moves in rhythm game style, aim your shots, time your attacks, parry and block your enemies in this unforgiving planet.
  • Heart Strings Update: New Weapons; New Romanceable NPCs; New Quests; New Features: Jam Session (The Concert Minigame can now be played directly from the Main Menu); New Map System (Maps can be accessed in the “Key Items” section of the “Downloadable Items” menu.

On Steam, the user-review snapshot observed the same day was “Very Positive,” with 84% positive from 225 reviews. That is a separate audience and measure from critic reviews, and both the percentage and review count can change. Steam’s user-review section shows the current platform figure.

What reviewers praise

Pixel art, soundtrack, worldbuilding and the game’s unusual setting recur among the strengths noted in reviews. PC Gamer also acknowledges its style, writing and humor. Those qualities complement the premise: a world that suppresses music gives the game a clear thematic frame for B0B0’s rebellion and performances.

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Rank #3
Asylum - Nintendo Switch
  • A chilling journey into the dark mind: Explore the Hanwell Mental Institute and uncover its dark past.
  • Experience a mind-bending original storyline as recurring hallucinations blur the line between memory and reality.
  • Investigate a detailed, decrepit asylum through point-and-click adventure gameplay.
  • Solve evocative challenges that reward wit and observation.
  • Enter an engrossing atmosphere with a memorable soundtrack inspired by 1980s horror films and John Carpenter.

Where reviewers see friction

PC Gamer describes combat timing as finicky and criticizes navigation and obscured systems. Siliconera likewise calls the combat unintuitive and raises concerns about narrative plotting, while also recognizing the writing and setting. These are critics’ assessments, not a report of firsthand testing here; they point to a potential mismatch for players who want immediately legible mechanics or a straightforward route through the world.

Is the Nintendo Switch version a concern?

Switch review excerpts collected by Metacritic include praise for the art, soundtrack, worldbuilding and challenging gameplay, alongside launch-period reports of optimization problems, crashes, broken quests and soft locks. Those reports identify risks critics encountered around launch; they do not establish that every current build still has those problems. The evidence here does not establish the present patch status or performance across platforms, so avoid treating the Switch reports as a platform-wide guarantee.

Rank #4
Supermarket Simulator (Game Key Card) - Nintendo Switch 2
  • Store Management – Design your store, stock shelves, manage aisles, and create a smooth shopping experience.
  • Dynamic Market – Buy products when prices dip and set the best prices to balance profit and customer satisfaction.
  • Customisation – Personalize floors, walls, category signs, layouts, and more to make your shop unique.
  • Protect Your Business – Use cameras, alarm antennas, and security guards to protect your store from shoplifters.
  • Multiplayer – Team up with up to four friends to stock, serve customers, make deliveries, and grow your supermarket.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Which players are most likely to enjoy it?

  • Consider it if you want a distinct cyberpunk setting, pixel-art presentation and a soundtrack tied closely to the story.
  • Consider it if you like turn-based decision-making but are open to executing actions with timing inputs.
  • Be cautious if you strongly prefer purely menu-based combat, clear system explanations or effortless navigation; critics have specifically raised concerns in those areas.
  • Check current platform details before buying, especially if you are choosing Switch based on launch-period reviews. Store availability and update status can change.

Platforms and availability

Serenity Forge’s publisher page links to digital storefronts for PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Xbox, and Nintendo maintains an official Switch listing. That establishes digital listings, not a physical edition. Prices and storefront availability are subject to change, so check the store for your region before purchasing.

Sources: Steam, Serenity Forge, Nintendo, PC Gamer and Siliconera.

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action
Choose your path as a cyberpunk rebel, each with its own unique skill tree and storyline.
$55.03
Bestseller No. 2
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action Collector's Edition
Keylocker | Turn Based Cyberpunk Action Collector's Edition
Choose your path as a cyberpunk rebel, each with its own unique skill tree and storyline.
$88.54
Bestseller No. 3
Asylum - Nintendo Switch
Asylum - Nintendo Switch
Investigate a detailed, decrepit asylum through point-and-click adventure gameplay.; Solve evocative challenges that reward wit and observation.
$29.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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