RibCage Games is putting a musical spin on the roguelite genre with Alpha Nomos, a rhythm-action game that will have players fighting corrupted puppets to the beat when it launches on October 12, 2026.
The game is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, with a new release date trailer showing off its unusual blend of rhythm-based combat, roguelite progression, and a decidedly strange puppet-filled world. A free demo is also currently available on Steam.
Rather than simply using music as a backdrop, Alpha Nomos builds its combat around the beat. Playing as Cello, players will need to time attacks, dodges, and abilities with the soundtrack, with attacks becoming more powerful when they land on rhythm. Falling out of sync can turn an encounter against the player, making timing an important part of surviving each run.
Cello’s weapons also have a musical twist of their own. The game’s instruments were recorded with live musicians rather than being pulled from a traditional sample library, while audio-based power-ups such as Reverb, Flanger, and Delay can alter both the way Cello fights and how the soundtrack sounds during a run. The soundtrack itself comes from Totem Warriors and was recorded specifically to work with the game’s rhythm systems.
Each run takes Cello through increasingly difficult arenas filled with corrupted puppets, with upgrades allowing players to shape their abilities as they progress. Outside of combat, Alpha Nomos takes place across abandoned cities and a corrupted circus in a world where time and space have collapsed. Cello is searching for answers about what caused the destruction and what happened to her friends, while the game’s distinctive “puppetcore” aesthetic fills the setting with unsettling clown faces, empty streets, and creatures assembled from what was once whole.
RibCage Games has also included a timing offset designed to let players adjust the rhythm to better suit their setup, which could be particularly useful for a game where the difference between landing a hit and missing the beat is so important.
Alpha Nomos launches October 12 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.