Beat the Intro – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Beat the Intro

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2020

28%

WISE Score

4.8

App Store

A generic rhythm game wrapped around one of the most predatory subscription models in mobile gaming—$400+ a year to slash neon blocks.

Beat the Intro

app

4+, 2020

28%

WISE Score

4.8

App Store

A generic rhythm game wrapped around one of the most predatory subscription models in mobile gaming—$400+ a year to slash neon blocks.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

This is mobile gaming at its worst. Beat the Intro takes a perfectly fine rhythm game concept and wraps it in one of the most exploitative subscription models I've seen: $7.99 per week. That's over $400 a year to play a casual mobile game with 'neon glow assets.'

Amanotes knows what they're doing—they're one of the biggest music game publishers in the world, and they've clearly optimized for extracting maximum revenue from young players who don't understand that clicking 'Subscribe' means their parents' credit card gets charged every single week, forever, unless someone remembers to cancel.

The game itself? Totally generic. Hold and drag, slash some blocks, avoid obstacles. It's fine. But there are dozens of better rhythm games (including Beat Saber, Geometry Dash, or even Just Dance) that don't require a second mortgage.

Hard pass. If your kid wants a music game, literally any other option is better than this subscription trap.

Age Fit

Marketed to kids and teens who enjoy rhythm games, but the predatory monetization makes this inappropriate for anyone who doesn't fully understand subscription economics—which is most kids under 16.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The app's aggressive monetization ($7.99/week subscription pushed heavily) and manipulative design patterns undermine any wholesome qualities. The neon aesthetic and music gameplay are fine, but the constant upselling and premium-gating of content creates a stressful, commercialized experience rather than a joyful one.

Imaginative

This is a basic rhythm-action game with generic 'hold and drag' mechanics. Players follow pre-set patterns to music rather than creating anything original. The 'neon style' is trendy but derivative. No creative expression, building, or exploration—just repetitive level-grinding through hundreds of similar challenges.

Safe

Major red flags: $7.99/week subscription (over $400/year!) aggressively marketed to kids, auto-renewing by default. The free version likely gates most content behind paywalls, creating constant pressure to spend. While there's no inappropriate content, the exploitative monetization model targeting young players is predatory. Kids Mode exists but doesn't address the core manipulation.

Enriching

Minimal educational or developmental value. While rhythm games can improve hand-eye coordination and timing, this is a shallow, repetitive experience designed to extract subscription revenue. The 'hundreds of levels' are likely filler content to justify ongoing payments. No meaningful skill-building, problem-solving, or artistic growth.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Rhythm games can improve hand-eye coordination and timing skills
Neon aesthetic might appeal to kids who like flashy visuals
Music-based gameplay can be engaging in short bursts
From Amanotes, a publisher with over 1 billion downloads (though that's not necessarily a quality indicator)

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What to Watch For

The $7.99/WEEK subscription is absolutely outrageous—that's $415/year for a casual mobile game
Auto-renewing subscription is on by default, making it easy to accidentally rack up charges
Free version likely heavily restricts content, creating constant pressure to upgrade
Repetitive gameplay loop designed more for monetization than genuine fun
Kids may not understand the difference between a one-time purchase and a weekly subscription

Conversation Starters

"What songs do you like playing? Are there ones you can't access without paying?"
"Do you know how much the VIP subscription costs per week? Per year?"
"What makes this game fun for you compared to other music games?"
"Have you seen ads or popups asking you to subscribe? How does that feel?"

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