I introduce new tunes to an elderly customer in rhythm sim Mr. Records

Following its showing at Summer Game Fest 2026, Mr. Records — the rhythm-action autorunner crossed with vinyl shop management from Glee-Cheese Studio — now has a playable demo on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest. After spending time with it, I can confirm it delivers exactly what a rhythm game should: involuntary head-nodding and foot-tapping.

Two Sides of the Same Record

The game stars George, a gruff but warm-hearted old music lover who's setting up his own record store. Before any album hits the shelves, George gives it a private listen — and those listening sessions drop him into 2D fantasy platforming stretches where every jump, slide, and throw has to land on the beat.

The rhythm side is the stronger half of the pairing. It's simpler than something like Hi-Fi Rush or Metal: Hellsinger, relying on button taps in 2D, but the constant shuffling between jumps, slides, and kicks means one moment of lost focus can wreck your timing entirely. That's precisely what gets your foot tapping.

The dreamworlds themselves look like a Yellow Submarine video filtered through Thank Goodness You're Here. Each stage borrows its look from the song driving it — a breezy pop track sends you through fields of pastel dancing flowers, while a fuzzy electronic number bathes everything in pulsing purple. Song transitions can also flip George's orientation sideways or upside down for a stretch, which is disorienting in the best way: it's clear Glee-Cheese has built every step to lock into the music's flow.

Original Tunes, One Regrettable Sausage

The soundtrack is entirely original, composed and recorded in-house, spanning psychedelic pop, classic rock, and R&B-flavored rap. Most tracks carry a lyrical whimsiness that suits the cartoon presentation. One caveat: the song that burrowed deepest into my head was also the one I wanted gone — a sausage-themed comedy number with breathless, too-close-to-the-mic vocals. The rest of the soundtrack ranges from inoffensive to genuinely fun, and the genre spread suggests good variety ahead for George's dreams.

The Shop Needs More Stock

The shop management half — matching customers' vague record descriptions to the right vinyl — feels undercooked in the demo, though that's likely a limitation of the preview format. George's grand opening stocks just two records, and you apparently only add one or two per night. Still, there are hints of a relationship system: repeat customers appear, and friendships with regulars may matter more than the till. George himself — a grey puffin whose closest companion is a nap-loving dog — reads as someone life hasn't always been kind to, which makes his love of music the perfect emotional core for a game built around it.

The full game is worth keeping an eye on as Glee-Cheese Studio shares more details.

Source: the original publisher