Games Windows
Frets on Fire
Play guitar-style rhythm tracks with your keyboard or a guitar controller in Frets on Fire, a free, open-source game with a built-in song editor.
- Operating system
- Windows; current Windows 10/11 compatibility unverified
- Architecture
- Publisher's win32 package; no native x64 or ARM build established
- Download package
- EXE installer
Publisher requirements include 128 MB RAM, OpenGL graphics with suitable drivers and a DirectX-compatible sound card. File availability was checked with HEAD only; the installer was not downloaded or run.
Link checked · Download guidance
What is Frets on Fire?
Frets on Fire turns a keyboard into a guitar-style rhythm controller. Hold the fret keys as notes approach the bottom of the screen, then press the pick key at the right moment. Longer notes require holding the frets for their duration. The default controls use F1–F5 for the five frets and Enter to pick; you can change these bindings in Settings.
The game includes a tutorial and a song editor, and the publisher also lists support for guitar controllers and generic joysticks. Its FAQ describes creating song charts from OGG music files and adding downloaded song folders under data/songs. These options give you ways to expand the music without treating the game as a real guitar-learning course.
This entry links to the publisher's Windows 1.3.110 installer through SourceForge over HTTPS. The original site also offers a ZIP archive, but the selected file here is the EXE installer. Current Windows 10/11 compatibility has not been established by the sources checked. Keyboard hardware is another practical limit: some keyboards cannot register the simultaneous keys needed for chords. The publisher recommends remapping controls and using the Settings key tester to check the chosen combination.
What it offers
- Five-fret rhythm gameplay with configurable keyboard controls and sustained notes.
- Publisher-listed support for guitar controllers and generic joysticks.
- An in-game tutorial and song editor for creating charts from OGG music files.
- Add song folders under data/songs, as described in the publisher's FAQ.
Good to know
- Some keyboards cannot register every simultaneous key combination needed for chords; remapping and the Settings key tester can help identify a usable layout.
- Windows 10/11 compatibility is unverified. The publisher lists OpenGL graphics with suitable drivers and a DirectX-compatible sound card as requirements; no installation or gameplay test was performed.
Product images
Sources
References used for this listing. Retrieval dates do not indicate hands-on testing.
- Frets On Fire — publisher downloads ↗Retrieved
- About Frets On Fire ↗Retrieved
- Frets on Fire documentation — How to play the game ↗Retrieved
- Frets on Fire FAQ ↗Retrieved
- Frets on Fire — official screenshots ↗Retrieved
- Frets on Fire - Download ↗Retrieved
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