FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) games involve building robots to achieve certain objectives laid out in the game manual. In competition, teams' robots are placed on alliances and compete against another alliance for every match. Game objectives award points when achieved, and the alliance with the most points wins at the end of the match. Teams not only play to enjoy the game, but also to develop a sense of mutual respect for other teams, even in the face of competition, through the FIRST ethos of Coopertition and Gracious Professionalism.

Crescendo presents a game in which teams from all over the globe use their STEAM skills and creativity to build robots that score notes in-game. Notes, or orange rings, are the game piece used throughout the competition. The three scoring locations for the notes are the speaker, amp, and trap.