Video game review outlet IGN is facing major backlash after awarding the controversial game Mixtape a rare perfect 10/10 score. The publication—long joked about online for routinely handing out 7/10 ratings—has reportedly given only a small handful of games perfect scores over the past three decades. That makes the review especially notable.
Scene from the Mixtape launch trailer – Annapurna Interactive, YouTube
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Players on YouTube and X who have tried Mixtape criticized everything from shallow gameplay and awkward gross-out moments to what some see as forced diversity. Others, meanwhile, argued the game doesn’t go far enough in its representation. Many players also took issue with the game’s relatively short runtime. Across social media, some critics are labeling both Mixtape itself—and the kind of artistic praise IGN used to defend it—as pretentious.
People giving Mixtape a 10/10 think Holden Caulfield is profound.
This is the most pretentious, millennial, reddit-pilled, garbage.
If you’re claiming “muh nostalgia!!”, you peaked in high school.
— Fake Wizard (@RealLifeFakeWiz) May 9, 2026
Overall, the incident highlights the growing divide between audiences and legacy outlets that claim to provide honest critiques.
Questions Over Mixtape’s “Indie” Image
Mixtape launched May 7 on all major consoles and PC via Steam. Developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive, the game is a nostalgia-driven coming-of-age story set in the 1990s. It follows three teenagers during their final night together before graduating high school.
Scene from the Mixtape launch trailer – Annapurna Interactive, YouTube
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Even before release, however, Mixtape faced accusations of being an “industry plant.”
✅️ Published by the daughter of the 5th richest man in the world
✅️ Government funding
✅️ Fully licensed soundtrack despite being ‘indie’
✅️ Perfect scores
✅️ Expensive gift sets sent to content creatorsMixtape is an industry plant and you can’t convince me otherwise https://t.co/cpr0Wb8jSZ
— Deez Games 🎮 (@_Deez_Games) May 9, 2026
Despite its indie branding, the game features a soundtrack packed with major artists including The Smashing Pumpkins, Joy Division, and The Cure. Licensing those songs likely required a substantial budget far beyond most small indie projects. Critics also pointed to the game’s aggressive marketing campaign, which included elaborate promotional packages sent to online influencers before launch.
IGN’s Review Sparks Wider Debate
In his glowing review for IGN, Simon Cardy praises Mixtape’s “incredible music” and emotional storytelling. Cardy argues that players “aren’t given choices here, but experience these fully-formed characters’ hijinks and heartaches, warts and all.”
IGN frames the title less as a traditional challenge-based game and more as an immersive emotional experience. The review says there is “no interest in fail states or high score chasing here, instead prioritizing existing in and enjoying the moment.” It adds that the game’s simple mechanics intentionally reflect its nostalgic tone, with each sequence designed to “elicit a fresh emotion through interactivity in a way that only video games can.”
Scene from the Mixtape launch trailer – Annapurna Interactive, YouTube
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The backlash toward the IGN review is clearly visible online. Some players claim Mixtape “literally plays itself,” arguing that entire sections can be completed with little or no controller input.
I rarely do this but movie games like Mixtape that barely has anything that can be called gameplay is scoring a 10
While games with a lot of gameplay & genuinely fun to play are getting lower scores
It’s not sending the right message to game developers, companies & publishers https://t.co/LDchfcW8lj pic.twitter.com/KljBTIAek1
— GamesLover with a Preference (@lofi_lover0930) May 9, 2026
To them, the title feels less like a game players actively engage with and more like a slightly interactive film they passively watch. Others argue that exceptionally high scores from outlets like IGN send the wrong message—not just to readers, but to the gaming industry itself—by rewarding cinematic presentation and atmosphere over gameplay depth and player agency.
A Growing Trust Gap in Gaming Media
Ultimately, the backlash IGN is facing for its Mixtape review goes far beyond the game’s shortcomings. For many players, the controversy reflects a growing sense of inauthenticity in gaming journalism. When credibility comes into question, those looking for information turn to other sources. In an era where audiences can instantly compare reviews with raw gameplay footage and community reactions, trust has become just as important as the score itself.
Do you think IGN deserves the backlash it’s getting for the Mixtape review? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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