Melobot: A Last Song

A few things catch one's eye when Melobot: A Last Song is booted up. Published by Microids, Melobot is an unusual take on the typical "cozy" indie game aesthetic, presenting a fully explorable world with minimal content and maximum interaction.

It's the visuals that initially impress. The little bot in question, the titular Melobot, utilizes instruments to interface with plants corrupted by a mysterious dark matter all across the planet. The game is filled with luscious, beautiful biomes—from grassy and fertile swampland to overgrown forests to heated deserts. Nothing in Melobot feels too dangerous at first. Still, as we are shown the planet's corrupting forces and are forced to go toe to toe with bigger, meaner robots, it becomes clear that Melobot's journey won't be as simple and straightforward as it appears.

Melobot - A Last Song takes place in a dreamlike atmosphere, and is equal parts microcosmic exploration and bite-sized rhythm game. Melobot's heroic quest is attached to the ship that ferries him from place to place, with orders presented by an AI humanoid who governs Melobot's equipment, research, and upgrades. The salvation of the planet is of the utmost importance, and this lovable bot is dedicated to reviving the parts of the world that an oppressive disease and powerful robotic guardians have corrupted.

Colorful landscapes abound as Melobot explores stunning environments, each replete with different musical tracks that must be tackled by the game's rhythm segments. I found the grading to be surprisingly difficult (though I was playing on a docked Steam Deck with a PS5 controller—there was most likely lag on my end), and decided that for my experience it would be better to play on the "easier" difficulty that showed the musical notes as they appeared.

While cozy, Melobot's path is mired with obstacles, and each explosive discovery is met by an equally frenzied challenge.

Music is the heart of Melobot, and the mission's success or failure is predicated on how the player picks up the rhythm segments. There is combat (very little) that is mostly centered around survival and defense. The battles I overcame against the titanic Guardians had a unique rhythm of their own, and Melobot picks up additional skills along the way that help him stay on the offensive.

The story, while initially low stakes, is emotional and captivating, presented in no small part by the research points that Melobot can discover. Each biome has its own piece of the story that can be found by discovering each research point, and as the world is returned to its former glory, you become more and more attached to the planet. While it's easy enough to dive into the vibrant landscapes and tackle each rhythm section one by one to clean the plants and revive the biomes, it would behoove any player to seek out the last remnants of humanity, uncover the story, and see how all of this corruption came to be.

I was gifted a Steam key by the publisher, and can confirm that the game is a treat on the Steam Deck, whether you play handheld or docked (I tested both). The cutesy graphics and art style mixed with the overbearing sense of danger create a unique atmosphere where the unfolding narrative is equal parts rewarding exposition and important discovery. I became more impressed with each vibrant new biome, and it's easy to see the developer's transparent inspirations in Pixar and Studio Ghibli.

Melobot is a game for everyone, a pint-sized adventure perfect for a weekend, expertly balancing action, mini-games, and a cozy atmosphere. There is something here for gamers of all skill levels, though to me the game felt best when it was approached from a place of contemplation, to just fall into the soothing melodies and arresting dreamscapes.

Melobot is out now on both PC (Steam) and PlayStation 5.