Rock Hard: 1977, the worker-placement game about clawing your way to rock stardom that was designed by an actual rock star, is getting its first expansion. Ear Candy, from publisher Devir, lands in August 2026 and finally lets your band write and release chart-chasing singles.
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See how it worksThe base game drops two to five players into 1977 as aspiring musicians, grinding through gigs, demos, radio interviews and record deals across nine months of hustle. It is the work of Jackie Fuchs, better known by her stage name Jackie Fox, the bassist of pioneering 1970s all-girl rock band The Runaways, and that lived-in authenticity shows. Rock Hard sold out the 600 copies it brought to Gen Con 2024 on the first day, landed on Smithsonian magazine's best board games of 2024 list, and Paste critic Keith Law called it the best game he saw at that show. Its cheeky signature touch is the "candy" mechanic, which buys you extra actions but risks a crash if you overindulge. That is about as on-theme as game design gets.
Ear Candy leans into the music. It adds a Hit List that tracks your singles climbing the charts, plus a style-based songwriting system that draws on your character's life experiences to pen new tracks. There are two new playable characters, two new managers, new jobs, fresh goals and random gigs, extra event cards and new candy cards to shake up the run to fame. You will need the base game to play it.
Got a regular group? Create a private community, poll for the best date, vote on games, and let your friends RSVP in one place.
Set up your group for freeEar Candy arrives in August 2026, just after Gen Con. If it has you itching to get a band together first, round up your group and make a night of it.
Sources: Devir | Wikipedia | Dude! Take Your Turn
