Beat Brush: This indie game could change your life if you let it

Every so often, a game comes along that touches a player in such a profound way that it immediately becomes an unforgettable core memory. It may not be the same for every player, but for those who find something to resonate with, these games can be life-changing. I have a feeling that the newly announced upcoming indie game Beat Brush will be that type of game for many of those who choose to play it. 

Beat Brush is a cozy game that focuses solely on the creation of music through art. Your mouse is your conductor’s baton, so to speak, weaving a tune through various beautiful settings that are not only intricately detailed, but also somehow simple enough to create a safe space for thoughts to flow, just as the music does. 

That’s the whole point of Beat Brush. It’s art therapy packed into a game that can heal, if you let it. This game has lived in my head rent-free ever since the developer, Kesha Games, first reached out to me, and it has finally been announced to the public on August 5.

Therapy as gameplay

Let’s be honest, life is stressful at the best of times. The world around us is in shambles, the job market is a mess, relationships are an endless source of potential mental trip hazards, and there’s never enough time in a day to switch off and forget all of those concerns. We go to bed stressed, wake up stressed, and go through life in an endless cycle of worry while trying to cling to the things that bring us joy. 

Beat Brush is an opportunity not only to shut off, but also to seek reassurance and encouragement. As you progress through the levels, words will appear on screen that feel like sucker punches to the gut. Like your own fears have been put on the screen, and your soul is being laid bare. It hurts in such a bittersweet way that you may find yourself getting emotional, but that’s okay. 

Beat Brush gives you the chance to draw over the words and turn those deep-seated fears into something beautiful, both visually and audibly. It’s a safe space to lay all of your insecurities out in a way that feels akin to growth, without fear of judgement or pressure to perform. In a way, it’s a form of self-care.

Art backed by science

Beat Brush has been developed by solo dev Kesha Games after they left a leadership role due to burnout, something that many people can relate to. It is a deeply personal creation for the developer, and that much is clear in the beauty of the game and their passion when discussing it. 

Beat Brush is the life of one person seen through the recollective dreams of their life in the moments before death. It’s retrospective, tearing off the rose-tinted glasses and dissecting the experiences of someone during their struggle through life. It begs the question ‘was it worth it?’

More than just a game, Beat Brush is a scientific study. Eventually, Kesha hopes to study whether the meditative gameplay loop is actually conducive to reducing stress in players, and that could have a huge potential impact on similar games that could end up being developed. Any gamer will tell you that playing games is what helps them relax, and this is a step toward figuring out why, and how it can be harnessed for good.

On top of that, Kesha has worked with a psychotherapist as part of Beat Brush‘s development to ensure that it truly is a safe space for players who need to unwind or, in a worst-case scenario, may be going through burnout themselves.

Beat Brush is powerful in every sense

In a way, Beat Brush has changed my life, or at the very least my perception of myself. The early build that I’ve been lucky enough to play has touched me in such a deep and meaningful way that I know I will never forget the experience. It has also helped to reaffirm that I’m on the right track, I’m doing my best, and I’m doing good things. 

Being brutally honest, I have spent most of my adult life consistently crippled by self-doubt and lack of direction. It wasn’t until I started to write about video games that I felt I found my place within the world, and then I suddenly had that pulled away from me with no notice. I was stranded, and I felt empty. Lost. Untethered.

So I started The Nerdy Type with no idea whether it would actually become something. 

And then, through that, I’ve been lucky enough to create something amazing that I’m truly proud of. I’ve developed a following of readers, created connections with developers, and made friends. I also found Beat Brush.

I cried so many tears while playing Beat Brush that I ended up with a headache. I had to stop, repeatedly, to get to grips with everything that the game made me face up to and how it made me inspect the fears and inadequacies I felt. They were the best kind of tears, though. A cathartic sense of relief and understanding that I allowed myself to feel and left me feeling lighter than when I started playing.

Beat Brush will result in a different gameplay experience for each person who plays it, and where that person is in terms of their mentality and life experience. If you want to follow along with development and be the first to know when there are updates, like a release date, go and wishlist/follow Beat Brush on Steam.