The Legend of the Les Paul Reborn: A Deep Dive into the CRKD Gaming Guitar

Well, well, well. If this wasn’t the biggest surprise of 2025 (Even though it has been teased for months). A new Gibson Les Paul-style gaming guitar? I’m pretty sure that was on absolutely none of our bingo cards. But here we are, and for the 5-fret rhythm game community, it’s a momentous occasion. This week, CRKD launched their new Gibson Les Paul gaming guitar, and if you’re a veteran of plastic instruments, that name might ring a bell. Why? Because the CRKD team includes some of the original minds from RedOctane, the legendary manufacturers behind the classic Guitar Hero controllers. They’re basically the OGs of strumming and shredding, so we came in with high hopes. Let’s see if they delivered.

The Good Stuff: All Killer, No Filler

First off, let’s talk about the build quality. This guitar isn’t just a toy; it’s a genuine, premium piece of hardware. It feels sturdy, weighty, and absolutely fantastic in your hands. You won’t find any flimsy plastic here.

  • The Neck: The mechanical fret neck that comes with the Pro model is, without a doubt, the best stock neck I have ever had the pleasure of playing. The feel and responsiveness are truly next-level. This is where the experience of the CRKD team really shines through.
  • Connectivity: Connection is a seamless dream. The multi-platform version I reviewed connected to everything I threw at it-PC, Switch, PlayStation, you name it. The only one that didn’t work out of the box was Xbox, but even that can be solved with a RetroCultMods mini host adapter for an XBOX 360 connection. It’s almost as if they thought of everything. (And, next month the officially licensed Xbox model releases which supports PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series)
  • Community First: The CRKD team has been incredibly supportive and reactive to player feedback. It genuinely feels like they care about what the community wants, and that’s a rare and beautiful thing to see in the gaming hardware world.
  • Endless Customization: This guitar is a Swiss Army knife of rhythm gaming. The included mode switch lets you toggle between normal Guitar Hero mode, Fortnite Festival mode, custom keybinds, and even a special KeyJam mode that emulates a keyboard for maximum compatibility. I’m pretty sure this thing could probably do my taxes if I configured it right.
  • The Strum Bar: The hall effect strum sensor is a game-changer. It’s super responsive, and since it’s a hall effect sensor, it should be highly resistant to the kind of wear and tear that plagued older guitars. Here’s hoping this thing can withstand years of intense thrashing.
  • Full Controller Experience: This isn’t just a one-trick pony. The guitar has all the buttons of a normal controller, including two hall effect analog sticks and all the face and shoulder buttons. This means you don’t have to put your guitar down to navigate menus. (Festival players know the pain…)
  • Connection Options: You’ve got options for days. The guitar supports Bluetooth, wired, and dongle modes, and it even has a clever little compartment to store the dongle. No more losing that tiny piece of tech in the couch cushions. (RIP World Tour dongle. You are dearly missed 🙁 )
  • The App: The guitar connects to the CRKD app, where you will revel the number of the guitar (For example, mine is 5,311 out of 24,963). after the reveal experience you can use the app to configure any aspect of the guitar from key binds, to stum bar sensitivity and feedback and even the tilt angle sensor for Star Power!

The Not-So-Good Stuff: Minor Gripes and a Little Heartbreak

  • Haptic Feedback & The Encore: This is where things get a bit complicated. After spending a week with the guitar im not a huge fan of the haptic feedback on the Pro model’s strum bar. But, just before launch, CRKD announced that the upcoming Encore version would have the same hall effect strum bar but with mechanical switch feedback instead. This was a direct result of a last-minute reliability issue with the original switches. If I had known this earlier, I maybe would have gotten the Encore (but there are a few more considerations listed below).
  • Colorway Conundrum: This is my biggest personal gripe, and I’m convinced it’s a genius move by CRKD to get me to buy two guitars. The colorways are tied to the specific model. The Pro model, with its fantastic mechanical frets, only comes in a “Blueberry Burst” colorway. Meanwhile, the Encore, with its arguably less-desirable membrane frets, comes in a much prettier Black/Gold combo. My dream guitar-the Encore with mechanical frets-would require me to buy both and swap the parts (or just the encore and order a mechanical neck seperately), which is a significant hit to my wallet. You got me, CRKD.
  • Paint Job Woes: While the overall build is great, the paint job on my Blueberry Burst Pro model was a little subpar, with some jagged edges. I’ve also seen other users complaining about paint rubbing off, so that’s something to keep an eye on.

Final Thoughts & Score

Despite a few minor issues, the CRKD Gibson Les Paul is a huge step forward for the 5-fret rhythm game community. The build quality, the customization features, and the responsive design are all testaments to the fact that the CRKD team truly knows what they’re doing. The fact that they’re so supportive and reactive to player feedback makes this an even more exciting prospect.
It’s also worth giving a massive shout-out to the PDP Riffmaster. While it had its own shortcomings, it definitely paved the way and proved there was a market for high-quality new guitars, allowing the CRKD Les Paul to shred onto the scene.

Score: 8.5/10

This score is for the Pro model specifically. If the haptic feedback is improved in future iterations, or if the Encore model’s mechanical feedback proves to be excellent, this score could easily climb to a solid 9.0.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate – A Roguelike Reboot with Style and Spirit

Stepping into the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, I was instantly hit with a wave of nostalgia and excitement. There’s something special about seeing the Turtles: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo brought to life in a game that both honors their comic book roots and pushes the franchise into new, roguelike territory. From the very first run, it’s clear that Splintered Fate is not just another beat-’em-up, it’s a bold experiment that delivers both chaotic fun and a surprising amount of depth.

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Rally Arcade Classics: A Nostalgic Yet Flawed Arcade Racer

The article was written by Elie fattal.

There’s something undeniably charming about arcade style racing games. For many of us, they evoke memories of crowded arcades, the scent of popcorn, and the thrill of trying to beat our friends’ high scores. Rally Arcade Classics, developed by NETK2GAMES, attempts to capture that spirit and bring it to modern platforms like PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch (with an Xbox version on the horizon). As someone who grew up playing MotorStorm on PlayStation 3 and has a soft spot for racing games that prioritize fun over realism, I was eager to see if this indie title could scratch that itch in today’s gaming landscape.

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Mostroscopy: A Mexican Horror and Luchador Legacy

Mostroscopy is not your typical fighting game. It draws deeply from the vivid, wild imagery of 1950s Mexican horror and Luchador cinema, creating a world where masked wrestlers and classic monsters collide. The result is a game that’s both visually striking and packed with personality. The eclectic roster featuring everything from vampires to werewolves, mummies, ghosts, and, of course, Luchadores is a breath of fresh air in a genre often dominated by the same old archetypes.

The game’s presentation is a love letter to its inspirations. The color palette is bold and vibrant, with character designs that are both campy and cool. Each fighter stands out, not just in appearance but also in their animations and fighting styles. The attention to detail in their design is impressive, you can tell the developers poured a lot of love into making each character feel unique.

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Lost in the Labyrinth: Crafting and Conquering Into the Restless Ruins

A Unique Fusion of Genres and Folklore

Into the Restless Ruins, developed by Ant Workshop and published by Wales Interactive, is a roguelike deckbuilder that immediately sets itself apart by blending dungeon building, deck construction, and auto battler mechanics, all steeped in the eerie atmosphere of Scottish folklore. Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, the game invites players to not just traverse dungeons, but to design them, card by card, shaping both their path and their fate with every decision.
The game opens in Eorisdale, a misty, foreboding region that serves as your introduction to the mechanics and lore. Here, you meet memorable NPCs like the Hen Wife and the Wulver, who offer critical upgrades and card enhancements. The folklore influence is palpable, from the boss battles against figures like The Grey Man (Am Fear Liath Mòr) to the presence of the Harvest Maiden, who promises to grant your deepest desires in exchange for toil and risk.

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Undivine: Descending into Darkness in a Modern Metroidvania

When I first launched Undivine, developed by Brainium Games, I was immediately struck by its haunting atmosphere and minimalist pixel art style. Available now on Steam and Nintendo Switch, with imminent releases for Xbox and PlayStation consoles, Undivine positions itself as a dark metroidvania infused with RPG elements. The game promises freedom of exploration, rewarding progression, and a world brimming with secrets a promise that both intrigued and challenged me as I delved deeper into its abyssal narrative.

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Petit Island: A Heartfelt Adventure in a Whimsical World

Stepping into Petit Island feels like opening a storybook where every page is painted in vibrant colors and every moment is soaked in nostalgia. The game, an open-world photo exploration adventure, invites you to relive the youthful escapades of your grandpaw a once-adventurous cat whose memories are beginning to fade. You play as Lily, his devoted granddaughter, who embarks on a journey across the island to help preserve his stories before they vanish forever.

From the outset, the game’s narrative is its beating heart. The premise helping a beloved grandparent remember their past-strikes a deeply emotional chord. As someone who values storytelling in games, I found myself instantly invested in Lily’s quest. The journals scattered across the island serve as breadcrumbs, guiding you through grandpaw’s past while also encouraging you to forge your own path. The sense of legacy and intergenerational connection is palpable, making every discovery feel meaningful.

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From Barren Land to Blooming Biome: My Journey in Preserve

Preserve, developed by Bitmap Galaxy and published by Grindstone, is a unique entry in the puzzle genre, blending nature-building mechanics with strategic card play and a serene atmosphere. Now available on PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, Preserve invites players to foster thriving biomes and explore a world where harmony and balance are at the heart of every decision.

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DOOM: The Dark Ages – A New Era of Carnage and Legend

DOOM: The Dark Ages emerges as a bold and ambitious prequel to the modern DOOM saga, poised to unearth the ferocious origin story of the iconic DOOM Slayer. As the third installment in the critically acclaimed rebooted franchise, this title thrusts players into a brutal, medieval-inspired war against the legions of Hell, masterfully blending dark fantasy with signature sci-fi brutality.  

The game is scheduled for full release on May 15, 2025, with Premium Edition owners gaining early access from May 13, 2025. It will be available on PC (via Steam, Battle.net, and the Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5 (with enhancements for PlayStation 5 Pro), and Xbox Series X|S. Furthermore, DOOM: The Dark Ages will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one of its full launch.

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