Tape to Tape is an arcade hockey roguelite from Excellent Rectangle that left Early Access on October 23, 2026, and the reception is strongly positive. It holds a Very Positive rating from recent Steam reviews, backed by more than 4,000 recommendations across its life. If you are wondering whether this blend of arcade checking, branching runs, and bribable referees is worth your time, the short answer is yes — especially if you want an arcade sports game with real progression between matches.
Critical Reception
On Steam the game sits at Very Positive, with 560 recent reviews counted at the time of writing. Metacritic's Metascore is still effectively "to be confirmed" because it needs more critic reviews, but the first scored review is a strong one: Shacknews awarded a 90/100 on October 26, 2026. Their write-up calls Tape to Tape "a perfect pick-up-and-play sports title that respects the player's time" and highlights emergent moments like random fights on the ice, a match against soccer players, and the game's active and passive power-ups.
Early user ratings on Metacritic are more split. Five user ratings produced a "Mixed or Average" score of 5.6, with 60% positive and 40% negative. That is a small sample, but it is a useful reminder that the game's randomness divides opinion: players who enjoy the chaos are loud about it, while a minority bounce off the same unpredictability.
How It Plays
Tape to Tape plays like an old-school arcade hockey game rather than a simulation. Reviewers compare its core feel to NHL '94 and NBA Jam, layered with the absurd energy of games like Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey and NFL Blitz. There is no icing, no offsides, and no hit that is too big; the referee exists mostly to drop the puck — and occasionally to cause trouble.
What separates it from those classics is the roguelite frame on top. You do not just pick a team and play one exhibition; you manage a squad across a branching campaign, hire players, collect abilities and Relics, and pay for permanent Blademaster upgrades. Between matches, decisions about recruits, injuries, and which player sits on the bench shape the entire run.
The Roguelite Loop
Campaigns follow Angus McShaggy, a former golfer turned hockey player, on a three-act journey to restore hockey to its former glory. Each act mixes minibosses and a boss team, and every new campaign randomizes the branching path you take. You always start with a first-goal-wins match, then choose routes through events, challenges, and elite opponents before the boss.
At the start of a run you pick from three randomized skills — options range from throwing your stick to a super dash to recalling the puck like a yo-yo — then draft a superstar teammate, three more random players, and a passive Artifact. Early examples include Rigged Faceoff, which lets you always win the drop; Briberee, which lets the referee body-check the other team; and Remarkable Rock, which makes the first goal worth two. That opening draft instantly defines what kind of team you are building.
Winning earns Rubber, a currency you keep win or lose and spend on new abilities, superstars, or stat upgrades for Angus. One of the most memorable early bosses is a team of crooked referees who intercept the puck, throw it to the opposition, and can even disallow your goals. Losing a main match ends the run, so a bad bounce can erase real progress — part of why the game feels genuinely high-stakes.
Moment-to-Moment Fun
The fun is in the chaos between whistles. Players describe heart-in-the-mouth finishes where a run comes down to squeezing in one last goal, and the presentation sells every moment — body checks that flex the plexiglass, music stings on every score, and rival teams built around a single joke. One reviewer singled out a prison family team where every player shares a surname and the celebration song mixes taser sounds into dubstep. The detail is there if you look for it, and it keeps the game from feeling like a dry sports sim.
What Players Praise
- Accessible controls — you can skate, pass, shoot, and body-check without hours of practice.
- Run-to-run variety — randomized skills, Relics, and recruits mean no two campaigns feel identical.
- Personality and humor — from a prison team whose celebration music includes taser sounds to referees who cheat openly.
- Satisfying detail — plexiglass that flexes on big hits, music stings on every goal, and expressive, paper-like characters.
- Real progress between runs — unlocks, benchwarmer quests, and Blademaster upgrades carry something forward each run.
What Players Criticize
- Randomness can feel unfair when a teammate skates past a loose puck or a goalie lets in a soft shot.
- No native online matchmaking — multiplayer is local or played through Steam Remote Play Together.
- Not a simulation — no licensed teams, no franchise mode, and no manual goalie control.
- Balance concerns — some abilities and builds can dominate, which makes experimentation less tempting.
The 1.0 Difference
Tape to Tape was funded through Kickstarter in 2022 and entered Steam Early Access in May 2023. The biggest overhaul, Campaign 2.0, entered public testing in October 2025 and rebuilt progression, team management, squads, and injuries. Through 2026 the developer kept tuning difficulty, movement, goaltenders, and offensive and defensive AI.
The 1.0 release arrived on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, with 11 interface and subtitle languages. The game is built around four core Squads — GM, Violence, Retro, and Slapshot — and the full build expands far beyond the original lineup; one post-launch breakdown counts 19 playable squads, each with its own rules and starting conditions. At around $20 at its regular Steam price, it is a much cheaper ask than a full-price sports release.
Should You Buy It?
| Buy it if... | Skip it if... |
|---|---|
| You love arcade sports like NBA Jam or NHL '94 | You want a realistic hockey simulation |
| You enjoy roguelite runs and building unusual teams | You want licensed teams or a franchise mode |
| You play couch co-op or via Steam Remote Play Together | You need native online matchmaking |
| You want personality and humor in a sports game | You dislike randomness and RNG-heavy outcomes |
Verdict
Tape to Tape is an easy recommendation for fans of arcade sports and anyone who wants a roguelite with personality. It is not a realistic hockey sim, and its randomness will frustrate some players, but the hockey itself is accessible and the redesigned campaign gives the 1.0 release far more variety than the original Early Access build. If you want a pick-up-and-play hockey game that still rewards long-term play, this is one of the strongest options in years.
The final Metascore remains to be confirmed until more critic reviews land.