People love video games, and people love music. But if you’re someone who adores both, you must have probably heard of rhythm games. They are video games too. But you can define them as a sub-genre of video games. This sub-genre blends gaming and music, allowing you to rock out to your beloved melodies while challenging your reflexes and abilities.
Whether you love rock, R&B, or EDM, there’s a rhythm game that will surely suit your taste. They make you feel like a superstar, a dancer, or even a composer as you groove along to your favorite beats.
But apart from just being video games, they can be much more. Why you ask? Well, if you look at it the other way, these rhythm games can benefit your mind and reflexes. By playing these games, you can enhance your musical abilities, coordination, and memory and even uplift your mood. Also, you connect with fellow music and gaming buddies, allowing you to share your joy and passion with others in a classic team play.
It does not matter if you’re a champion gamer or someone who simply enjoys music. If you are looking for a new fun way to enjoy your favorite music, rhythm games are sure to sway your attention. So, without further ado, let us dive right into the world of rhythm games and see what it offers and how to play some!
So, What Are Rhythm Games?
Rhythm games make you groove to the beat. You need to hit buttons or pads in rhythm with the tunes and the screen. The more you nail it, the more points and applause you get. Solo or with pals, rhythm games are a blast, a test, and a treat.
The genre began in Japan, where PaRappa the Rapper rocked in 1996. It starred a dog who rapped his way to his crush’s heart by following his mentor’s words. The game was awesome, with catchy songs, funky graphics, and a hilarious story. It also started the basic rule for many rhythm games: press buttons to the music.
Then came Konami with Beatmania in 1997, which was like being a DJ with a turntable. The game was so cool that Konami made more music games like GuitarFreaks and DrumMania, and Pop’n Music. But the biggest and best one was Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) in 1998.
DDR made fans dance and groove for ages. You had to step on a mat with arrows, matching them with your feet and to the arrow instructions on the screen. The game was a hit in arcades and homes everywhere, drawing people of all kinds. It also led to many clones and twists, like Pump It Up, In the Groove, and Just Dance.
But rhythm games were still not hot in the West. That changed in 2005, when Harmonix launched Guitar Hero for PS2. The game had a guitar controller with buttons and a strum bar. You had to press and strum them as per the notes on the screen. You could do this while jamming to rock songs by legends like Queen, Black Sabbath, and Guns N’ Roses.
Guitar Hero was a smash in the West, selling tons of copies. It created a huge craze for more rhythm games. Harmonix made subsequent Guitar Hero games with more songs, features, and modes. The game also had many spin-offs and rivals, like Rock Band (which added drums and vocals). DJ Hero (which used a turntable) and Band Hero (which was for kids) were other variations.
By the late 2000s, rhythm games were one of the top sub-genres in gaming. It was making loads of money and reaching new fans. The sub-genre also gave a new way for artists to share their music and earn from licensing deals. Some artists even made their own games, like Aerosmith, Metallica, and The Beatles.
Why Are Rhythm Games So Addictive?
Rhythm games have a way of captivating players. They do this by seamlessly blending the excitement of gaming with the pure joy of music. It’s a unique combination that creates an engaging experience. You can attribute several factors that make them addictive in nature. Here are a few ones we think do the magic:
#1. The Magic of Music 🎶
Music is magic. It can make us feel happy, sad, excited, or relaxed. It can bring back memories and spark our imagination. Rhythm games tap into this magic by making music the core of their gameplay. They let us dive into amazing soundtracks that match our actions and reactions. The more we play, the more we want to improve our skills and sync with the music. We feel a strong bond with the game and the music. You know what we mean, right?
#2. Satisfying Gameplay 🎮
Rhythm games offer players to use intuitive controls that allow them to interact with the music in exciting ways. Whether it’s tapping buttons in sync with the beat, swiping on a touchscreen, or even using specialized add-ons, the gameplay is designed to provide a sense of fulfillment and achievement when executed flawlessly.
#3. Challenging Nature 📈
Rhythm games really put our skills and abilities to the test. They challenge us to follow the rhythm and act accurately. These games usually give us feedback and rewards, such as scores, combos, stars, and achievements, based on our performance. Rhythm games can be tailored to various difficulty levels and music choices, catering to both casual and hardcore players. What’s more exciting is that you can enjoy them in competitive mode or friendly mode.
#4. Diverse Offerings 💼
You can find Rhythm games across a vast range of genres, styles, and themes. Each caters to different tastes and preferences. These games often feature original tracks as well as licensed songs from various artists and bands. Some games can also be customized with different settings, options, and mods to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
#5. Expressing Ourselves 🙋♀️
Rhythm games can often be a means to let out our creative selves. They enable us to express ourselves through music and movement, which in turn can help make us feel elevated. Additionally, they can be social and interactive. We can play with or against other people, friends, and family members.
#6. Social and Competitive Elements 🤼
Many rhythm games provide multiplayer modes. Using both online and offline modes, players can compete with friends or even challenge opponents from around the world. This social and competitive aspect adds an extra layer of excitement and replay value to the games.
Now that we know what Rhythm games are, here are some popular ones we think are worth trying.
A Dance of Fire and Ice
A Dance of Fire and Ice is a strict one-button rhythm game where you control two orbiting planets as they travel down a winding path. You have to press on every beat of the music to move in a line and avoid obstacles. Every pattern has its own rhythm and challenge. Developed by 7th Beat Games, the game is purely based on rhythm, so you need to use your ears more than your sight.
This game is hard to explain but easy to feel. If you are not sure if this is your cup of tea, you can play the free online version on a desktop computer first and see for yourself! It has several features to get you hooked. You can soar through each genre of music in a variety of colorful fantasy landscapes.
You get to explore more than 10 worlds, each with its own shapes and rhythms. How do triangles, octagons, or squares sound like? Each world will teach you something new and challenge you in the end. You can take on post-game challenges: Speed Trials for each world and a super fast bonus level for the brave. Calibrate the game to your liking: auto-calibration and manual calibration. This is a rhythm game that relies on your ears more than your eyes, so make sure you tune them well.
➡️ Platform: The game is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS platforms. You can buy the full version on Steam or itch.io, or play the free online version on a desktop computer first if you are not sure if this is for you.
Beat Saber
Beat Saber is a virtual reality rhythm game that will challenge your musical skills and reflexes. In this game, you will enter a futuristic world where you will face flying beats of different colors and directions. Your goal is to slash the beats with your sabers that match the color of the beats, and avoid hitting obstacles and bombs that will disrupt your flow.
The game features handcrafted levels and music that are perfectly synchronized to create an immersive and exhilarating music experience. You can choose from various difficulty levels and game modes to suit your preference and skill level. You can also customize your sabers, environment, and sound effects to make the game more personal.
The game is moddable and supports custom songs and levels created by the community, so you can enjoy endless content and variety. It also offers various music packs from popular artists such as Imagine Dragons, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Skrillex, and more, so you can slash the beats to your favorite tunes. Beat Saber is an immersive and addictive game that will make you feel like a dancing superhero!
➡️ Platform: Beat Saber is available on Steam, Oculus Store, and PlayStation Store, and supports various VR headsets such as Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, PlayStation VR, and Oculus Quest.
Crypt of the NecroDancer
Crypt of the NecroDancer is a roguelike rhythm game. It combines the elements of a dungeon crawler and adds music-based gameplay to spice things up. In this game, you will take control of one of 15 different characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and explore the depths of a dungeon filled with monsters, traps, secrets, and loot. You will have to move and fight to the beat of the music, as your actions are only effective when performed on the rhythm.
You will also have to manage your health, stamina, and coin multiplier. Plus, players are allowed to use items such as weapons and magic to complete quests. The game features an original soundtrack composed by Danny Baranowsky. Baranowsky also created the music for games such as Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac. The soundtrack consists of various genres and styles, such as rock, metal, electronic, and chiptune.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Crypt of The Necrodancer: Collectior's Edition - Nintendo Switch | $61.29 | Buy on Amazon |
You can also use your own MP3 collection as the music source for the game. Now comes the best part. The game will automatically adjust the dungeon generation and enemy behavior to match the tempo and intensity of your songs. The game supports various input methods. You have support for a keyboard, gamepad, or even a dance pad. With dance pads, you can physically move your feet to the beat. The game also has a DLC called Crypt of the NecroDancer: AMPLIFIED. It adds new content and features to the game, such as new characters, zones, enemies, and music. You also get new modes, such as Story Mode.
Crypt of the NecroDancer is an award-winning game. It has received critical acclaim for its innovative and addictive gameplay. It blends roguelike elements with rhythm mechanics to create a challenging and fun experience!
➡️ Platform: Steam, PlayStation, iOS, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Android.
Guitar Hero World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour is a very popular rhythm game. As the name implies, it allows you to play guitar. But also, you get bass, drums, or vocals, along with a variety of rock songs. These songs vary across different artists and genres. You can choose from over 80 songs that span from classic rock to modern rock. Popular artists, such as Metallica, Jimi Hendrix, Oasis, and Bon Jovi, are a few options. Also, you can also create your own songs using the Music Studio mode. Here you can compose music using various instruments and effects. You can also then share your creations online through the GHTunes service. Plus, you can download songs created by other players.
The game supports up to four players in a band, either locally or online, and features various modes and challenges to test your skills and have fun. You can play in Career Mode, where you progress through different venues and unlock new songs and items. There is an option to play in Quickplay mode, where you can choose any song and difficulty level. Added to that, you can play in Battle mode to compete against another player or the computer using power-ups to sabotage your opponent.
You can play in Band vs. Band mode, where you compete against another band online. There’s also the Mii Freestyle mode (on Wii only), where you can improvise music using your Mii characters. The game supports a guitar controller that has a touch-sensitive slide bar that allows you to play notes without pressing the fret buttons. The guitar controller also has a longer strum bar and a sturdier whammy bar.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Guitar Hero World Tour | $36.95 | Buy on Amazon |
The game supports a drum controller that has three drum pads, two cymbals, and a kick pedal that simulate a real drum kit. The drum controller also has a sensitivity adjustment knob and a MIDI input for connecting to other drum kits. There is also support for singing vocals. The microphone controller has a built-in sensor that detects the pitch and volume of your voice.
Guitar Hero World Tour is the fourth main installment in the Guitar Hero series. It is the first one to feature drum and microphone controllers. And now it has a new Definitive Edition expansive mod. The mod includes new characters and content, aiming to bring the engine up to more modern standards and capabilities.
➡️ Platform: The game is available on PlayStation, Wii, Xbox, Windows, and MacOS, and also supports cross-platform compatibility for some devices.
Just Dance
Just Dance is a popular dance rhythm game that lets you enjoy dancing to your favorite songs with your friends or by yourself. Developed by Ubisoft, the franchise has been quite popular since its launch in 2009 and has been refreshed almost every year with a new edition.
You can choose from an ever-growing catalog of more than 700 songs, ranging from the latest hits to classic tunes. You can also experience music from all over the world with awesome choreography and gameplay. Just Dance features some of the best songs from its year of launch. For example, Just Dance 2022 featured: BOOMBAYAH by BLACKPINK, Ice Cream by BLACKPINK x Selena Gomez, Levitating by Dua Lipa, Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish, Mood by 24kGoldn Ft. iann dior, Believer by Imagine Dragons and many more!
Just Dance also lets you track your calories burned in Just Dance Now directly on your Google Fit dashboard. You can also compete with dancers from all around the world and try to beat their scores. Players can even create their own playlists with their favorite songs and customize their dancer cards.
In addition to the features mentioned above, Just Dance offers some other amazing options for you to enjoy. Players can dance to a free song every day and discover new songs and genres every week. You can also join themed events and seasonal challenges to win exclusive rewards and badges. What’s more? You can access the Just Dance Unlimited subscription service to unlock more exclusive content. Finally, you can play with friends in the same room or online. Just Dance is a game that never gets old and always keeps you entertained and active. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you will find something you like in Just Dance.
The latest edition, Just Dance 2024, is almost here and due for October 2024 release. For mobile devices, players can enjoy Just Dance Now. It features an immersive and colorful interface that shows you the dance moves and the lyrics of the songs. Unleash your inner dancer and join the party with Just Dance!
➡️ Platform: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC. Just Dance Now is only available on Android and iOS devices. But you can also play it on larger screens with web browsers, Chromecast, Apple TV, and Mac.
No Straight Roads
No Straight Roads is a relatively new action-adventure game that combines rhythm-based combat with a rockin’ soundtrack. Players get to play as Mayday and Zuke. They are members of an indie rock band called Bunk Bed Junction. The band is on a mission to end the tyranny of the EDM empire called No Straight Roads. NSR rules over the fictional Vinyl City. You can switch between the two characters anytime in single-player or play with a friend in co-op mode. You can also customize your characters and their instruments with various stickers and mods.
In No Straight Roads, you have to listen to the music and watch out for the enemies’ attacks. These attacks are synced to the beat. You can use your musical notes as projectiles and transform objects into weapons and defenses during boss battles. Each boss represents a different genre of music, such as pop, rock, classical, electronic, and more.
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No Straight Roads (Nintendo Switch) |
$16.97 |
Buy on Amazon |
You have to adapt to their unique styles and patterns and use the power of rock to defeat them. As you progress through the game, you will explore different districts of Vinyl City. You meet colorful characters and gain more fans and influence.
No Straight Roads is a game that celebrates music and creativity. It has a vibrant art style, a dynamic soundtrack, and a humorous story. It also has a message about fighting for your dreams and expressing yourself through music. If you love music and action games, you will enjoy No Straight Roads.
➡️ Platform: PC (Epic Store), Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation.
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight is a spin-off game that lets you groove to the tunes of Persona 5. The game is developed by Atlus’ P-Studio and is available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. It is part of a trilogy of Persona rhythm games. The other two are Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
The game’s story mode involves a bizarre dance-off. It’s between the Phantom Thieves of Hearts from Persona 5 and the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad from Persona 3. The challenge is issued by the twin wardens, Caroline and Justine. They are jealous of their sister Margaret’s guest Yu Narukami from Persona 4. The stakes are high: the losers will be sent to hell. However, none of the participants will remember anything after the event. Their memories will be erased by the power of the Velvet Room. It is a mysterious place that exists between dreams and reality.
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Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (PS4) |
$27.41 |
Buy on Amazon |
In the game, you have to hit notes that appear on the screen in time with the music. You can use different buttons or touch the screen to perform different actions, such as scratching, flicking, and tapping. You can also trigger special effects and interactions with your dance partners by filling up the Fever gauge. Each song has multiple difficulty levels and challenges to test your skills and earn rewards.
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight is a game that celebrates the music and characters of Persona 5. It has a stylish presentation, a catchy soundtrack, and a humorous story. It also has a message about finding your true self and expressing it through dance. If you love Persona 5 and rhythm games, you will enjoy Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight.
➡️ Platform: PlayStation, PlayStation Vita
Rhythm Doctor
If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding rhythm game, you might want to check out Rhythm Doctor. This game puts you in the role of a medical intern who has to save patients by defibrillating their hearts in sync with their heartbeats.
Developed by 7th Beat Games, Rhythm Doctor is inspired by the Rhythm Heaven series, where you have to perform various actions on the beat of the music. However, Rhythm Doctor has a twist: you only have to press one button, but you have to press it on the seventh beat of each measure. This may sound simple, but the game throws many curveballs at you, such as polyrhythms, irregular time signatures, boss viruses, and even intentional glitches.
Rhythm Doctor has a story mode where you meet different patients with unique heart conditions and personalities. You have to learn their heartbeats and rhythms and use your timing skills to heal them. The game features a level editor, allowing you to your own levels and share them with other players online.
Rhythm Doctor is a game that tests your rhythm skills and your patience. It has a catchy soundtrack, a quirky art style, and a humorous story. It also has a message about empathy and compassion for others. If you love rhythm games and are up for a challenge, you will enjoy Rhythm Doctor.
➡️ Platform: Steam on PC.
Rock Band 4
If you love rock music and want to live out your rock star fantasies, Rock Band 4 is the game for you. This game lets you play guitar, bass, drums, or vocals, create your own band, customize your look and sound, and jam to over 60 songs from rock legends like Aerosmith, Foo Fighters, U2, and more. You can also show off your vocal skills by singing along or freestyling your own tunes.
But the fun doesn’t stop there. Rock Band 4 Rivals also lets you compete with other bands online in the Rivals mode, where you can take on weekly challenges, earn rewards, and climb the leaderboards. You can team up with your friends and form a crew or face off in a battle of the bands.
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Rock Band 4 - PlayStation 4 |
$108.92 |
Buy on Amazon |
You can also use the new freestyle guitar solos and vocal improvisation features to express yourself and impress your audience. No matter how you play, Rock Band 4 Rivals will make you feel like a rock star.
➡️ Platform: Rock Band 4 is available for PlayStation and Xbox.
Rocksmith+
Rocksmith+ is the game that teaches you how to play guitar and bass like a pro. This is more of a learning game apart from being a part of the rhythm sub-genre. You can connect your acoustic, electric, or bass guitar to your PC, console, or mobile device and play along with over 5,000 songs from various genres and eras. You can choose from several famous guitar brands, including Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer. Rocksmith+ gives you real-time feedback, riff repeater, and personalized recommendations to help you improve your skills and master your favorite songs.
You can also use the Rocksmith Workshop to create your own arrangements for any song licensed by Ubisoft. For options, you can adjust the difficulty, speed, and tuning of any song to suit your level and preference. There’s also a freestyle mode to jam freely and improvise your own melodies. Rocksmith+ also lets you join the Rocksmith+ community and share your progress, tips, and videos with other players.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Rocksmith 2014 Edition Remastered - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $129.99 | Buy on Amazon |
You can also access community help videos and learn from other players’ experiences. Rocksmith+ is the ultimate interactive music learning subscription service for guitar and bass lovers.
➡️ Platform: Rocksmith+ is available to buy on PC, iOS, and Android and is also playable on PlayStation and Xbox.
Conclusion
Basically, if you want the best rhythm games, you’re in luck. These games mix music and gaming to make a super fun and addictive experience. You’ll love the music, the gameplay, and the challenges. You also get to jam to the music and show off your skills. You can also play with buttons, touchscreens, or special controllers. When you master these games, you do really feel fantastic, maybe even unbeatable. Plus, there are lots of genres, options, and social and competitive features to keep you busy. So get ready to rock out, be a star, and join a bunch of rhythm game fans.
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