A rhythm game played on the keyboard
Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL is a rhythm game built around keyboard play, wrapped in a space exploration setting. You captain the science vessel Ausflug with Shii, the navigator and operator of the ship, and travel through the Sixtar system together. The game is in Early Access, and Adventure mode, which shows the story of Sixtar Gate, is still in the works, so expect the narrative side to grow over time rather than arrive complete.
The gate system changes the shape of each song
The core idea that sets this apart is the gate system. Gates open and close with the flow of the song, which changes how many lanes you have to watch at any given moment. That means the note field is not a fixed shape you can settle into; it keeps shifting, and you have to stay attentive from start to finish. If you have played more traditional rhythm games where the lane count stays constant, this is the main adjustment to make before you sit down for a long session.
Music from familiar names and original artists
The track list mixes songs most rhythm game players will already know, including Life is PIANO, Brain Power, and CO5M1C R4ILR0AD, with original tracks from Sound Souler, KARUT, and yomoha that appear only in Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL. The developers also plan to bring in tracks from well-known franchises such as VOCALOID and Touhou Project, which are not commonly found in other rhythm games. Songs are tied to the gates, so learning a track means learning when its lanes shift as much as learning the notes.
Playing together through Unity Session
Online Co-op is supported through Unity Session, a free-form multiplayer mode. Everyone plays and interacts in the same place at the same time, with no limits on how you take part. You do not have to be good at rhythm games to join in; you can play your favorite songs, or simply listen to the music alongside the rest of the group. That makes it a workable option for a Discord call where some friends want to chase scores and others just want to hang out while the music runs.