Meowsic Devlog #1 - Building a Rhythm Platformer in UE5

Building a rhythm platformer in Unreal Engine 5 is not the most obvious choice - UE5 is typically associated with high-fidelity 3D games. But for Meowsic, it turned out to be the perfect fit.

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The core challenge was synchronising platformer movement with musical rhythm. We needed the game to feel responsive as a platformer while also rewarding players who moved in time with the music.

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We built the entire game in C++, which gave us the performance and control we needed. The animation system uses PaperZD - a 2D animation framework for UE5 - which allowed us to create fluid, hand-crafted animations for our cat protagonist.

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Level design was another interesting challenge. Each level is essentially a music editor visualised as a platforming environment. The layout of platforms, obstacles, and collectibles maps to the structure of the underlying track.

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We're still iterating on the feel of the rhythm mechanics. The goal is for players to naturally fall into the rhythm without it feeling forced. It's a delicate balance - and one we're getting closer to with each build.

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More devlogs to come as we approach our Steam launch.