Independent London animator Esteban Castillo-Velez has officially launched Wreckord Shop – Superstar!, a free rhythm-based mobile game inspired by his adult animated comedy series Wreckord Shop. Available now on iPhone, the game brings South London’s underground music culture, colourful characters and independent musicians together in an interactive experience that celebrates creativity and the local music scene.
What began as a self-produced animated series set in Brixton has now expanded into gaming, offering players an opportunity to explore its chaotic world while discovering music from independent artists
From an Independent Cartoon to a Rhythm Game
Wreckord Shop follows three struggling musicians, Riff, D.U.B and Vox, who spend their days running a record shop in Brixton while dreaming of making it big in the music industry. Unfortunately for the trio, their ambitions are frequently interrupted by ridiculous situations and the everyday madness surrounding them.
Rather than leaving these characters confined to an animated series, Castillo-Velez has taken their story in a new direction with Wreckord Shop – Superstar!. Players join the trio on their journey towards musical fame, attempting to transform their dreams into reality through rhythm-based gameplay, entertaining challenges and plenty of cartoon humour.
The game retains the original series’ distinctive hand-drawn visual style, combining its colourful presentation with the personality and musical influences that helped establish Wreckord Shop.
Find Your Rhythm and Become a Superstar
At its core, Wreckord Shop – Superstar! challenges players to tap vinyl records as they approach, matching their timing to the music to earn points and maintain successful streaks. Consistently hitting notes rewards players with higher scores, bonuses and the opportunity to activate SUPERSTAR mode.
Each of the three playable characters also brings something different to the experience. Riff takes centre stage with his electric guitar, Vox steps up to the microphone, and D.U.B showcases his DJ skills by scratching records.
Players can explore a dedicated Story Mode, following the characters through their increasingly chaotic pursuit of stardom. Naturally, things don’t go entirely according to plan, with troublemaking Roadmen, unexpected confrontations and even a boss battle standing between the trio and their ambitions.
For those who would rather concentrate on the music, Free Play allows players to select their favourite characters and tracks while attempting to beat their previous high scores. Additional mini-games introduce activities such as playing guitar, experimenting with DJ decks and interacting with a selection of sound-based features.
Supporting Independent Musicians
One of the most interesting aspects of Wreckord Shop – Superstar! is its dedication to showcasing independent musical talent.
Rather than relying on a soundtrack built around established chart-topping artists, Castillo-Velez has incorporated music from musicians involved in the independent scene, including Sunday Best, Greebo, Pushkick, billie-angela, soma, Coupdekat, Max Everest, Shady Ember and EVIL THWEK.
The soundtrack covers numerous genres, ranging from rock and punk to pop, R&B, club music and drum and bass, reflecting the diverse musical influences that inspired the original animated series.
Every musician featured in the game receives credit for their contributions, encouraging players to discover the artists behind the songs. It’s an approach that gives smaller musicians another platform to share their work while making music an essential part of the experience rather than simply background entertainment.
Bringing South London's Creative Culture to Life
Created largely independently by Castillo-Velez, the original Wreckord Shop animated series draws inspiration from London’s underground music communities, particularly the jungle, drum and bass, punk and rave scenes.
The animator handles much of the writing, character design, artwork and animation himself, with additional contributions from voice actors, musicians and other creatives. The result is a project that reflects the personality of South London while embracing the unconventional humour and energetic visual style associated with independent animation.
Expanding into video games represents another milestone for the project, demonstrating how an independently produced cartoon can grow beyond its original format.
For players interested in discovering something outside the usual mobile gaming releases, Wreckord Shop – Superstar! offers an unusual combination of British humour, rhythm gameplay and independent music.
Free Launch Celebration Coming to Peckham
To celebrate the game’s release, a free launch event is scheduled for Wednesday, 28 October 2026, at Four Quarters in Peckham, London, beginning at 6:30pm.
The event provides an opportunity to celebrate the project and the independent creative community surrounding it, bringing the world of Wreckord Shop back to the South London music scene that helped inspire its creation.
With the mobile game now available, Castillo-Velez continues to develop his independently created universe, introducing its characters and music to a wider audience.
Wreckord Shop – Superstar! is available to download for free on iPhone through the Apple App Store. The game requires iOS 15.0 or later.
Those interested in discovering the animated series can also visit the official Wreckord Shop website, where the project’s original content and additional information can be found.
Owner of Indie Critical. I’m passionate about highlighting independent voices in film, games, and culture. I focus on honest, thoughtful reviews and love helping great indie projects get the recognition they deserve. When I’m not writing or editing, I’m probably diving into the latest hidden gem or discovering the next big thing in the indie scene.
Written by
Lewis Langton
