If you look at the comments section of an average Lore Hero episode, you'll often see fans declaring, 'We are so back.' Given the current state of five-fret music video games, that sentiment rings true. CRKD guitars with their 1000Hz polling rate have made entry easier, and a CRKD drum set is on the way. Red Octane Games has announced Stage Tour, aiming to revive the classic five-fret glory while innovating.
Stage Tour features an art style that may divide opinions, but its cute characters and note highway HUD are intriguing. With support from Lore Hero and motion capture help from Eidos Montreal, the final look should improve. The game supports Guitar, Drums, Vocals, and a new 'Groove' mode, and can be played with controllers, mouse/keyboard, or gamepad. Release is set for Fall 2026.
Fret Smasher, from developer Lavoie, has been in development for years and offers Guitar, Bass, and Keyboard gameplay, with Drums coming soon. Its main draw is deep customization, including note and highway visuals, gameplay tweaks, and competitive multiplayer. It currently has ten songs, but you can import Clone Hero/YARG libraries with thousands of tracks.
Sound System, by Echo Foundry Interactive, promises classic five-fret fun with Guitar, Bass, and Vocals (no Drums). Its unique Pulse Map feature lets players modify song charts in-game, potentially sparking user-generated content. It launches with 50 songs, though import support is unclear. Meanwhile, YARG's 0.14 update added Rock Band 4's Play A Show mode and more.
Five-fret gaming never truly died—it just napped. Now it's wide awake and buzzing with energy. These three titles promise an exciting future for rhythm game fans.