LudumData

Cableman [a rhythm game] by rucksack

[raw]
made by rucksack for Ludum Dare 59 (JAM)

Thanks to your positive feedback, we will continue developing our game and publish it on Steam! You can add the game to your wishlist here

Steam announcement trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53RpqETmaTw

You are CABLEMAN, chosen to do the most important job of all: connect cables. Move to the rhythm of the world to get the cable to the signal station, but don't let the spark catch up to you in this necrodancer-like!

Cableman_gif1.gif

Screenshot 2026-04-20 174229.png

Controls

  • WASD or arrow keys to move
  • space for calibrating and menu controls
  • ESC to open the menu

Hints

  • Everything moves to the beat. If you time it right, you can switch places with an enemy coming towards you.
  • Skipping a beat is necessary sometimes. Just don't overdo it, or else the spark will catch up.
  • You're safe in your van. Sometimes it's best to wait and observe first.
  • If you're not hitting any beats, open the menu and recalibrate.

OST

Cableman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeY3BoNi6a0

Fiberman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOs2INvtwsE

Postjam-fixed version

We uploaded a postjam version that contains a few bugfixes made after the end of the gamejam: - fixed a bug that occasionally crashes the game during the transition to the future - fixed a bug that stops the music from looping when recalibrating during the future levels - fixed a bug that leads to wrong hit detection when playing with high latency / low difficulty - reworked collision detection because of unintended behaviour - added some buttons that link to the Steam page of the game :)

Link https://rucksack.itch.io/cableman
Link https://rucksack.itch.io/cableman
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/59/cableman-a-rhythm-game

Ratings

Overall 22th 4.287⭐ 77🧑‍⚖️
Fun 7th 4.322⭐ 78🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 246th 3.667⭐ 77🧑‍⚖️
Theme 403th 3.793⭐ 77🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 441th 3.727⭐ 77🧑‍⚖️
Audio 2th 4.586⭐ 78🧑‍⚖️
Humor 128th 3.767⭐ 77🧑‍⚖️
Mood 225th 3.967⭐ 77🧑‍⚖️
Given 109🗳️ 154🗨️

Feedback

Jamope_
Apr 20th · 22:59 UTC
Love the song! Hahaha, super cool game!
DecadeDecaf
Apr 20th · 23:02 UTC
This game is so cool!! You love to see a rhythm game with such effective music. The learning curve is great and I loved all the new mechanics introduced in the second area. I like how you're punished for staying in place for too long, even though stalling is sometimes required to beat levels. That's really great design. The UI wrapping around the screen and pulsating to the beat is also a nice touch.

I tried playing on web at first, but my game froze during the transition to the future. After downloading the game and replaying all the levels, the game didn't freeze anymore. Ended up sticking around for the bonus levels, and I'm glad I did! Had a lot of fun.

![cableman.jpg](///raw/d0f/12/z/7122b.jpg)
MajoMirez
Apr 20th · 23:26 UTC
Ayoo if this is not inspired in NecroDancer, I don't know what it is. I loved it, this is a pretty good take on rhythm + puzzle! Also, I loved both art styles (past and future) and the music, so ad hoc! This probably gonna be one of my faves this jam
🎤 rucksack
Apr 20th · 23:29 UTC
@decadedecaf Yeah the game seems to crash at the transition from time to time, and I really don't know why. I just uploaded a new version which *might* hopefully have fixed the crash. But nice that you downloaded the game and played it again :)
Natalie Chenard
Apr 21st · 02:27 UTC
Got the rhythm of it right away. I enjoyed the beat and having to out pace the electric shock.
LaurLehepuu
Apr 21st · 08:46 UTC
Died 111 times, but beat all the levels. Would do it all over again to hear you sing about cableman. Really cool game with a surprising amount of levels. Nice to see a rhythm game that actually works. Respect to all of our cablemen. Good job to everyone on the team! (Cableman, The soundtrack i mean, is def going on my playlists)
LDJam user 4312
Apr 21st · 09:21 UTC
Love the concept and even if I'm really bad at rythm games I tried to get as far as possible but after the little time travel the new beat threw me completely off the tracks. But overall really fun!
a333
Apr 21st · 13:50 UTC
Cool, challenging, and very well executed. Probably was a fun task to sync movement with music. OST is just fire to!
I've got stuck on "Travelling to the future screen", though, but I've had a lot of fun.
chakramgl
Apr 21st · 14:15 UTC
I think this is one of the best uses of the theme in a rhythm game. The game is clear from the start, and there’s nothing that gets in the way of playing. For me, it’s a really fun game with a great vibe and an awesome soundtrack (this track is very catchy and immediately pulls you into the flow). I’ll be humming it tomorrow. Looking forward to new levels. Super!
Kroko
Apr 21st · 17:32 UTC
Very fun! and so hard haha
braktheman
Apr 21st · 19:35 UTC
Once you get to the future the difficulty really starts to pick up. Super fun game, mechanics worked well for me and I did make it all the way through in the browser version.

That first song about the Cableman is such a banger and the beat switchup in the future world is a nice touch.

Really great bones on this one and a fun game!

Everybody did a fantastic job!
FuryOhFury
Apr 22nd · 09:14 UTC
The song is funny, good theme following. Great game!
Anatei
Apr 22nd · 09:21 UTC
Wow, that was cool. I really enjoyed the music and the gameplay. Great job. I'll be humming Cabelman all day now)
Tunasandwich
Apr 22nd · 09:41 UTC
I had so much fun playing this game ! The designs are very cute and the music is great ! I gave it up before the end but would definitely try it again later
Pavel Goncharov
Apr 22nd · 14:01 UTC
Good rhythm game! Once you get used to the controls, it can be very fun to play. Unfortunately, I got stuck at a point I couldn’t get past...
Abiral
Apr 22nd · 18:11 UTC
the music was good haha, and i liked how the idle animation of player vibes with it, enjoyed the gameplay.
Xiao Duye
Apr 22nd · 20:10 UTC
Super interesting game！ Love the whole design!
Barbapapa
Apr 22nd · 21:52 UTC
So good game! I was digging throughout the whole session, very fun to work with the music in that way. I'm impressed by what you managed to make in such a short time, amazing work, especially on the sound department!
jnur
Apr 22nd · 21:57 UTC
I have no sense of rhythm, so I wasn't able to get very far into the game. But I did play enough to know that it's great, the visuals and sounds were superb and the vibes overall fit together well. I wish I had the skill to complete the game, but I just stumble way too much when I have to do something strictly to a rhythm while actually thinking of what I'm doing :smile:
Soothsayer
Apr 22nd · 22:04 UTC
Really quite fun, a lot of levels for a jam project. I think it introduced new mechanics at a pace that kept it interesting, which is obviously a good thing. Neat!
Kerdelos
Apr 22nd · 22:54 UTC
Just for the cableman song I'm glad I played this game !

I kinda ragequit at the level whith 4 lasers in the row. I was always missing the last one. I blame some kind of delay/glitch due to the web version but maybe I'm just bad at rythm.
The calibration at startup is a great idea, thanks for adding that and helping everyone have a nice experience.

Good job :)
LDJam user 424632
Apr 23rd · 09:26 UTC
Awesome soundtrack! I loved how the levels gradually increase in difficulty. It's a great rhythm game. At first, I didn't realize you could skip beats and tried to figure out the optimal level state at the very beginning :D
Great job, good luck :)
OttoBroccoli
Apr 23rd · 14:07 UTC
Wow, I was nodding my head to the beat the whole time — great immersion, the music really hits, excellent work!
Purrseus
Apr 23rd · 15:30 UTC
Holy shmeckeroly, I have not been hooked this much by a rhythm game since Crypt of the Necrodancer itself!

Everything fits together perfectly! The difficulty curve is really good, the game's good style and especially the music is amazing - which is essential for rhythm game! The beats are soooo satisfying to move too! I actually had problems to stop when it was necessary for the puzzle because I WANTED to move :D

Both songs SLAP and the lyrics are a hilarious, yet ingenious addition. I'll carry the music in my ear for the next few days for sure :grin:

And thank you for including bonus levels!!

Absolutely amazing, 5/5 game :heart:
RenD
Apr 23rd · 19:53 UTC
Best soundtrack of the whole jam!! I like how it's a simple concept but you progressively build upon it, it keeps things interesting during the whole playtime. You even thought about calibrating (which helped a lot playing through Parsec). Really good job!
Papaver
Apr 23rd · 20:47 UTC
Oooh that was so much fun! I was already dancing to the music even before I started haha.
I enjoyed all the levels, especially the future levels and the bonus levels! Great concept and great execution.

![Cableman2.png](///raw/4a0/2/z/7282b.png)
InkyH
Apr 24th · 05:48 UTC
SO FUN!!The music is great, love the idea and overall mood so much!
Eric Nguyen
Apr 24th · 14:04 UTC
Such a great idea. You guys really captured the necrodancer vibe very well, but you still did a great job adding your own charm and identity. The soundtrack is an instant classic as well haha.
half-animal-half-beast
Apr 24th · 15:00 UTC
really cool game, i enjoyed it a lot. nothing to complain about in terms of gameplay, style, or overall fun. great job!

i noticed that when i start losing the rhythm, it actually helps to make a little “click” sound with my tongue to stay on beat 😄

i’m not super knowledgeable about music theory, but it felt like movement is locked to full beats (1-2-3-4). it could be interesting to allow half-beat movement as well, maybe to make some sections feel faster or more flexible.

one more small note, not just about your game but in general: it’s nice to know how much content is ahead, especially in jam games. even a simple progress indicator or level count could make that clearer. but honestly, that’s more of a minor thought since i didn’t really find any major downsides in your amazing game.

really enjoyed it!
dk5000p
Apr 24th · 19:32 UTC
Loved the song. Either I calibrated wrong or was not sure exactly when to move but good game.
Starlight Glimmer is best poney
Apr 24th · 21:46 UTC
Well, this was a treat.

https://youtu.be/X0qIAg_SKs8

I regret not noticing the desktop build.
LLlarsO
Apr 25th · 09:24 UTC
@alaah Thank you for uploading your gameplay of "Crypt of the CABLEdancer". ;)
It's always nice for our team to see how people are playing the game and how dedicated many of you are to completing all levels. Thank you for your kind words at the end.

@half-animal-half-beast Thanks a lot for your comment! Good idea with the progression bar. We will definitely think about it. :)

@purrseus "Holy shmeckeroly" is such a great expression. :D Thank you, and if you don’t want to stand still, you can always jump back and forth if there’s enough space.

@braktheman Congrats for beating the game and thank you for the nice comment.

We had a lot of fun with this project and reading your comments and watching your gameplay on Twitch or on YouTube is just awesome. :)
nexusasx10
Apr 25th · 10:03 UTC
I did it! Very cool game. I like the music and vibe especially in future.
![Снимок экрана 2026-04-25 140113.png](///raw/eaf/76/z/72aad.png)
WeirdBitGames
Apr 25th · 15:02 UTC
Amazing music! I also really love games that make the UI an intricate part of the game - ie the border of the screen is actually the length of the cable!
nerdyHerbivore
Apr 25th · 19:52 UTC
Omg, the song is such a jam. Love this very fun and good level design
Pimeko
Apr 25th · 23:19 UTC
Well that was just awesome! The part in the future when you hit that "dum dum dum" and the path is working is sooo satisfying haha
Great music, great vibe, cute storytelling via the cable, honestly awesome entry congrats :)
Wendel Scardua
Apr 26th · 17:41 UTC
![Captura de tela 2026-04-26 143430.png](///raw/bdb/1/z/72c4a.png)

The only bad thing about this game is that it ends.

Reading the comments, it's funny that I was not the only one who forgot for a moment that we could stop for a beat, luckly one of the earlier levels requires it to progress.
Hurp
Apr 26th · 18:26 UTC
Fantastic song and gameplay! Cableman.
Tygrak
Apr 26th · 18:57 UTC
Wicked music! For some reason I was terrible at hitting the beat, even after I turned it to easy difficulty, but I think that's just a me problem -- guess I am just beat deaf :D. But I pushed through and the game was very fun!
LDJam user 409682
Apr 26th · 20:07 UTC
Glad to see another rhythm game! I liked the visuals and the music, but hitting the rhythm was quite difficult. I had to calibrate three times just to get through the first level. In the end, I made it to the motorcycle level, where I got stuck. Despite that, I really liked the variety of levels. Overall, I enjoyed the game!

I’d be glad if you checked out my rhythm bullet hell game 🙂
mostlypants
Apr 26th · 21:53 UTC
haven't ever stuck with (or enjoyed!) a rhythm game before this one, now I want to go give necrodancer another shot.
Hiretsu
Apr 26th · 22:04 UTC
Loooooved it! Really fun gameplay (very tough some times, in a good way) and and absolutely loved the OST, great jam!
LDJam user 424326
Apr 27th · 14:32 UTC
![изображение_2026-04-27_223220423.png](///raw/689/76/z/72ce0.png)

I absolutely fell in love with your first track—it really hits hard.
The idea is very simple, yet brilliant at the same time.
I’d really love to see you continue developing this project.
LDJam user 259103
Apr 28th · 07:24 UTC
This was really fun! There was a surprisingly large amount of content here, and it was all well-designed. I felt it pretty fully explored its mechanics, which I don't always see in jam games. I also loved the rhythm switch-up on the future levels. I was worried at first when the initial few levels could all be completed by just moving right, but I shouldn't have doubted the game, since the later levels (especially the bonus ones) got quite interesting. I played on the default difficulty, which felt about right to me - maybe I'll give it a try on hard when I have time.

I'm not sure if this is a good or bad amount of deaths (some of were caused by just spamming the arrow keys to reset quickly after a mistake), but here are my stats:

![cableman-complete.png](///raw/f14/f3/z/72f06.png)
VenomousMouse
Apr 28th · 10:49 UTC
Folks, the track is sick. Cool graphics and mechanic. Very nice work!
LDJam user 423872
Apr 28th · 10:54 UTC
This is probably a great game, but I couldn't even pass the first level 🤪
Emsea
Apr 28th · 20:58 UTC
Really appreciate you giving me the opportunity to play this [on stream.](https://www.youtube.com/live/EVIN76_gvMg?si=FpDeznPE56rZl5vR&t=9978)

*Full commentary in the VOD.* The tldr: I wouldn't say these types of rhythm games are my cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself playing Cableman. The main song is quite an earworm and keeps you going.
LLlarsO
Apr 29th · 13:04 UTC
@wendel-scardua Under 100 deaths after bonus levels is quite good. Thank you for the kind words.

@fassenberg I have checked your game and commented it. Nice to see other rhythm games. :)

@mostlypants That is such a nice compliment, thank you for that!

@pipetto Thanks to the support of this community, you included, we will announce something in the next days. ;)

@python-b5 Pics do not work on LD page right now. What was your death count?

@weirdbitgames, @nerdyherbivore, @pimeko, @nexusasx10, @venomousmouse, @hiretsu, @tygrak, @hurp and too all who commented: Thank you for your feedback. <3
LDJam user 259103
Apr 29th · 17:15 UTC
@lllarso Right, forgot about that. Images seem to be working again now (I guess they were fixed during the brief downtime just now?), so I've edited my comment to reupload the screenshot.
LLlarsO
Apr 29th · 17:24 UTC
@python-b5 Ah thanks and good that pics are working again.
Under 100 deaths is not bad with bonus levels. :) Some people die over 200 times. @decadedecaf is still the best here with just 27 deaths.
Wendel Scardua
Apr 29th · 18:36 UTC
@lllarso

> @wendel-scardua Under 100 deaths after bonus levels is quite good. Thank you for the kind words.

I must confess I changed it to "easy" at some point because I kept missing notes (probably I just didn't calibrate it correctly)
blinry
Apr 29th · 19:46 UTC
Love everything about this! The first song is super catchy, and I listen to the OST as I type this! :D

The levels introduce the gameplay elements very well, and the game feels fair and rewarding. There's little not to like! :D

![cablemap.png](///raw/84/z/72f38.png)
Zathnic
Apr 29th · 22:46 UTC
Very satisfying rhythm game! The music is catchy and works super well with the mechanics, making the game intuitive and easy to get into. The difficulty curve is smooth as well. Overall a great entry, very fun!
LDJam user 304226
Apr 30th · 23:56 UTC
Couldn't finish unfortunately, the web version crashed after level with timing going through 2 people walking, but nevertheless, really cool and interesting take on necrodancer, the song made me chuckle every time it said "cableman". Great game!
LDJam user 428140
May 01st · 22:53 UTC
Cableman is going to be stuck in my head for days, what a banger! Loved how the screen border is literally the cable too, such a clever touch. Super fun entry, great work!
Ausstein
May 02nd · 15:01 UTC
![Screenshot 2026-05-02 170039.png](///raw/7a3/22/z/7306f.png)


Best rythm game of any LD i have played. Wow this was so much fun and usually i dont enjoy rythm games that much. Good job!
partialmoon
May 03rd · 10:10 UTC
Very fun game, and the song is super catchy! I think the song is really well-produced and fits the game very well, as you can easily tell when you have to tap and move to the beat. Whenever you fail a level you can tell exactly what went wrong, and how you have to improve in order to progress. The levels are also diverse and fun, with new challenges being introduced at a nice pace (nice tempo? :D). I like how dynamic everything is, and how everything on screen reacts to the music. Great job! I am waiting for the Cableman album and for new levels :)
jordantanner
May 04th · 03:33 UTC
Yes we definitely need a Cableman album now, or at least a single on Spotfiy!! Game was great, very polished and fun. Beatmatch was a nice gameplay touch and is a differentiator in the jam for sure! Excellent entry, really enjoyed -- congrats!
pickens-inc
May 04th · 19:50 UTC
Amazing, this is easily my favourite entry so far that i've played! Elegant, incredible amount of content. I love rhythm games, and this had me and my friends singing and stimming "cableman!" for hours after. I kinda want to hear the theme whenever I want if you post it. The fact it transforms so elegantly both in visuals and beat, and that the new beat is demonstrated during the transition? Masterfully done, genuinely. I only wish we had more silly vocals in the second half. And the fact you had time to add more bonus levels too is amazing. THis is definitely going to do numbers in the final rating, I'm certain. I loved this, I'd play a full game of it, easily.
AO-85
May 04th · 21:05 UTC
I was digging throughout the whole session, very fun to work with the music in that way. I’m impressed by what you managed to make in such a short time, amazing work, especially on the sound department!
ljol3
May 05th · 03:53 UTC
I played the postjam version, but I got glitched where my character couldn't move at all and only got shocked regardless of rhythm.

But i did still enjoy it very much!
Ming Xu
May 06th · 12:16 UTC
The game is very creative and the art style is great!
Rewzu
May 07th · 07:17 UTC
That is very cool idea! I love the song! :D The beat is clear and visual cues help with the rythm. It is really satisfying to play. Great entry! :D
zhangzhimu
May 07th · 11:32 UTC
The setting of the signal reflection is excellent, and I also really like this artistic style. This sound effect design is also very good and interesting.
LLlarsO
May 10th · 15:32 UTC
Update (12.05.26): STEAM-page is now online. WISHLIST our game if you want to support us. :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4688420?utm_source=youtube

Thanks to all the supporters here in the comment section!

2nd place in Audio and 7th place in Fun is such a great result!

We will continue the development on Steam. We already put the trailer on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53RpqETmaTw

@decadedecaf, @majomirez, @natalie-chenard, @laurlehepuu, @wisch, @a333, @chakramgl, @braktheman, @anatei, @tunasandwich, @barbapapa, @kerdelos, @catanus, @ottobroccoli, @purrseus, @rend, @papaver, @inkyh, @eric-nguyen, @alaah, @nexusasx10, @weirdbitgames, @pimeko, @wendel-scardua, @hurp, @tygrak, @fassenberg, @mostlypants, @hiretsu, @pipetto, @python-b5, @indiepanda, @venomousmouse, @blinry, @zathnic, @thatfirey, @jpat, @ausstein, @partialmoon, @jordantanner, @pickens-inc, @ao-85, @ljol3, @rewzu, @zhangzhimu.