Rhythm games these days all seem to blend together. Drums, guitars, and DJ turntables are par for the course in the modern rhythmic landscape, and as great as that is (D4DJ and Taiko no Tatsujin are both still plenty enjoyable), sometimes the status quo just isn’t quite the cure for your rhythm fever. You still want to jam out in a video game, but your favorite songs don’t feel as fresh as they used to.
It’s in the midst of trying times such as these when you must branch out and experiment with a new rhythm game, something fresh and exciting that can still scratch that musical itch! On that note, in a world of rhythm games that all seem to feel the same, these are the ones that hit different.
JP: 1999
EU: 2000
NA: 2014
Developer(s):
NanaOn-Sha, Japan Studio
There isn’t much else out there that can match Vib Ribbon’s vector graphic vibes. Amusical sidescroller without platforming elements, Vib Ribbon sees you controlling Vibri the rabbit on her quest to make it to the end of the line in time with the rapidly changing tempos of the game’s included soundtrack.
What really makes Vib Ribbon’soriginal PS1 launchinteresting is that, once it’s been installed on your PlayStation, you may remove the disc and replace it with a CD of your choosing, at which point the game will create custom levels for you based on the music on the CD. By extension, this technically makes the total song count in Vib Ribbon the highest of any rhythm game ever made.
2022
Holy Wow Studios LLC
While at first the comical indie hitTrombone Champmight not seem all that unique in terms of gameplay, what makes this tootin' good time stand out from the crowd is its creative choice of instrument: the funny one with the long tube that makes the funny toot sounds.
Trombone Champ has an incredibly captivatingsense of humorpresent everywhere in the game, from its wobbly trombone sounds to its surprisingly deep hidden narrative, which makes the whole experience feel a lot more inviting and casual. Given how strict rhythm games usually are when it comes to performance, Trombone Champ is incredibly refreshing.
2008
Dylan Fitterer, Audiosurf, LLC
Taking a page out of Vib Ribbon’s book, Audiosurf also creates levels for you based on music you own. The key difference here, though, is that Audiosurf makes this process a lot easier by using MP3 files stored on your computer instead of requiring the use of CDs.
Combining elements ofpuzzle games,racing games, and rhythm games, Audiosurf’s gameplay is truly unique in the genre, and though it also spawned a sequel in 2015’s Audiosurf 2, the 2008 original is where the idea of a hi-speed rhythmic puzzler really got its start.
2020
indieszero, Square Enix, Creative Business Unit 1
Realistically, we all probably should have seen this game’s announcement coming after the success ofFinal Fantasy’s rhythm spinoff series,Theatrhythm, but it still came as quite a shock when Square Enix unveiled what it called a “rhythm action game” and launchedKingdom Hearts: Melody of Memoryin 2020.
True to its description, Melody of Memory features a unique style of rhythm and action-oriented gameplay as well as a refreshingly robust story mode, making it ideal for shaking things up if your usual rhythm favorites have grown stale.
2019
Cloudhead Games
Playing like a beautiful marriage ofSuperhotandBeat Saber, Pistol Whip is a one-of-a-kind first-person action rhythm game that tasks you with blasting bad guys in time to the music.
In addition to the novel gameplay compared to other rhythm games out there, there’s really something to be said for those super slick cyberpunk-style visuals. If you’re looking for a rhythm game that will make you feel like both a musical genius and John Wick at the same time, it’s impossible to go wrong playing Pistol Whip.
5Dodo-Rei-Mi
Platform(s):
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, iOS, Android, PC
2023
Jackbox Games
It really is a shame that one of 2023’s most interesting rhythm games is locked behind theJackbox Party Packseries, because it makes it incredibly unlikely that the online player base will stick around once the next coupleJackbox packslaunch, but for now, it has a decent following, and some fantastic original tunes to jam out to with friends in a desperate fight for songbird survival.
While reception among party game fans has been mixed, Dodo-Rei-Mi has seen rave reviews from rhythm game fans, as its high player count online co-op focused gameplay makes for a musical experience which is vastly different from anything else on the market today.
Nintendo 3DS
2012
Game Freak
HarmoKnight is probably one of the greatest and most underappreciated rhythm games ever made. Featuring incredibly charming character and art design as well as a fully fleshed out single player campaign, this rhythm-action-platformer is Game Freak at its very best.
Creative new concepts and new musical ideas permeate the experience, and these alongside, of all things, boss battles, really help balance out the experience and make HarmoKnight feel less like a rhythm game and more like a very polished 3DS action platformer. Make no mistake though, music is literally the name of the game, and HarmoKnight is one of the most original rhythm games out there.
Unfortunately, due to the 3DS eShop closure, it’s no longer possible to play HarmoKnight on original hardware without purchasing a used 3DS that already has the game installed. Otherwise, you’ll need to be willing to set sail to experience this 3DS gem these days.
3Headbangers: Rhythm Royale
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC
Glee-Cheese-Studio
Headbangers: Rhythm Royale is an online multiplayerbattle royalerhythm game where you play as a pigeon. If this description has not immediately convinced you to drop everything and give Headbangers a try, consider that there are also extensive cosmetic options for your partying poultry to show off during your musical matches, and suddenly the appeal might start to become a little more clear.
The bottom line is, Headbangers is a creative idea executed in a creative way, and it works pretty much exactly how you’d expect it to. As of right now, it’s the only game of its kind to exist, and that mixed with the comedic presentation make it well worth the price of admission.
2007
Dean Harbert
Much to the delight ofanimefans everywhere, Osu primarily focuses its original click and drag rhythm gameplay on Jpop and anime theme songs, which is somehow incredibly fitting for Osu’s control style and ends up giving the game its own sort of feel compared to its contemporaries.
A cult classic experience, Osu is unique because, unlike most other primarily Japanese rhythm games, the closest gameplay comparison isn’t the likes of Guitar Hero, but, of all things, digital art, with many a seasoned Osu player preferring to use a drawing tablet to play the game rather than sticking to the classic mouse and keyboard controls.
JP: 1996, 2006
NA/EU: 1997, 2007
AU: 2002, 2007
NanaOn-Sha
If unconventional rhythm games had a poster child, that child would easily be PaRappa the Rapper for thePlayStationand later, the PSP. A lovably unique paper-thin rap battle simulator, PaRappa is both auditory and visually charming and unique the whole way through.
Although PaRappa the Rapper only consists of six stages, each of these is engaging and entertaining in ways that most rhythm gaming experiences can only dream of, and with iconic characters like Chop Chop Master Onion and MC King Kong Mushi, it’s really no wonder that PaRappa the Rapper holds the reputation it does today as one of the most uniquely stylistic games the rhythm genre has to offer.
