What are the most effective rhythm video games on PC? There are few issues in life higher than music, so clearly there are even fewer issues in life higher than music and rhythm video games. Music evokes extra emotional responses than another and often does so inside just a few brief minutes. Video games could make us really feel issues over time, however music is usually way more instant. With that in thoughts, we’ve put collectively a listing of the most effective rhythm video games round, which might be assured to stick with you lengthy after the final be aware performs.
From 2D indie video games with a strong beat to lightsaber-wielding VR video games, our listing of the most effective rhythm video games spans all genres. Some can educate you methods to play a selected instrument, whereas others can help you repurpose your music library. We also needs to point out that Tetris Impact was thought-about for the listing however arguably doesn’t make rhythm its focus, so it misses out. In any case, you actually ought to play Tetris Impact. Severely.
Listed below are the most effective rhythm video games on PC in 2024:
Friday Night time Funkin’
That is one rhythm recreation that’s actually made a reputation for itself lately. A totally free browser recreation, it sees you enjoying as a personality known as Boyfriend who enters rap battles and singing contests with a purpose to win over Girlfriend. With an unlimited array of unusual, otherworldly opponents, a captivating visible fashion, and a few actually great items of music, it’s very easy to see why Friday Night time Funkin’ has resonated with so many gamers.
The gameplay is similar to one thing like Dance Dance Revolution, besides that as an alternative of foot pads, you’re simply utilizing your arrow keys. You coincide these with arrows shifting previous within the recreation, and every appropriate hit makes Boyfriend sing a be aware – whereas his voice is unusual (form of like an Animal Crossing character) it’s additionally fairly interesting too, and his unusual vocalisations actually assist deliver the music to life. It’s a very free PC recreation (with no microtransactions) and everybody ought to attempt it not less than as soon as.
Play Friday Night time Funkin’ without spending a dime with Opera GX.
Steel: Hellsinger
Steel: Hellsinger is the newest entry within the rhythm FPS style, and by far essentially the most well-received. Step into hell as The Unknown, a human-demonic hybrid on a quest for vengeance that takes you on a journey throughout the infernal planes. You’ve got quite a few weapons at your disposal to struggle off the demonic hordes, however their efficacy is dependent upon your means to time your assaults to the pulse-pounding steel soundtrack.
The soundtrack itself is exclusive to Steel: Hellsinger, composed by a spread of seasoned musicians from a spread of acclaimed steel bands, together with System of a Down, Trivium, Lamb of God, amongst others. There’s additionally loads of mods to broaden the FPS recreation’s musical repertoire, together with Candy Residence Alabama. As our Steel Hellsinger evaluation attests, that is one hellish soundtrack we by no means need to finish.
Trombone Champ
Let’s get one factor out of the way in which. Trombone Champ is not going to educate you methods to play the trombone. What it is going to do is present limitless comedic worth as you attempt to fail to carry out a rootin’-tootin’ trombone cowl of revered classical items, folks melodies, and extra. It consists of the standard trappings you possibly can count on from a rhythm recreation, similar to combo streaks and a excessive rating, however the fact is that even while you’re hitting the right streak it is going to sound each horrible and hilarious. Ever needed to listen to the toughest Guitar Hero track aced on the trombone? Nicely, now you possibly can.
Whereas Trombone Champ boats 20 built-in tracks, its Freeplay Mode is the place the sport actually shines. Fortunately, you don’t must supply your personal plastic trombone à la Guitar Hero – all you must do is transfer your mouse backwards and forwards within the method of a trombone to match the pitch of the track. It’s a remarkably accessible rhythm recreation, and the higher you play, the extra ‘toots’ you earn. They function forex to unlock cosmetics and (dare we are saying it) lore, providing an incentive to maintain enjoying lengthy after the Trombone Champ’s gimmick issue has worn off.
Beat Saber
Beat Saber has taken VR by storm and helped put the fledgling tech onto the heads and into the arms of many new gamers. Beat Saber is so easy in idea: utilizing two completely different coloured lightsabers (sure, like in Star Wars), you slash blocks of the corresponding coloration within the course the sport tells you to – making you’re feeling like a Jedi in full movement (though you do are inclined to look a bit foolish to everybody else within the room).
The sport’s unique soundtrack is great, however the PC model is the one one which helps the importing of {custom} songs – so you possibly can deliver Duel of the Fates in should you’re so inclined, and why wouldn’t you?
Thumper
Thumper is a “rhythm violence” recreation, and whereas which will make it sound a bit aggressive, that’s as a result of soundtrack being filled with percussion, loud bass drops, and virtually terrifying sound results. We wouldn’t say it’s oppressive, although – sending your little beetle protagonist hurtling round tracks at what looks like one million miles an hour remains to be nice enjoyable, though enjoying it in VR is arguably a little bit extra unsettling.
Whichever method you play, Thumper is the rhythm video games model of a curler coaster that you simply received’t need to get off of – simply make sure you play with headphones.
Crypt of the Necrodancer
A top-down roguelike recreation might sound an odd match for rhythm-based mechanics, however developer Brace Your self Video games has stumbled upon gold with Crypt of the Necrodancer.
Each motion on this dungeon crawl must be carried out on the beat of the music – with completely different enemies following completely different beats. It takes a while to get your head round it, however for bonus factors, you possibly can really play your complete recreation with a dance pad should you fancy breaking a sweat.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
2007’s Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock lives lengthy within the reminiscence, with the rigorously curated soundtrack together with bangers from the likes of Rage Towards The Machine and Slipknot, all the way in which to Kiss and ZZ Prime. Each track within the recreation could be performed cooperatively, that includes rhythm guitar and bass relying on the observe.
Whereas this entry marked a excessive level within the basic issue of the settings, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock nonetheless scales nicely to a broad vary of gamers, with simpler issue settings and sluggish songs for newcomers to get acquainted with earlier than shifting onto solo-heavy anthems. The truth that this collection nonetheless has a thriving Twitch group over a decade after launch tells you the whole lot it is advisable find out about its lasting enchantment.
For those who’re prepared to place up with the litter in your house of a number of plastic devices, there’s nonetheless no finer approach to jam out on with a gaggle of mates, until in fact you’re really in a rock band.
Lumines: Remastered
Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s first look on this listing, Lumines was initially a PSP recreation that was remastered in 2018 and delivered to PC. Enjoying virtually like a musical Tetris, gamers must align shapes of various coloured blocks that, when clustered collectively, will likely be eliminated when a “Time Line” passes over them – with this line being set to the musical accompaniment. The rows you clear add contemporary layers to the sport’s chic soundtrack, too – a reward in and of itself.
Lumines: Remastered represents that uncommon occasion of a puzzler that’s surprisingly stress-free, frantic, and euphoric – particularly because the blocks begin to pile up and also you’re scrambling to remain up to the mark.
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Ever needed to expertise a complete pop album as an arcade recreation? Sayonara Wild Hearts has gamers battling towards large wolves, driving motorbikes, and dance battling to the groove of a tremendous custom-written pop soundtrack.
There are components of Sayonara Wild Hearts that aren’t strictly rhythm-based, however that’s a part of what makes the sport so sensible. You by no means know what you’re going to get as you make your method by way of 23 distinctive ranges, every that includes a special catchy track to bounce alongside to.
Audiosurf 2
Have you ever ever performed a rhythm recreation and thought, ‘wow, this might be nice if I knew a few of these songs?’ If the reply is sure, then Audiosurf 2 may very well be simply what you’re in search of.
Regardless of the backing observe, you’re fired alongside a observe at a blistering tempo and charged with accumulating as many pickups as doable with out colliding with any of the obstacles in entrance of you. It’s not precisely a novel idea, however Audiosurf 2 helps importing your personal songs to show them right into a futuristic freeway of notes. Simply attempt to not get too acquainted – there are nonetheless obstacles to dodge on this futuristic racing recreation.
Rocksmith 2014 Remastered
The awkwardly titled Rocksmith 2014 Remastered is a re-release of the unique Rocksmith 2014, itself a sequel to the primary Rocksmith title. Nonetheless with us? Unwieldy title apart, Rocksmith 2014 Remastered is a rarity – it’s enjoyable and academic, permitting customers to plug in their very own devices (guitar and bass) and be taught to play a mess of songs.
Whereas Rocksmith doesn’t supply the choose up and play accessibility of most rhythm video games, you’d be exhausting pushed to discover a music recreation with the identical diploma of scalability. When you’ve mastered the content material within the recreation, you possibly can choose from over a thousand absolutely licensed tracks as DLC – so the sport can final so long as your blistered fingers can.
Rhythm Physician
Simply essentially the most obscure of all of the rhythm video games on this listing, Rhythm Physician sees gamers dole out remedy to sufferers by, er, hitting the area bar on the seventh beat of each bar, again and again regardless of a cavalcade of audiovisual distractions.
Calling itself “the toughest one-button rhythm recreation you’ll ever play”, Rhythm Physician performs together with your expectations in enjoyable and ingenious methods, forcing you to push the whole lot out of your thoughts with a purpose to think about the rhythm. As you heal sufferers your display screen may glitch, or there is likely to be some form of lag to accommodate. Even higher, your display screen could go clean – forcing you to depend the beat in your head. You may need to spend money on a metronome for this one.
Rez Infinite
Keep in mind 2001? No, not the film, the yr? Rez launched on the unique PlayStation, with distinctive (and ceaselessly spectacular) wireframe visuals respiration life into an on-rails shooter/rhythm video games hybrid. 20 years later and PC gamers can lastly take part on the motion with the expanded Rez Infinite, yet one more masterful rhythm recreation helmed by Tetsuya Mizuguchi.
Each motion within the Rez Infinite impacts the soundscape, and vibration when enjoying with a recreation pad solely heightens the sensation of synesthesia. Rez Infinite is all about breaking down the obstacles between the senses, and it’s mad that it will get even remotely near such a lofty objective. Sure, it’s summary and a tad pretentious, however it’s additionally achingly lovely from begin to end. We’d additionally suggest it to individuals who like on-rails shooters like Star Fox.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute
BPM earns a spot on this rhythm video games listing primarily based purely on the truth that it does one thing very completely different with the style. Reasonably than mashing buttons to the suitable rhythm or letting synesthesia wash over you, BPM ports the music and melody over to a retro-style FPS rogue-like, the place you blast demons to smithereens to the tune of wailing guitars.
Among the many many issues BPM does proper are its boss fights, which supply an enormous step-up in problem, with assault patterns to be taught and evasive maneuvers you’ll want to tug in time with the soundtrack.
Pistol Whip
Pistol Whip combines first-person shooters with a high-intensity soundtrack to make you’re feeling like an motion film star. Every pulse-pounding track has a handcrafted stage full of gun-wielding enemies. The stage continuously strikes all through the size of a track, permitting you to focus solely on capturing enemies.
Mastering a track not solely requires you to keep away from incoming bullets, however you’ll additionally have to take down each enemy on the stage. When you handle to search out the rhythm, your pictures behave equally to a drum beat that accents keynotes. Pistol Whip offers a really completely different, but acquainted expertise that’s certain to please any rhythm recreation fan.
Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Grasp
Don’t be fooled by how easy Taiko no Tatsujin appears, this recreation is extremely simple to be taught however very troublesome to grasp. You could possibly say you’d must be a drum grasp to get previous the difficult songs on this rhythm recreation. Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Grasp has one of many extra distinctive soundtracks you’ll hear in a rhythm recreation, starting from anime openings to videogame songs like Megalovania from Undertale.
Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Grasp is implausible as a single-player recreation, however it excels when enjoying cooperatively with an area companion. Whether or not you’re enjoying songs collectively, otherwise you’re preventing one another to acquire the most effective rating, this recreation could be extraordinarily thrilling when enjoying with somebody of equal talent stage. Whereas this recreation could be performed with a controller, it’s possible you’ll need to spend money on a drum controller as a few of the tougher songs require you to hit troublesome fills.
Synth Riders
There are a variety of Beat Saber clones on the market, however Synth Riders is likely one of the few VR rhythm video games that manages to distinguish itself in a market full of related titles. The premise is easy, use your coloured arms to match the coloured balls as they seem on the display screen. In contrast to Beat Sabers, Synth Riders actually will get you shifting, forcing you to dodge out of the way in which of incoming partitions and different projectiles. We discovered our coronary heart price was constantly greater enjoying Synth Riders in comparison with Beat Saber, although your mileage could fluctuate relying on how a lot effort you’re placing in.
Synth Riders provides you 74 songs to get by way of in the primary set listing, nonetheless, this is likely to be the weakest a part of the sport because the observe listing doesn’t embrace any bands or teams you’ve heard of. Sadly, that content material is restricted to the DLC solely, leaving bands like Muse, The Gorillaz, and Bruno Mars out of the first set listing. Whether or not you’re in search of one thing enjoyable to play, otherwise you’re making an attempt to burn just a few extra energy, Synth Riders is certainly value contemplating.
Hello-Fi Rush
A genre-mash of third-person brawler and rhythm recreation, Hello-Fi Rush tells the story of Chai, a daily man who, after receiving a cybernetic implant, can really feel the music of the world. He additionally will get some unfavourable consideration from a company who’re actively making an attempt to destroy him, and any proof he exists, however you’ll get to that.
The fight will likely be acquainted to anybody who’s even brushed towards a brawler lately, solely Hello-Fi Rush takes it one additional, blasting iconic songs, and having the world transfer with the beat. You employ the beat of this music to reinforce your assaults and carry out completely different combos, putting foes in time with no matter you’re listening to. It’s nice, and it’s on Sport Move, so there’s no excuse, actually.
Robobeat
On this roguelike rhythm shooter, you play as a bounty hunter named Max on a mission to defeat the eccentric robot-showman generally known as Frazzer. Frazzer hasn’t made issues simple for you, establishing a number of lethal traps that you must keep away from on the battlefield. To make issues much more troublesome, every stage is procedurally generated, so that you by no means know what environmental challenges you’re up towards.
Gaining access to loads of fast-paced mobility choices is what makes Robobeat such a pleasure to play, as you wall-run, bunny-hop, and leap to the rhythm of the beat. There are numerous playlists to take heed to in-game, however you even have the choice of importing your personal soundtracks if you need a extra personalised expertise. With loads of songs and weapons to unlock, you can see your self spending hours in Robobeat.
Geometry Sprint
Impressed by the indie recreation traditional, The Unimaginable Sport, Geometry Sprint is an easy one button recreation that challenges you to make your method by way of lethal paths full of traps and hazards. Geometry Sprint takes the idea of The Unimaginable Sport to a different stage, that includes ranges with completely different music, methods to customise your character, and a stage creator with hundreds of user-made levels. That is the kind of recreation you assume you may spend 5 minutes with, and earlier than you recognize it, you’ve misplaced an hour of your time as you inch your method by way of every stage.
And there you might have it, our choose of the most effective rhythm video games on PC. We’re fairly keen on listing options right here at PCGN, so there’s lots extra prefer it, together with our round-up of the most effective open-world video games and the best RPG video games on PC. Now, if some vivid spark would please make a rhythm recreation with role-playing mechanics set in an enormous open map then we may merge all of them into one.
One Btn Bosses
Don’t underestimate the ability of a gaming mechanic being stretched to its restrict, One Btn Bosses is proof you could construct a complete recreation from only one easy concept. Your objective is to defeat bosses as you orbit them in your spaceship. Your sole button swaps the course you’re shifting in, and the longer you go with out altering course, the quicker you shoot and transfer. Make your method by way of the marketing campaign the place you observe Ace, an unpaid assistant in search of a paycheck.
Accompanied by a synth-wave soundtrack, there are 50 bullet hell ranges to get by way of, and you’ll play by way of a roguelike mode if you wish to expertise one thing completely different. Although One Btn Bosses doesn’t depend on its soundtrack to help the participant, while you’re listening to the identical observe over once more, listening to the beat might help you discover the proper timing to defeat the boss.
Extra contributions by Christian Vaz.
