History of Rhythm/Music Games
Author: Isaiah Ortiz / ISAiAH 💿 / 3 FM / Ez3FM Finish Date: 05/16/2024 Update: 06/24/2024 Update 2: 06/29/2024 Update 3: 02/25/2025 Update 3.2: 03/28/2025YouTube Twitter Carrd (Discord) - ez3fm / ISAiAH💿#4842
Introduction
Like many media's of entiertainment rhythm/music games have complex timeline with games made by many dev's barely anyone has heard of or have played outside of either Parappa The Rapper, Scratchin' Melodii, Friday Night Funkin' (FNF), Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) & maybe beatmania, but that's where I come in to give a slightly length deep dive into the history and showcasing almost of all the of music/rhythm games out there. That barely anyone has tried or has tried before, but are underrated because this game genere some what died here in west due to dance game & guitar game craze of 2000's dying off in the US because of oversaturation in the market.
Humble Beginnings
Game title | Image | Release Year | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Rock'n Bark (ロックンバーク) | ![]() |
1975 | Rock'n Bark, often mistranslated as Rock'n Park; is a shooting/rhythm hybrid arcade game by SEGA released in August 1975, Rock'n Bark somewhat beats Music Gun Gun at being the first ever music/rhythm game that has light gun elements. In fact, Rock'n Bark predates Atari Jammin' as the first ever arcade music/rhythm game overral. There's chances the game was either a varient or sequal game to SEGA's light game "Bullet Mark", but it is unclear if so. Also, Rock'n Bark has several game modes like one where you shoot black square's in checkered pattern and one mode where you shooting red and blue dragon's. Lastely, the timer for the game can be extended if you get 6000 or 8000 points, but it mostly depends on cab's configuration. |
Simon | ![]() |
1979 | How the game works is, you are put against an opponent and press 4 color button's in time with rhythmic pattern, tho it doesn't look like or count as a music / rhythm game, but it still counts being the first game to have elements that have definded the genre as whole. |
Donkey Kong music play (ドンキーコングの音楽遊び) | ![]() |
1983 | This is game where you make music with Donkey Kong, Mario/Jump-Man, DK.Jr & Pauline. This game more of music making tool than music/rhythm game, but it has music as it main focus. Unfourtantly, there isn't too much info about this game besides a couple of screencap's. |
Atari Jammin' | ![]() |
1985 | Atari Jammin' or simply Jammin' is Atari's only ever music game and was being worked on way before Doremikko and Konami was the king of music/rhythm games. Unfortunately, there isn't much information about besides a simple demo of the game itself. It's gameplay is similar to Simon.https://youtu.be/clvrLlQxkDg?si=nNTOB6qerCOtaEzW |
Ikinari Musician (ファミリーシンセ いきなりミュージシャン) | ![]() |
1987 | Similiar to Doremikko, Ikinari Musician is also a essentially a music making program than actual game in any sorts of the word. |
Doremikko (ドレミッコ) | ![]() |
1987 | Doremikkio is music game made by Konami in 1987, way before Konami's BEMANI sub-division was established and before the 1st beatmania came out. How Doremikkio works is, it comes with piano keyboard peripheral that you hook up to the famicom and use the keyboard durning the game and just like DK music play, you can compose and make your own music or play covers of some popular public domain songs with few original songs. |
Dance Aerobics / Aerobics Studio (エアロビスタジオ) | ![]() |
(JP) 1987- (US) 1989 | What could be consider the game that was the ground work for the home dance pad that will later be used for home console dance games in general, dance aerobics is music game made by Human Entertainment where you have stomp on the circles on the pad in time with music and pose to simulate doing aerobic exercise's. |
Rhythm Game/Music Game boom of 90's - late 2000's
Tho the games mentioned perviously won't be consider rhythm / music games by any sort's of the imagination. But, they are the ones that definded conpects with the genere. These next games are highly regraded as the games that definded the genere as whole.
Game title | Image | Release Year | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Family Noraebang/Family Karaoke (패밀리 노래방) | ![]() |
1994 | Family Noraebang (Family Karaoke) is karaoke game for famiclone console released in south korea in 1994 by the companies Daou Infosys & Dawoo, it's song selection has 59 songs in total. But it later on got speical expansion carts that added more songs to the cart. |
Quest for Fame | ![]() |
1995 | Surprisingly, no-one seems to talk about this or know of it's exist. Anyways, Quest for Fame is music / rhythm game made in 1995 by Virtual Music, which were later requird by NAMCO to make the quest for fame repro Guitar Jam cab's. The game itself is more so tie-in with the band Aerosmith that's both music/rhythm game with adventure elements in the mix. |
Parappa The Rapper | ![]() |
1996 | What's highly regraded the game that most would consider that started the genre. Parappa The Rapper was made by NanaOn-Sha in 1996 in Japan and nationwide in 1997. Parappa The Rapper is game about rapping antro dog name Parappa who sloves daily problems with his rapping games. How the game works is, you copy your opponent by pressing the exact button combonations in time with rhythm of the songs. The game is beloved series and has had things such as re:releases on many plaforms, an anime series, toys and a sequeal & spin off. |
Tunin'Glue | ![]() |
1996 | After Parappa and before Lammy, Turnin'Glue was Nana On-Sha's first and only computer rhythm/music game, the game is more so a music making tool if anything, but some of the music would later be re-used for Rhyme Rider Kerorican (ライムライダー・ケロリカン). |
beatmania/beatstage/hiphopmania | ![]() |
1997 | The 2nd grandfather of the genre. After making Doremikko, Konami decided to throw their hat in the ring again with their DJ simulation game, beatmania (Also known as beatstage in Korea & hiphopmania in the US) the core conpect of beatmania is you the DJ, picks a song and how you play is you play 5 buttons on keyboard similar to paino like set up with a turntable you use to scratch with to simulate the experience of DJ-ing. beatmania was so ground breaking in the japanese arcade space, and it's fondly remebered nationwide, and it's sequal series beatmania IIDX is still going strong to this day, it's currently on it's 31th version as of making this rentry history compendium. beatmania itself was the ground work for Konami's music game devision we know as BEMANI which is makers of almost all of Konami's rhythm/ music game's. Outside of IIDX, there's another short live sequal series of 5key beatmania by the named of beatmania III it's basically just like Ez2Dj/Ez2AC down to it's pedal, only difference is that the pedal is used for sound visualizer and as a secondary button for one of the button's and widely believed beatmania III was made to compete with Amuseworld while Konami sued them for making Ez2Dj/Ez2AC. |
Jung Rhythm (じゃんぐリズム) | ![]() |
1997 | While Parappa The Rapper came in 1996 with massive success nation wide, the same can't be said for the game that was inspried by it which is called "Jung Rhythm", released on Sega Saturn in 1997 to decent success. Similar to Parappa you copy your oppoent by pressing the exact buttons combonations in time with the rhythm og the song. The game has small fanbase, but it's been regraded as the rip off of Parappa. Which is unfortunate, because it was the first game to be inspired by Parappa heavily. |
DJ Wars (DJウォーズ) | ![]() |
1997 | While beatmania was the first ever music/rhythm game to simulate DJ-ing. 1997's DJ wars could be the 2nd ever DJ-ing simulation game. The gameplay is more so like DJ Hero meet's Crackin' DJ & Great Hits (グレイト ヒッツ) with a focus more on realism DJ-ing asspect. |
Bust-A-Groove / Bust-A-Move | ![]() |
1998 | Bust A Groove is hyrbid fighting music game / rhythm game made by Enix in 1998, this before the company merge with Sqaure-Soft. Bust A Groove is where you pick your character and your way of winning is pushing in the inputs in time with the beat, the game title got to be renamed to Bust A Groove in other parts of the world, because Puzzle Bobble is called Bust A Move else where. It's sadly obscure these days, but is a criminally underrated gem of PS1. And there is arcade version's of 1st & 2 game. There's also a japan only spin-off called Dance Summit 2001 that's bit different from the first two games in the series. |
Pop'n Music | ![]() |
1998 | After the sucess of beatmania, Konami decided to work on more kiddie version of beatmania, which is Pop'n Music. Unlike beatmania, Pop'n is more so about that you select an avatar character and select a song and then your supposed to smach and hit these multi-color buttons in time with rhythm of the song. Just like beatmania IIDX, Pop'n Music is still going strong to this day as well with it's least entry uni-lab coming out last year. Pop'n also has a few spin-off games like (Utacchi/うたっち, Hello Pop'n Music, Pop'n Stage, beat'n groovy & Welcome Pop'n Music) |
Dance Dance Revolution / Dancing Stage | ![]() |
1998 | Konami's 3rd music / rhythm game that is still going strong to this day & the game that made genre more mainstream in 90's - 2000's. Dance Dance Revolution (DDR for short, also known as Dancing Stage elsewhere.) is yet another juggernaut of genre and common may stay of most arcade's these days. How the game works is there is 4 arrow panel's you step on while arrow's show up on the screen. There's countless clones and spins off of this beloved series like Dance Dance Revolution Solo, DDR kids, My First DDR, Let's Dance, Stepping Stage, Pump It Up, Dance Dance Diet to name a few. |
Paca Paca Passion (パカパカパッション) | ![]() |
1998 | Another game that desevere's more attention here in the west. Paca Paca Passion (パカパカパッション) was made by Produce! & published by NAMCO in 1998, which Paca Paca Passion could be consider Namco's first attempt of dipping it's feet into this craze. As for the game itself you can pick you difficulty by either the one 2 button or the two 4 buttons modes, which most paca noob's pick one of 4 button mode's and because of that noob mistake, the game has been claimed to be infamous because it being stupidly hard with it's 100% perfect timing window. Which is bold claim when 2 button mode exist. Now after picking your mode you pick a song then your character aka your part. And then your supposed to hit each of the 4 colored buttons on time with beat. The game is actually still fondly remember in Japan to point, there's annual event / fansite in japan called Marika Hotel / Marika Fest deciated to Paca Paca Passion character Marika from Paca Paca Passion 2 & speical. Unlike the other games, Paca Paca Passion doesn't have dedicated cab for itself. Outside of Marika Hotel, there's a few other Paca Paca fansite's that show you the locations of the cabs in japan and fansite's that teach you how to make your own controller for the game and how to mod it onto the Vitrue stick pro. https://kurohane.net/old/rpp.html http://asamidou.web.fc2.com/paca/sapporo/pacaloca_hokkaido.htm http://unipon51.blog24.fc2.com/blog-entry-96.html |
Dance! Dance! Dance! (ンス!ダンス!ダンス!) | ![]() |
1998 | During BEMANI series dominance in the 90's, Konami's other game division's attempted at their own music / rhythm game's. Also around 1998 Konami Digital Entertainment division made a little music / rhythm game called Dance! Dance! Dance! As for how the gams works. It's akin to Bust A Groove, in which you pick a character in fighting game esque menu and then face off an opponet while inputing button inputs. There's also a very length story mode, that sadly isn't translated since this games was only Japan only. |
BMS (Be-Music Source file) | ![]() |
1998 | BMS is file type used to run songs on beatmania PC simulators like BM98, DJ Beat, Luantic Rave 2, beatjora & Project Out Fox to name few. It was said that similar simulation methods were used for stuff like O2JAM & DJMAX. |
Spice World | ![]() |
1998 | While Aerosmith isn't the only with their own music/rhythm game, the spice girls attempted to tap their hands in the genre, again IK this game as no rhythm elements, but again the term music game exist. Anyways, this PS1 gem is actually quite infamous for not being based on spice girls movie "Spice World" it's more so a game where you play as creepily cartoony 3D model's of the main girls in musical mini-game collections where you get to make remix's of the spice girls songs and peform them and that's about it. Perosonally, I'd akin it to a proto version idolm@ster game. |
STOLEN SONG (ストールン・ソング) | ![]() |
1998 | Stolen Song is another music/rhythm game hybrid game with adventure elements akin to AeroSmith Quest for Fame, and just like Quest for Fame it's tie-in game with Japanese musician called "Tomoyasu Hotei". The game was released for Windows 95, later it was released on PS1. In fact, both games were made by the same company "Virtual Music". |
Hip Jog Jog (ヒップジョグジョグ) | ![]() |
1998 | After DJ Wars, Sega's toy division decided make their own little LCD rhythm/music game by the name of Hip Jog Jog, it's esentially a proto pokewalker with timer and little character thing you take care of. By the way, there is for 4 modes called... sound, timer, free & game. |
Jumping Groove (ジャンピンググルーヴ) | ![]() |
1998 | Jumping Groove is rhythm game kind-of spin off of Namco's popular redemption game "jumping jackpot" released in July 8, 1998. The way you play Jumping Groove is when the blue boxs fall down the area your feet are standing your supposed to jump or not step on the platform. Surpringly some of the song list is downloadable on Namco's website, but sadly the game never got official OST so most of the songs on the website are low-quality afi files. https://bandainamco-am.co.jp/am/em/jumpinggroove/download/bgm/bgm.php |
Club Rapper (클럽랩퍼) | ![]() |
1998 | Club Rapper (클럽랩퍼) is parappa esque with space channel 5 like gameplay for windows 95 & 98. It has been said that the song list is lack luster at best and the timining window being off for music/rhythm game standards for the time. Thankfully, this game isn't lost and can be played. https://www.myabandonware.com/game/club-rapper-p0n |
Um Jammer Lammy | ![]() |
1999 | As of the suscess of Parappa, Um Jammer Lammy was released in 1999 as proper follow up spin off of the Parappa series, the difference this time is you play as Lammy an inspiring guitarist for band call Milk-Can in the Parappa universe, similar to Parappa one you copy what your opponent. But instead of rapping, you jamming out with your guitar, December 1999 there was arcade port of Lammy made by NAMCO that arcade port is called Um Jammer Lammy NOW! Back then, there wasn't much info of the cab or the game itself, but thanks to the guy who's behind another rhythm game "Neon FM" we now have more high res gameplay video's and images of the cab, and we finally have the Um Jammer Lammy Now dumped, it's a matter of time before it can be run on MAME. |
Space Channel 5 | 1999 | During this craze, SEGA threw it's hat in the ring to get some of that sweet BEMANI with it's first ever rhythm / music game Space Channel 5. Space Channel 5 is classic outside of the genre and is generally loved by all SEGA fan's. How the game work's is you play as the outter space news report Ulala and you have to copy the enemies moves in order to progress in the game. Space Channel was sucess it had sequeal, GBA port's of the first two games and VR spin off. The game has also been referenced in other SEGA games, and Ulala herself show's up in other SEGA games as a playable character. | |
Samba De Amigo | ![]() |
1999 | This was SEGA's first attempt at arcade rhythm/music game. Just like Space Channel 5, Samba De Amigo is fondly remember by everyone and is currently getting a new VR entry on modern console platforms coming August 2023. How Samba De Amigo works is you have two red maracas and you shake them in time with the circles on screen and perform the action on the screen as well. After the arcade version came out, Samba De Amigo got a console port for the dreamcast with pad & maracas peripheral, then in 2007 we got a Wii port of the game where you use the wii-mote and nunchuk to simulate shaking maracas. The game is quiet remembered for it's latin inspired soundtrack. Outside of the usual music select mode, the game has wack-o-mole esque mode where you hit circle on the time it gets to colorful circle's. Similar to Ulala, Amigo has been referenced & cameo'd in other SEGA games. |
FLASH BEATS (フラッシュビーツ) | ![]() |
1999 | After Samba De Amigo, SEGA then decided to make a rhythm/music game that generally was different from what staples of the genre was at that time. Flash Beats is game where you and a friend hit 7 yellow buttons in time with led bar's hitting your line with red bar in time with beat of song. The song choice's are (HOUSE、DRUM&BASE、TECHNO・TRANCE、DIGITALROCK、HIPHOP・RAP) Tho the base version of Flash Beats never came to the west, the long forgotten and lost inner door theme park "Disney Quest" had red veriant that was fully in english (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8grCAYl6c8). There isn't too much doccumentation of the game outside of couple gameplay video's and cab's own by private collectors. But the soundtrack is available to listen down below. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7DIWBf4MCFp97x1lGZgzWaFTS2oNh4JX |
Vib-Ribbon | ![]() |
1999 | Right after the release of Lammy and way before Parappa 2 came out, NanaOn-Sha came out with Vib-Ribbon in 1999 and then 2000 in Europe. Unlike Parappa & Lammy, you don't copy your oppoent in time with the rhythm of the song. Instead you play as Vibri and you guide her into track and your peform actions in time with the track layout of the song, the game generates. You can also put your own music CD's to play generat tracks making the game endless to play. Despite not ever releasing in US, Vib-Ribbion has massive fanbase similar to NanaOn-Sha's other music/rhythm games. After Vib-Ribbon was released it got a sequeal that isn't well-liked & spin-off called Mojib-Ribbon that was released in 2003. It is also inspired and what could be a consider a suecessor to Vib-Ribbon which is called Rhyme Rider Kerorican (ライムライダー・ケロリカン) which was released on the japan only handle made by Bandai called "Wonder Swan". |
Puyo Puyo Da! (ぷよぷよDA! -featuring ELLENA System-) | ![]() |
1999 | Puyo Puyo Da is a rhythm/music game spin off of the famous japanese puzzle game by Compile & SEGA of the same name. Which, Puyo Puyo is sub- spin off series of japan only Dungeon crawler RPG series for MSX2 called (Madō Monogatari - 魔導物語). Puyo Puyo Da! first started off as console game, but later on got a arcade version in December 1999. For how the game works you hit the button when you the puyo's show up on screen and hit them in time with rhtyhm. Not many people discuss about this spin-off of the Puyo Puyo series, but it does have small fanbase surrounding it. |
VJ: Visual & Music Slap | ![]() |
1999 | Since Konami's music/rhythm game's were sweeping the japanese aracade space through out the 90's. Some other companies have gotten inspired by their games, and decide their own music/rhythm games with similar conpect's and idea's. JALECO a small japanese only company did this exact thing with their first ever rhythm/music game VJ. While when looking at VJ for first, it's clear they were heavily inspired by beatmania. As for how VJ works is, you hit the 6 white buttons on the keyboard when the blue and white notes fall on the line. You also move the the joystick esque knob for the visuals of the game. Half of the games OST is cover's of american music with a couple of original's. Sadly Konami caught wind that JALECO's game like quiet similar to beatmania. They decided to sue JALECO and force them along with arcade owners at the time to throw or destory almost all of the VJ cab's. In fact, Konami refused to give japanese arcade owner's beatmania upgrade kit's because they owned VJ. This is prime example of how stingy Konami can be as company. Because they couldn't take that Jaleco was inspired by their DJ sim game. Thankfully, years after the company died off in the mid 2010's. The game has been rising back up in popular. Espeically with the only last existing being in the hands of Shiz from the Netherlands. And including the roms for VJ and VJ Dash (Which is upgrade of the first game). After the lawsuit, Jaleco did had plans for Playstation 1 port of 1st VJ game, which did got cancelled sadly, and also had plans to make sequal to VJ called "VJ: Visual & Music Slap The 2nd Rave" which was also cancelled because of Konami's lawsuit; and because of said lawsuit VJ was then turned into Rave Masters (no relations to that one anime.) Which is soto spin-off/rename for VJ. |
Rock Fever (又稱滾石DJ/Rolling Stones DJ) | ![]() |
1999 | Just like Jaleco, a big Taiwanese game company called IGS made their own beatmania inspired game called Rock Fever. Unlike both VJ & beatmania, Rock Fever use's 6 red & blue buttons along with padel similar to Ez2DJ & beatmania III. You hit the 6 colorfuly buttons when the red & blue bar's fall down to file, while you stomp on the pedel when a green foot icon falls down the line on the screen. Tho, not many people in the west know of it's existance it's fairly popular in it's country of origin. It's so popular in taiwan there's a spin off's of Rock Fever called DJ Master, like DJ Master that basically looks like a fusion of Rock Fever & Ez2DJ with the turntable replacing the top red buttons. What's also to note, some Rock Fever cab's are conversion cab's of the Bust A Groove / Bust A Move dedicated cab's. |
Stepping Stage | ![]() |
1999 | After they made VJ, JALECO's next rhythm/music game was yet another game inspired by Konami. This time instead of arrow's like DDR, Stepping Stage use's 6 color circles that colored only in red, blue and yellow. Similar to DDR and other dance games in Stepping Stage you select your mode's from ( Easy, Normal, Hard, Next & Hyper Mode) then you select your and then you hit the circle panels when the circles show up on the screen. And just VJ half of the song list is american liscensed music. Also unlike VJ, Stepping Stage has quite a lot of doccumentation and has quite bit of sequel's including a spin off for the PS2 called "Stepping Selection". |
Pump It Up (펌프 잇 업) | ![]() |
1999 | Similiar to Jaleco, a big korean arcade maker named Andamiro decided to take at crack with their first ever rhythm/music game called "Pump It Up" Unlike Stepping Stage & DDR, Pump is similar to a spin off of Pop'N Music called "Pop'N Stage" where instead of 4 arrow's or circles. Pump it Up works you have 4 arrow's that are colored red & blue on the top to bottom and the yellow center panel with blue feet on it, and when the arrow's or yellow circle shows up on screen, you hit it. Surpringly enough, outside of Korea. Just like Jaleco, Konami was sueing Andamiro for "copying". Despite the lawsuit Pump It Up is very popular elsewhere in the world, espeically in Latin America countries. In fact, as of writing this Pump Phoenix is coming August of this year. |
Let's Dance (렛츠 댄스) | ![]() |
1999 | While DDR & Pump were huge hits, more companies wanted a piece of that pie. Let's Dance is just decent DDR knock-off with quite bit of famous songs from Clon, the star wars theme & It's a fine day by jane. Thankfully there is some gameplay video's of this game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADy-mHa7izE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHivoriJTiI&t=51s After Let's Dance, dgpix then worked on the more doccumented and famous beat player 2000 which is their clone of beatmania & ez2dj. Let's Dance also has a mini port and a home port, which the home port was made by a different developer. |
Ez2Dj / Ez2AC (이지투 디제이 / 이지투아케이드) | ![]() |
1999 | While the genre was non-existing around when Andamiro made Pump It Up, another big korean game company called amuseworld was inspired to make their own beatmania, which is called Ez2Dj. Unlike beatmania the top buttons are blue instead of black and the turntable lights up and the game has pedel stomping fetature. Since Konami wasn't big in the Korean market, Konami sued Amuse-world as well. Despite sueing amuse-world Konami then decided to make beatmania III as compete with ez2. Which beatmania III failed horrible after the amuse-world suit was selled in court. Despite Ez2 dying twice including it's spin off successor "3S Sabin Sound Star" Ez2 like Pump is very loved series. And still lives on, as amuse-world's ez2 team disbanded in 2005 & 2011 to make Neowiz Games/Nenovice (the team members who moved onto working on DJMAX) & Sqaure Pixles/Ez2AC team (the team who went onto worked on EZ2AC & EZ2ON Reboot:R). There's also a wiki dedicated to Ez2Dj/Ez2AC & it's history. https://www.ez2wiki.com/Main_Page |
Mix Master (믹스마스터) | ![]() |
1999 | While Ez2Dj was booming in Korea, a game company in Korea called Dazzle made "Mix Master" which is yet another Ez2 clone in Korea that doesn't have too much infomation about it, outside of it being basically like a mix of Ez2DX repo cab's and base Ez2Dj cab's. |
BEMANI Pockets (ビーマニポケット) | ![]() |
1999 | The Bemani pocket's are line up of little LCD games the simulate the arcade games they are based on. They so far have made pocket's for (beatmania, DDR, Pop'n, Para Para Paradise & Guitar Freaks) |
Dance Dance Diet (댄스 댄스 다이어트) | 1999 | Unfourntely there isn't too much info out about this game, but apparently it was made by korea company in Korea that is still around to this day and it's rumor it usually is set up around arcade that's in a cranvial in korea, but it sadly doesn't work. By judging by the looks of it, it's PIU, but the blue arrow's are green. But sometime this year 2023, it do showed up in good will of all places. It's currently in process of getting it work again and to eventually get dump. Would also like to mention, there's a gameplay video of Dance Dance Diet's DDR versions which basically modded version of DDR 99 player, and there's someone on FB market place selling the pad's for the Dance Dance Diet DDR pad's. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LimlQezUoYY https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/605956881461061/ | |
SSamba Festival(쌈바 페스티벌) | 1999 | There's a bit info about this game and gameplay video. But from the looks of it's hybrid repro of DDR cab with PIU dance pad's with middle panel being yellow S panel instead of the panel with blue feet. And looks most the games assets are stolen from DDR, Para Para Paradise, Ez2Dancer and PIU. What's the most funniest part is, the Titanic theme is playable song. And I would also like to add that one of background video's is straight up a background from original FF7. While it's been reported the fate of the cab is unknown at the moment, but it's said the cab last seen in arcade in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Thankfully, we do have gameplay video of this interesting clone of PIU. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRdAZ6rk0JI | |
Hip Hop Mania / Hip Hop PUMP (힙합 펌프) | 1999 | While Konami never released the bemani pocket's here in the west or other asian terorries. Two toy companies from the US & Korea respectelly decide to make their own beatmania bemani pocket's. One is called "Hip Hop Mania" by Geo Space while the Korean version is called "Hip Hop Pump" by inter toys. Sadly, there's information or video's yet. But I the author of this whole thing, plan to doccement this interesting bemani pocket bootleg. In fact, I will was the one who discovered the hip hop pump bootleg. Which this section will be heavily updated in the near future. STAY TUNE! :D | |
Pop'N Stage | ![]() |
1999 | While Andamiro was booming in korea with PIU (Pump It Up). Konami decided to make a game to compete with them that is similar-ish to PIU, which won't be the last time konami would copy another companies music/rhythmgame to steal their sell's, they would later do this with Ez2Dj by making beatmania III & sort of copy Dream Audition with Karaoke Revoultion. Anyways, the 5 panel dance game they decided to make was spin off to their famous pop'n music series called "Pop'n Stage" as for how the game works similar to pump you hit five panels in time with what's on screen. While this spin-off wasn't big, it did got sequel called "pop'n stage ex" and some people do like it. |
GuitarFreaks | ![]() |
1999 | While some may think Guitar Freaks is rip off of both Guitar Hero & Rock Band. It's actually, the polar oppsite. GuitarFreaks inspired both Guitar Hero & Rock Band. Anyways as for how Guitar Freaks works you hit red, blue & green buttons & strum when the colored bar's scroll up. And you move the guitar up or down when you see the guitar icon scrolling up also known as wailling. Since this game is made by Konami it's still popular in japan and the game still lives under the "Gitadora". Also, outside of Guitar Hero & Rock Band, Guitar Freaks was also inspration for both Rock'n Tread & Guitar Jam. Lastely, Guitar Freaks 5th Mix can be linked up with KEYBOARDMANIA 3rd Mix & Drum Mania 4th Mix to simluate playing a band. |
Drum Mania / Preccusion Freaks | ![]() |
1999 | Just like with Guitar Freaks, Drum Mania is also compared to Guitar Hero & Rock Band because of their drum set up controller. While again, both games were inspired by Drum Mania. As for how Drum Mania works you hit hi-hat, snare drum, high tom, low tom, cymbal and bass drum when bar's on screen go down the judgment line. While Drum Mania is only popular in Japan still too. The game still lives under "Gitadora", and just like with Guitar Freaks Drum Mania 4th mix too can be linked with Guitar Freaks 5th Mix & KEYBOARDMANIA 3rd Mix. And while the game has seen release in Korea, Korea has 3 of it's own drum mania inspired games. The dancing drum hybrid music/rhythm game "ACPercuss", "Drum Live Station", "Zooty Drum" & "Neo Drum X". There's also a simulator called "DTXMania" that can emulate Drum mania & Guitar Freaks. |
Rock'N Tread | ![]() |
1999 | Jaleco after being sued by Konami decided to yet again be inspired by 3 of their BEMANI games (Guitar Freaks, Drum Mania & Pop'n Music). Tho Jaleco's game Rock'n Tread is fairly unqiue on how you play the drum's and guitar with pedal and puck system thingy. Similar to pop'n music there's character's who react to how your doing in the game. While the game didn't break any grounds as Jaleco hope for, they did made many sequels for the game including a PS2 spin off called "Rock'n MegaStage". |
Dream Audition | ![]() |
1999 | After Rock'n Tread, Dream Audition was Jaleco's final rhythm game and sadly there isn't much gameplay video's of the actual cab, more so gameplay of the PS2 spin off ports. While the game isn't that very good and just you sing in time with lyrics on screen and that's it. It did inspired Konami to make "Karoke Revolution" which it's weird Konami tried to steal an idea from Jaleco when they stopped making music/rhythm games by the release of Karoke Revolution. Originally Dream Audition was gonna be called StarMarker. |
RAVE MASTER | ![]() |
???? | After Konami sued Jaleco for VJ "plagerising" beatmania, due to the lawsuit ~VJ~ Visual & Music Slap 2Rave got cancelled, but a spin off to VJ called "Rave Master" came into existance and got released. Sadly there isn't too much info outside of the few screenshoots we have the cabinet and some gameplay. It looks this time you would the knob and hit the one white button when the Ez2Dj looking circles falling down on judgement line on screen. In fact, there is much info at all, we don't know release date either. |
Goo! Goo! Soundy (グー! グー! サウンデ) | ![]() |
1999 | During the DDR boom, a game similar made by Konami's other sub-company made game that's essentially DDR meets Vib-Ribbion called "Goo! Goo! Soundy" How the games works is similar to vib ribbion you can generate song chart's for the game with your own CD's and you press the arrow buttons when the arrow's show up on screen. It's weirldy interesting game. |
Rap Freaks (ラップフリークス) | ![]() |
1999 | Unfortunately this game didn't came out, but we have quiet bit of info about. So how Rap Freaks would've worked is you put on these hand controller called "Hand Clap" simulating you singing, but doesn't simulate you singing into a mic like actual rapper while waving the controller around to can simulate scratching a turntable like a DJ. After the games cancellation we never heard about it again. But realistically it would be really ground breaking like almost all of the BEMANI games. |
Guitar Jam (ギタージャム) | ![]() |
1999 | After Paca Paca Passion, Namco decided to maker their 2nd ever rhythm game, which was heavily inspired by Guitar Freaks. Tho, it's gameplay is heavily different from other guitar music/rhythm games and that it simulate's playing an actual guitar. Sadly, there isn't too many gameplay video's except for chart used in the game on Nico Nico Douga https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm14297140 While Konami was suing Amuse-world, Andamiro & Jaleco for "infringing on their patents", there next target was Namco because they were making games that also inspired by two of their BEMANI games mainly "Guitar Freaks" & "KEYBOARDMANIA". Durning the lawsuit Namco repro Guitar Jam into cabinet's for AeroSmith Quest for Fame cab's and later the cab's inspired the designs for Million Hits (Namco's 3rd ryhthm/music game) & Um Jammer Lammy NOW! |
Hot Dance 2000/Dance 2000 | ![]() |
1999(?) | Hot Dance 2000 or Dance 2000 is DDR demake bootleg for the Famicom rumored to be release around 1999-2000, most of the game's song list is chiptune take's of actual DDR songs like Boom Boom Dollar, Dub I Dub, Mr.Wonderful & Hero. And for some reason some chiptune renditions of popular songs like Sha La La La La, Follow The Sun & Beat It. And just like any other DDR home console port, Hot Dance 2000 / Dance 2000 with dance mat that surpringly works like dogshit. The funny part of the whole game is Usagi/Sailor Moon is background character. If you want to give it try, this demake is always on famiclone consoles or famicon bootleg muilt-cart's. (tl;dr warning: This game can contain severe seizure indosing background's and gameplay. If you have epilepsy, DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME!!) |
Million Hits (ミリオンヒッツ) | ![]() |
1999 | While Konami was suing Namco for "copying" Guitar Freaks. Namco's next rhythm/music game was called Million Hits. Which surpringly there isn't any gameplay, but more so MP3's of the song and many images for the game. But surpringly, Namco hasn't forgotten about the game, cause the website url is still up to this day. https://bandainamco-am.co.jp/am/vg/millionhits/infomation.php |
Beatmania IIDX / Beatstage II | ![]() |
1999 | After Drum-Mania & before beatmania III. Konami was originally gonna make the sequal of beatmania called "beatmania II", but stangely got cancelled and then the project came back from the died and rebranded as beatmania IIDX, which IIDX is still going on to this day and fairly popular. It's currently on it's 30th version, now for the gameplay it's sightly different to 5key, but instead of 5key's. It's now 7 key's and the turntables are now on the right and on the left of the keyboard. Also, despite II being quietly cancelled it's rumor II got released in Korea by the name of beatstage II. IIDX also had US released for PS2 simply called "beatmania" or as some people known it as "beatmania 2006". Which this PS2 americanized IIDX is quite infamous along with G4's X-Play's review of it claiming IIDX is shameless Guitar Hero knock-off. |
Dance Dance Revolution Solo | ![]() |
1999 | Durning the DDR boom was going on still Konami, made a mini sub-series to DDR that was short lived by the named "Dance Dance Revolution Solo" and the only difference this time is now the cab is smaller compare to main line game cab's and there's addtional green up left and up right arrow panel's. This sub- series sadly died with the release of "Dance Dance Revolution Solo 4th Mix Plus" in 2000. There is another two sub-series similar to solo DDR kids & DanceDanceRevolution Karaoke MIX. |
Dancing Blasting (댄싱블래스터) | ![]() |
1999 | Dancing Blasting is game made by a korean game company by the name of Para Enterprise, sadly there isn't any other info outside of the game quite litterally being a Stepping Staging clone, 3 crt's and all. |
Zooty Drum (쥬티드럼) | ![]() |
1999 | After Para Enterprise made their Stepping Stage clone, they then decided to make their own shameless clone of another rhythm / music game which is their Drum Mania clone called "Zooty Drum" which... there isn't no information, but by the looks of the cab it's just shameless rip off Drum Mania. |
Jam Jam Music (잼잼 뮤직) | ![]() |
1999 | After making Pump it Up, Andamiro was working on Korea's answer to Pop'n with "Jam Jam Music". It's exactly like Pop'n down to a T espeically with cab being yellow too. Also having little chibi mascot characters that two chibi little girl's who are stand-in's for Mimi and Nyami. Sadly, the gameplan never got worked so far outside of the prototype stages. Would also mention the note characters eerily look similar to the Puyo's from Puyo Puyo. |
Beat Player 2000 | 1999 - 2000(?) | After Let's Dance, dgpix decided to take a crack at making their own DJ-ing game by the name of beat player 2000. Which basically it's arcade clone of DJ beat with Ez2DJ looking control panel. There's surpringly a lot of doccumentation of this even more obscure clone, the song list is surpringly a lot of lincensed american and euro beat music. There is sequeal to it called BEATPLAYER2000 UPgrade. | |
リズムピコ ピッピちゃんとリズム遊び (Rhythm Pico: Pippi-chan to Rhythm Asobi) | ![]() |
1999 | Pippi-chan to Rhythm Asobi is a kiddie edutainment music game for SEGA's SEGA Pico console, the game is mostly a point and interact music game. |
KEYBOARDMANIA/KEYBOARDHEAVEN | ![]() |
2000 | While Konami was interested in making more instrument music/rhythm games after the sucusses of Guitar Freaks & Drum Mania, Keyboardmania was their 3rd instrument music/rhythm game. How the game works is you see orange, red and blue bars fall down a line and you hit the piano key's or scroll wheel on the left and right of both keyboard's when they show up on screen you hit them when they land on the judgment line. Basically it looks like beatmania, but with only piano key's. The game sadly died off so quickly after it's PC release and 3rd Mix was released. But NOSTALGIA another BEMANI series still keeps KeyboardMania's legecy. Namco was inspired by Konami again and Techno Werk came into existance, which Konami sued them for Techno Werk as well. Lastely, just like with the two games mentioned eariler you can link both games to Keyboardmania to simulate playing in band, and there's also a simulator for Keyboardmania called "DoReMiMania". |
Unknown Counductor BEMANI game | ![]() |
???? | Sadly we don't know much about this game sadly, besides the patent's for the game and cabinet itself. But it looks like it would've been apart of the Keyboardmania series, cause Usao-kun shows as a character in one of the patent's. |
Para Para Paradise / Para Para Dancing (パラパラパラダイス/ 파라파라 댄스) | 2000 | In japan the euro beat dance craze was sweeping japan by the name of "Para Para" and decided to capitalized on trends Konami decided to made "Para Para Paradise" unlike most of the BEMANI games at that time, you wave your hands around and do hand motions to simulate doing the para para dance's on screen, it's said this was first BEMANI game in history to have hold notes. while the game wasn't super big in japan and didn't last long, dying off after PS2 port & 2nd Mix. It's fondly remember and there's a decently amount of fan's for this game. StepMania & OutFox can support the PS2 controller and you can occasionally catch this game in anime convention. There's also a a chinese clone of this game, that sadly doesn't too much info on it. | |
Dance ManiaX / Dance Freaks (ダンスマニアックス/댄스매니악스) | ![]() |
2000 | Durning DDR's boom, Konami decided to make a game that was supposed to be the successor/evolution of dance game genere as whole, where instead of using your feet to dance, you would wave your hands around while dancing and such game to take task was Konami's rhythm game/music game "Dance ManiaX/Dance Freaks" or "DMX" for short. DMX is game where unlike DDR and other dance games, instead of stomping on big arrow panel's when the arrow's show up on screen. In DMX you wave your hands around these white color flashing sensor's when the pink or blue circles fly up to the pink and blue circle judgment line on screen. As for the games OST, very similar to Para Para Paradise almost half of the game's song list is euro beat music and euro beat versions of BEMANI original songs. While the game was doing alright, it sadly died quickly puposely due to the game being too gimmicky in nature. While the game isn't popular as Konami had hope for, the game has massive fanbase and there's a fan-made simulator called "Dance ManiaX update" that keeps the game lived. In fact, EZ2DANCER was inspired by DMX. But just like DMX, it died off in popular too, and yet long after the game's death, they both gain a massive fan-base. |
EZ2Dancer (이지투댄서) | ![]() |
2000 | Amuseworld may have been dealing with Konami's lawsuit with Ez2DJ, durning the whole ordeal. Amuse-World got inspired by Konami to make their DMX like game called "Ez2Dancer" which Ez2Dancer was supposed to be competor/evolution of PIU. How the game works it's similar to DMX where green and blue circles show up, but with some red and yellow arrow's showing up on up left, up right and down kind of like PIU. Since Amuse-World was behind this game, half the song list is Ez2DJ original songs and couple of licensed songs, including a few songs from other rhythm/music games like DJMAX, O2JAM to name a few. The last Ez2Dancer game to be released was Super China, where most of the songs in that verison was C-POP and other chinese licensed music with a couple of Ez2Dj originals and some other licensed music from the other versions. The game sadly died quickly similar to DMX due to poor sales in Korea. Not even the Ez2Dj Dance Edition couldn't save Ez2Dancer, but despite the game being commerical failure. It has a massive fanbase espeically in brazil and there is Ez2Dancer mode in OutFox. And there is a fully working simulator for the game made using Stepmania, which the download link will be below. https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=B7458A39B45147F7&id=B7458A39B45147F7%21105 |
ACPercuss (에이씨퍼커스) | ![]() |
2000 | In 2000 a small disbanded korean company called Interplay21 made ACPercuss which was their first and only rhythm/music game that was soto hybird of Drum-Mania, Para Para & DDR. How the game works is you see these color block things fall on the judgement color wheel thing and when it falls, you hit either the drum, stims or stomp on the pad. There sadly isn't too much info about the game online, not much of the music or the company itself, but a gameplay demostartion video from Tokyo Game Show 2000 has unearth online and thanks to the wayback machine the games website is still active. Outside of the cab's design, small bits of gameplay, we do know the name of mascot character made for the game which is... "Moon-Sun". Which, links to archived website and video will be linked. https://web.archive.org/web/20010126190700/http://www.acpercuss.com/index.asp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrbFCpROm9A |
Nanta 2000 (난타 2000) | ![]() |
2000 | The conpect's and theme's for rhythm / music games were getting crazy over time, Nanta 2000 came out of no where, this game more so about you play as nanta chef and you make food with rhythm of the song, and you control the game with actual kitchen tools. The game sadly got cancelled after it's showcase at Tokyo game show 2000. There sadly isn't much info about the game. It was reported that it was made by small game company called iSolution Corp. and it was mentioned in PS2 magazine from UK. There's only a few seconds of cab itself. https://twitter.com/BROWNPuP_IIIDX/status/1645859770753241088?s=20 |
Techno Motion (테크노모션) | ![]() |
2000 | in 2000, F2 System a small game company in Korea made the first ever 9 panel dance game, Techno Motion. Which has modes for both DDR & PIU, the song list is mostly K-pop and songs from both DDR & PIU. The dude on the logo is also insperation for the Stepmania's older logo, which Technomotion can be run on Stepmania with it's techno motion mode. While the game was short lived, F2 system did paid Andmiro for PIU license for the PIU music in Techno Motion and so they can work on PIU Extra. |
B-boy (비보이) | ![]() |
2000 | While Techno Motion died, B-boy is game that is mostly a techno motion bootleg with DDR extreme UI. Outside of that the game doesn't have much info aside from the company who made is called Eumjeong Syscom. |
Break Boy (브레이크보이) | ![]() |
2000 | First Mix Master, and now the happily named Game Studio made their own Ez2DJ clone called... "Break Boy". There sadly isn't too much info about this game. |
Fantasy of Stepping, The (판타지오브스테핑) | ![]() |
2000 | Let's Dance, PIU, Techno Motion and DDR were booming. GC Tech wanted the pie of dance game craze and they made their dance game "Fantasy of Stepping, The" not much info is on this either. |
Live Mix (라이브믹스) | ![]() |
2000 | While there was countless Ez2 clones in Korea. Live Mix is the only one of the clones that actually does something different instead of turntable you press a red button similar to Sabin Sound Star. There sadly isn't much info aside from the image that a company by the name of Giseong. |
Rhythm and Dance, The (더리듬앤댄스) | ![]() |
2000 | Rhythm and Dance, The is yet another DDR clone with nothing much added or even much info about it. Only info we have is images and the companies name which is Playworks. But it's been reported the game has shown in some arcade's in the US. |
Neo Drum X (네오드럼X ) | ![]() |
2000 | Made by Korean company Omicron, Neo Drum X is a game similar to Drum Mania & Zooty Drum, where you hit drum set with stick's in time with the bars that fall on the judgement line on screen. It's been reported that Neo Drum X is actually a spiritual successor of another Korean drum mania clone called "Power Drum" sadly there isn't no information on Power Drum. But in 2014, Neo Drum X got it's own spiritual successor called "Drum Master". Drum Master was made by a company called Visual Lab, which Visual Lab disbanded in 2019. The song list is very interesting, outside of the usual K-POP songs, it surpringly has a lot of western band's like Green Day, Metallica & Nirvana to name a few. It also has Retrospective Song from beatmania IIDX, MEMBER INTRODUCTION from Guitar Freaks, Writhe in Pain, Blue Water Blue Sky from Guillity Gear, Mirage Garden from BMS & a rock version of the Super Mario theme song. Omicron claims all of them were licensed, but it's unclear. There's surpringly gameplay video's on YT for the game.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzJOuL2xT84 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAYHP-ffhIE |
Dance Machine 18 (댄스머신18) | ![]() |
2000 | Dance Machine 18 is weird game made by the slightly unknown korean game company called Eolith. Eolith rebranded twice, it now goes by Neolith (네오리스). As for Dance Machine 18 itself, it doesn't have much information on it, besides a small news report. That was reporting at Korean convention. The cab itself looks like what an AI or alien thinks what DDR actually looks like. https://imnews.imbc.com/replay/2000/nwdesk/article/1861967_30735.html |
Drum Beat 2000 (드럼 비트 2000) | ![]() |
2000 (?) | Drum Beat 2000 is game that is similar made to bm98 and dj beat, drum beat 2000 being the first arcade simulator for Drum Mania, not much info is out there besides a few gameplay pictures of the game itself and the disc of it's spiritual successor "Drum Mania 2000". |
Crackin' DJ (クラッキンDJ) | ![]() |
2000 | While SEGA was still trying to break into arcade rhythm/music game space, Crackin' DJ was Sega's attempt at making their own DJ simulation game. Thankfully Konami did not sued SEGA for "plagerism", but Crackin' DJ sadly died due to it's poor demonstaration of how the game works and it's hard as shit time window. Which said timing window is most infamous for. As for how the game works you scratch two turntables when green vertical lines fall down and used the fader when red and purple arrow lines fall down the fader line. While the game is in fame, it has it fanbase and there's still fully working Crackin' DJ cab's to this day and WGC / World Game Circus (an aracade in japan) has regular crackin' dj tourenments and thanks to a fan-made crackin' dj online rank service, you can upload your score's and ranking. The game also has a very impressive simulator in the works called "Trackin' DJ (トラッキンDJ)" where you can use an actual DJ mixer to play on the simulator. On June 14, 2023 Crackin DJ' spawn a very interesting meme, because of image of esports player sitting on the cabinet's control panel the meme was made due to mix reactions of people who saw some random esports player sitting on very rare game to come by. https://twitter.com/trackindjhttps://twitter.com/cdjp2onlinerank https://twitter.com/DRX_VS/status/1668859303330222083?s=20 |
Shakka Tambourine! (シャカっとタンバリン!) | ![]() |
2000 | Shakka Tambourine! is spin off series of Samba De Amigo, where instead of maraca's you hit and shake a tambourine when the blue balls on screen hit the judgment circles, you also have to move the tambourine when action shows up on screen similar to Samba Da Amigo. Shaka and Tambourine! is mostly forgotten about, but after the first game hit the japanese arcade scene, there was a tie in spin off called "Mini Moni. Shaka & Tambourine! (ミニモニ。シャカっとタンバリン!)" released for the PS1, which this game was tie in with a idol girl group called "Mini Moni.". Unlike Samba Da Amigo most of the song list is more so japanese music like Koi no Dance Sit, Natsuiro, UFO & Gatchaman no Uta. |
WOOGA WOOGA (우가우가) | ![]() |
2000 (?) | There isn't too much information on this Korean Samba De Amigo, tho for good reason. Cause this game has bunch of xenophobic streotypes of african culture. That aside, the game's cab is basically a reused Samba De Amigo/Shakka Tambourine cab with added foot pedals. |
Musica | ![]() |
2000 | Musica is yet another samba de amigo clone from korea by the stepping of fantasy, the people. Not much is known about this game in particular. |
Rhyme Rider Kerorican (ライムライダー・ケロリカン) | ![]() |
2000 | After Vib-Ribbion, in 2000. Rhyme Rider Kerorican was NanaOn-Sha's first attempt at a Vib-Ribbon spiritual successor. The game star's Kerorican, as she walks on track Kerorican has to jump, duck, kick aside, or otherwise dodge the alien's & obstacles on the field to the beat and rhythm of the song to progress. Kerorican's combo count increases for a result to reward the player a crown that acts to skip over obstacles. The game was release on Bandai's short lived Japan only handle called "Wonder Swan". Most of the games song list from NanaOn-Sha's music/rhythm tool game called "Tunin'Glue" for Macintosh. The game is sort of easy to come across and there is emulator's for Wonder Swan. https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/WonderSwan_emulators https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-OPjEN-Nfs&t=137s |
TEKNOWERK (テクノヴェルク) | ![]() |
2000 | After both Paca Paca Passion & Guitar Jam, Namco not going to give up on breakout in the arcade music/rhythm game scene, decided to make another game inspired by Konami's short lived BEMANI series "KEYBOARDMANIA" and the game in general, break's the mold of what rhythm/music game is like, where instead of hitting or copying an action on screen, you can play the paino keyboard simulating actual keyboard playing. The game has 4 modes ""LESSON", "NORMAL", "HARD", and "PRO". Lesson mode is more so a practice. While game was short live, it sadly wasn't played much and was overshadowed by Taiko no Tatsujin which came out short after it. |
Dance Dance Revolution Kids | ![]() |
2000 | Dance Dance Revolution Kids or DDR Kids for short is a kiddie spin off of DDR, the game itself is more so like a DDR solo spin-off. Due to both games having one pad only. But unlike most DDR games, this game's song list mostly has a lot of licensed anime music like the 1st japanese Pokemon theme, Anpanman theme, the Digimon Adventure 2 japanese theme to name a few. It was reportly lost for a bit until 2020, when it was dumped online. DDR kids is also the first DDR game to use 2D BGA dancers unlike the usual 3D BGA dancers and this game replaced the usual MISS, BOO, GOOD, GREAT, PERFECT judgement graphics with POOR, FIGHT, GOOD, and GREAT. The link to download game rom is down below. https://mega.nz/#!ZZtzFASS!4ejp2OCyBdXunXCoO7T6pj_xxfTB4DUKlVSTpGfGrSQ |
COOL COOL TOON (クルクルトゥーン) | ![]() |
2000 | Cool Cool Toon is SNK first leap into the music/rhythm game scene it was mostly made due to SNK going bankrupt. As for what the game is about it's about the main boy/girl character (Amplifier & Spica) getting sucked into the TV World called "Kurukuru Town" by Yusa, the pink rabbit creature on the box art. The town grows in game with the power of dance called "Fritz". As for how the game words when the circle comes near the game controller circle button judgement line you move the control stick to the area and hit the button on the dreamcast controller. The timing scoring is "Cool", "Nice", "Okay", and "Poor" when they are peformed at anytime of the song. The game sadly never came to west, but there is a massive effort to get the game translated into english. There's also a sequel/spin off for SNK's handheld console called "COOL COOL JAM". |
~TV DJ ~ ~TV DJ~ (TVDJ〜ティービィーディージェー〜) | ![]() |
2000 | ~TV DJ ~ ~ TV DJ ~ no joke, that's the actual name of the game when translated into english. Anyways this game is in house made music/rhythm game by Sony, the game is about that you work for this anthro pig boss of this poor rating TV station called "BBB TELEVISION" and you the player (choreographer) it's your job to splice the filming reels to rhythm and beat on the song to make a good TV broadcast, when bar falls down on the film bar drops onto reel judgement line. You hit ○, △, □, and × buttons when the film reel bar drops, ○ is 3 reels, △ is 1 reel, □ is 2 reels, and × is 4 reels. ~TV DJ ~ ~ TV DJ ~ is kind of like VJ-ing since your splicing images and all. Also, there's effect's you can use called afterimage, division, mosaic, and lightning. If edited well, you can make look amazing. Small tid bit, Once you clear the game as whole, it becomes ~ TV DJ ~ ~ TV DJ ~ director's cut, and you can play in hard mode, and after you clear hard mode, free mode is unlock, which is basically a free style mode. |
Popira (ポピラ) | ![]() |
2000 | Popira is the first plug & play music/rhythm game and this game was also Takara's first ever leap into the genre. How the game works you hit the four buttons on controller when the balls on screen fall to the red judgment plates, you can add extra songs to Popira with speical cartridge's called "E-kara cart's". There's also a sequel called Popira 2 with two controllers instead of just one and spin-off games of Popira like... Popillia japonica (たいこでポピラ), Jumpin' Popiller (ジャンピンポピラ) & E-kara (イーカラ). Most of the games song list is mostly licensed japanese music and the game also did a tie-in E-kara with Mini Moni. Also, Popira has one aracade clone by the american arcade game company "ICE" called "Rhythm Nation". And it also has a semi-licensed arcade port in south korea by "Uniana' under the name "P.P.R. (포피라)". |
Crazy Dancing (舞光十射) | ![]() |
2000 | After making Rock Fever, IGS wanted to make their own dance game which is how crazy dancing came to be, tho the game itself is essentially a DDR clone with 4 panels and having 3D BGA dancers and all, but there isn't too much info about it's song list or other things outside some info about the PC port and a few pictures of gameplay and the game's arcade cabinet. |
UNiSON:Rebels of Rhythm & Dance (ゆにぞん) | ![]() |
2000 | Before Techmo merge with Koei, Techmo made their first music/rhythm game called UNiSON: Rebels of Rhythm & Dance or UNiSON for short. The story of the game is An entertainment city ruled by Ducker, the owner of a magical singing voice, and forbidden to dance, people are hypnotized by his songs. As for how the games works you can play as 3 girls named Trill, Cela, Chilly and you score by moving to analog sticks to rhythm of the song. Most of the song list is mostly licensed music like Barbie Girl, Y.M.C.A We Are Family, Boys & Girls and UFO to name a few. |
Can Music (캔뮤직) | ![]() |
2000 | Can Music is the first online korean rhythm/music game made by Hanseul Soft, which can music is the first flat track MMRG (Massively Muilplayer Rhytm Game) before O2JAM & DJMAX. Sadly there isn't too much info about the game's song list, but there is gameplay video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezw7trtDEEc |
Beat Planet Music | ![]() |
2000 | Beat Planet Music is game made by Sony that's similar to beatcraft cyclone & DJ Beat's arcade port where it's line track music/rhythm game. Each song represents a connection linking two cities in game, two note scroll down two lines. The player move's the cursor from each lane and hit each note's in order to play the music of the game. |
Rhythm 'n' Face (リズムンフェイス) | ![]() |
2000 | Rhythm 'n' Face is game released on PS1 in japan made by the legendary "Osamu Sato". The game was made to capitalize on the rhythm/music game craze, as for how the game works you go through level's in game and what you do is to recreate the faces by using ps1 controller to do combination of squares, circles and triangles aligned to a grid in the rhythm of the song, chaining correct input will grant you a combo, but missing will break the combo. And if you do well in the stage you advence to the next stage of the game. There is a website that is based on this game called "Sato Shapes". https://superfromnd.gitlab.io/satoshapes/ |
3DDX | ![]() |
2000 | 3DDX is game by Korean dev NGG; Pretty much the game is the love child of Para Para Paradise, PIU, Ez2Dancer. 3DDX supposedly has story mode about Chaney and friends beating socialism with the power of dancing (?) this game is used as a base for a fuck-ton of chinese bootleg games espeically "King Of Dancer". 3DDX also has two sequel series's called Dance Super Station & E5, which DSS has a PC-port; Both 3DDX & DDS run on the same windows engine by the way. Sideoffries did made a video talking about 3DDX and some of it's bootleg clones briefly, which said video would be down below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAVT-TFQnOE |
Koi no Parapara Daisakusen (恋のパラパラ大作戦) | ![]() |
2000 | Similar to Konami & Para Para Paradise/ Para Para Dancing. Koi no Para Para Daisakusen by Namco is another music/rhythm game to cash in on the para para dance craze of the 2000's and just like Para Para Paradise, it uses sensor's that captures you copying the dance move's of the the game dancer's on screen. While there isn't too much info about the game or cabinet itself. There is a DVD workout video based on the game that also doesn't have info much either. Depsite having not much information, the gameplay is proto dan evo & dance around. |
Taiko no Tatsujin (太鼓の達人) | ![]() |
2001 | While Guitar Jam, TechnoWerk & Million Hit failed due to lawsuits and even lost interest. Taiko No Tatsujin was Namco's next attempt at a rhythm/music game which has been very successful and still going on to this day in arcade scene. As for how Taiko work's it simulate's playing the taiko which is japanese precussion instrument popular in japan. You hit these circle note's on screen that are called red's are Don, Blue's are Ka's and yellow's are red hits. You hit the ka's on the edge of drum, red hits are hit when rapidly hit the drum with with your bashi sticks, red is hit when you hit the drum on both sides on top of taiko drum's. The mascot Don-Chan has shown in other games like Mario Kart GP DX & Tamagochi Rhythm TamaRiz. Taiko has also gotten the IIDX treatment of being americanzied for the west under the name "Taiko Drum Master" for the PS2. |
MAMBO A GO GO (マンボ ア ゴーゴー) | 2001 | Mambo A GO GO is another BEMANI game that has insturment motif to simulate playing the congo's, there is actually two versions of this game the dedicated cabinet and the control panel for Astro City & Blast City cabinet's. Most of the games song list is Latin-style songs, and the game in general has a latin themeing. As for how the game work's you the top of congo's / buttons when you the bar's on screen hit the judgement congo line. There's a easy, normal and hard modes. Tho, the game has had official soundtrack for it, the music from MAMBO A GO GO has shown in beatmania, pop'n music & DDR. https://i.postimg.cc/T14HLLHy/20230903-080941.jpg | |
Tam Tam Paradise (タムタムパラダイス) | ![]() |
2001 | Tam Tam Paradise is music/rhythm game made by G.A.E released for the PS2 that came with it's own dedicated controller. It's about an angel & devil named "Da.Tenshi-chang & Dark-chang" and how it works is you move the tam controllers when pink and blue wings on line fall down judgement line. |
StepMania | ![]() |
2001 | Stepmania is really popular simulator for dance game's in general and has been used as base to make Roxy's ITG (In the Groove) & has been used to also make fork's like ITGMania & OutFox in general. |
Giutaroo Man (ギタルマン) | ![]() |
2001 | Giutaroo Man is Koei's first music/rhtyhm game before mergeing with Techmo in 2009. Guitaroo Man is about this boy named U-1 who when he gets this speical guitar he becomes Guitaroo Man and he want's to impress his crush. As for how the game works you move this pin with analog stick in the direction the pin is going and you the button when it shows up on the pin. The game got a japanese only PSP remaster in 2006 called "Guitaroo Man Lives". |
Mad Maestro! / Bravo Music (ブラボーミュージック) | ![]() |
2001 | After Tam Tam Paradise, G.A.E made their last music/rhythm game Mad Maestro! / Bravo Music. The game is about a boy name Takt who's young composser in Bravo Town and who's the leader of Bravo Youth Orchestra. Most of the song list is classical music as for how it plays. You hit the buttons when the circles hit judgement circle. |
Rez | ![]() |
2001 | After Shaka and Tambourine! Sega made Rez, ahybrid music/rhythm game with rail shooting elements similar to Pazear Dragoon, it was first released on DreamCast then it released on PS2. The story is mostly about how the future is amiding for a new network called "K Project" to manage data, and AI named Eden begin's to question it's own existance and life as whole. |
Frequency | ![]() |
2001 | Before Harmonix made Guitar Hero, Frequency was their first ever rhythm/music game that actually got a sequel called "Amplitude" in 2003 & a reboot. As for how the game works, it's about a avatar called "FreQ" where your avatar travel's through tunnels down a track with these line notes. Most of the games song list is lincensed music, techno & house. The game also allows the player to remix the music, mostly remixing melody, beat & the instruments. |
Technic Beat (テクニクビート) | ![]() |
2002 | Technic Beat is music/rhythm game made by Arika that was in japanese arcade's, then later on got a PS2 port. The game is about that you pick your character and you walk around a turntable stage where you peform actions to beat of the song and you do well when the groove gauge is full similar to beatmania. The song list is mostly Electronic & Trance music, and some remixes of music from Mappy, Dig Dug, Galaxian 3, Burning Force. |
MARTIAL BEAT (マーシャルビート) | ![]() |
2002 | MARTIAL BEAT is yet another non-BEMANI music/rhythm game made by Konami that use's sensor's similar to Para Para Paradist to simulate doing karate, first it was released fo PS2 and then it later on got a arcade, the arcade cabinet is repro DDR cabinet's. Most of the song list is original music from DDR. |
O2JAM (오투잼) | ![]() |
2002 | While Can Music was the first MMRG, O2JAM is one of the more popular ones of the 2. O2JAM was made by O2Media in November 25 , 2002 with open beta being released. It's reported some of can music's midi sounds were used in the open beta. in both can music & O2JAM use 7 key's to play, but original O2JAM you couldn't own music at all you had to pay for month/yearly to own it. O2Mania was an O2JAM simulator was also made to combat this paywell shit, also the higher tier players started moving to DJMAX Online when realizing O2JAM diffculty was too easy. which is why fate of classic O2JAM died quickly because of the consent pricey and playerbase geniunly getting good at the game. It doesn't help private server's for the game have been dying because of the current owner's of O2JAM. O2JAM did came back with reimaging's by the many companies who bought the IP over years constantly , the least one "O2JAM Online" is train wreck, it's horrible that they bill you everyday for the game's subscription and the game is basically a buggy messy. But if you want a O2JAM classic experenice in modern times "EZ2ON" has an O2JAM DLC. |
Britney's Dance Beat | ![]() |
2002 | Just like STOLEN SONG, Quest for Fame & Mini Moni. Shaka & Tambourine! Britney's Dance Beat is tie-in rhythm/music game based on 2000's most famous teen pop idol Britney Spears. Unlike STOLEN SONG & Quest for game, This game is about that you play as your customized Britney Spears background dancer. As for the song list it's mostly Britney's music, now as for how it plays you face off another dancer and you press the controller buttons when the cursor thing highlights that section and you earn points by correctly hitting the button with rhythm of the song. |
Flash Flash Revolution | ![]() |
2002 | Flash Flash Revolution is Adobe Flash version of Stepmania that is famous for years and years, it still has some people who play it. |
Mojib-Ribbon (モジブリボン) | ![]() |
2003 | After Rhyme Rider Kerorican, Mobji-Ribbion the spin-off successor for Vib-Ribbion was released, and released before the sequel to Vib-Ribbon called "Vib-Ripple". The game is about Mojibri, a sumi-e style boy who dreams to become famous rapper similar to Parappa, later on he's accommpany by a female friend named "Mojiko" & robot named Osorezan 1999. On how the games works is Mojibri and friends walk on track and write kanji on track and rap what's said on the treck, but if you move the control stick to fast or too slow, they'll turn into other beings as sign your doing poorly in the game. Sadly, the game's official soundtrack is poorly done with some of the sound effect's and tts voices of Mojibri and co still rapping in background. |
Shamisen Brothers (三味線ブラザーズ) | ![]() |
2003 | Shamisen Brothers is music/rhythm game like Taiko that's heavily inspired by japanese instrument "Shamisen". The game has these game mode's "easy", "normal", and "hard". As for the song list most of the song's are copyrighted J-POP Music. As for how the game is played, you match the notes that imitate drumsticks flowing in the upper, middle, and lower lanes. And strum the controller similar to Guitar Freaks. BTW, you can't use the strings, mainly due to the structure of Shamisen controllers. The game can now be run in mame thankfully. |
Donkey Konga (ドンキーコンガ) | ![]() |
2003 | Donkey Konga is Nintendo first actual rhythm/music game, the game was devolped by Namco. As for the how the game you use the dedicated congo controller where you clap your hands to the four types of notes that flow from the right side of the screen (left, right, both, clapping) , and play rhythmically to what's on screen of the game. This came out years after Donkey Kong music play. This game is fondly remembered. The song list is mixture of Nintendo original music, pop, latin and more. |
Karaoke Revolution | ![]() |
2003 | While Konami was having power house with DDR breaking the west with their hit dance game, Karaoke Revolution is another DDR spin off that's a essentially a Dream Audition clone, that thankfully failed sort of. As for how it works, it's similar to Dream Audition sort of where you sing with microphone that came with the game and peform what's on the screen. There was also tie-in's for this series, like Karaoke Revolution American Idol & Glee to name a few. |
evio (エヴィオ) | ![]() |
2003 | Before Tomy merged with Takara to make Takara Tomy, evio (エヴィオ) aka Easy Violin was their first and only music/rhythm game. It's another plug and play music / rhythm game similar to Popira & 2005's マリンバ天国 (Marimba Heaven) the game simulate's playing the violin and by using senor on the controller. Similar to Popira, you can add extra songs to game with cartridge's. Mostly of the music is classic music, japanese music and anime music. |
Percussion Master (击鼓王) | ![]() |
2004 | Precussion Master is IGS's own drumming music/rhythm game which is still going on to this day under the Drum King series. The game is quite similar to IGS's own rock fever series and Taiko where it has 3-ish lines that have bar's falling on judgement line and because it has two drum's on each side of cabinet. As for how you play the game, you use the drum stick to hit the corresponding drum surface. Most of the games song list is more so licensed music from China, South Korea, Japan and America. Some public arcade's in US have Percussion Master cabinet's. |
I Can Boogie (아이캔부기) | ![]() |
2004 | I Can Boogie is very obscure dance game from Korean in 2004 by the company called D-Gate, it basically looks ACPercuss fused with playstation itoy game. But there sadly isn't too much info about this game outside some images of the cabinet and someone playing the game. |
大合奏!バンドブラザーズ (Daigasso! Band Brothers) | ![]() |
2004 | Daigasso! Band Brothers is Nintendo's next rhythm/music game released 2004 for the DS. Similar to Donkey Konga, the song list is mostly J-pop, Nintendo original music's and classical music. As for how the game works you use the bottom touch screen, d pad, X, L, R buttons, As a song progresses, the top screen scrolls through one bar at a time on screen of the DS.There's two modes in the game called "Beginner" & "Pro" mode. There was also a sequel called Daigasso! Band Brothers DX that was only released in Japan & Europe under the name "Jam with the Band". |
Audition Online (오디션 온라인) /XBEAT/AyoDance | ![]() |
2004 | Audition Online is the first dance MMRG, that was made before can music & O2JAM, it's a DDR clone that has many modes including a DJ mode. Similar to O2JAM the game has custom characters you can make. As for how plays it's tjhe usual 4 arrow game with added square bar space akin to Sue's rock band. The DJ mode is the usual 5 key flat track, there's also dance battles in this game. The game is still around on Steam of all things. The game is not just only playable in Korea, but also US, Japan and the Philippines. Audition Online also has a arcade port, psp port and board game. I wish I was joking about the board game, but no... that's real. |
In The Groove | ![]() |
2004 | Roxar Games, a company headed by a bunch of DDR players, made In The Groove which is essenitally like what Ez2Dj/Ez2AC is to beatmania. And that it's just like DDR, but even more harder and have quality of live features. But unlike DDR at the time, it introduced mines which are bomb notes that lower your gauge. After the 1st arcade game, ITG got a port for the PS2 and a sequal. A 3rd game was gonna happend, but just like Jaleco, Andamiro, Namco & Amuseworld. Roxar Games got sued by Konami for stealing their trademarks patent's the lawsuit ended in 2006 by Konami owning ITG, which has lead to the 3rd game getting cancelled, but some features from ITG has be implemented into DDR. ITG sort-of lives one with the OpenITG, ITGMania & ITG's spiritual successor "StepManiaX". |
MC Groovz Dance Craze | ![]() |
2004 | Mad catz known for making countless game controllers for many game consoles, decided to take a crack at the music/rhythm game scene with their DDR clone MC Groovz Dance Craze, but unlike DDR. MC Groovz Dance Craze has a mode called spin, and just like everyother clone of DDR, the song list for this game is mostly covers of licensed songs. Also, this game was the reason mad catz also got sued by Konami. |
DJMAX (디제이맥스) | ![]() |
2005 | While Amuseworld battling a giant lawsuit with Konami about Ez2Dj & Ez2Dancer "plargerising" their copyright for beatmania & Dance Maniax, some workers of Amuseworld left the company due to lawsuit to form their own company called Neowiz/Pentavision and to make their own key sounded rhythm/musicgame by the name of DJMAX, which came after can music & O2JAM and DJMAX is essenistally what killed O2JAM higher tier player base in general outside of piracyof songs & not being allow to change your diffculty. The game is highly popular to this day and is still going on with DLC constantly coming for it's fairly recent release DJMAX Respect V. And since SquarePixles/Ez2AC team and Neowiz/Petavision team's both worked for Amuseworld EZ2ON DLC has came to DJMAX around 2023 that simulate's the history of Ez2Dj as whole. |
슈송밴드 (Sue's Rock Band) | ![]() |
???? | This music/rhythm games made on Adobe Flash that is based on the mascot character of ibravo's flash game / web animation series Avata Star Sue. This game thankfully can be played thanks to flash point presevation of all sue content, as for how this game work it's basically a DDR clone with drum judgement line and just like DDR it has the usual four arrows, but also has a square icon that's used for space bar. You hit the arrows and space bar when they fall down to the drum's. The only song that plays in this game is the Avata Star Sue theme song, There's also no lose/game over judgement for the game. Which is why this game is stupidly easy. Before you download flash point you need to type these tag's into the search bar to find the Sue games (tag: "Sue" & developer: "ibravo")(BTW, if you are interested in learning more about Avata Star Sue or her games and web series in general, a link to Namu page about the series and Li Speak's video going over Sue in general will be linked below.) https://namu.wiki/w/아바타%20스타%20슈 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCwauB6qfa0 |
슈프랜밴드 -연습이 필요해 (Sueband - I need to practice) | ![]() |
???? | Sueband - I need to practice is ibravo's 2nd music/rhythm game that's a bit different from Sue's Rock Band, instead of hitting the arrow key's and space bar on your keyboard you now have to click the colors of each instrument on screen when color music note show up on musical line. It's note the later level's get hard with the very strict timing which is why the timer's on almost all the Sue game are infamous for, but the reason they are insanely fast it's because computer preformence with still in it's infancy. As for the song list, it's basically Avata Star Sue theme just like Sue's Rock Band. |
マリンバ天国 (Marimba Heaven) | ![]() |
2005 | Marimba Heaven is Konami's first and only ever plug & play rhythm/music game, it's based on japanese instrument "Marimba" which is basically like a xylophone. The controller has 6 colored piece in singlur row. The game is bit similar to Pop'n Music with the character reacting to how good or poor your doing in the game, UI and the art style of the game. Surpringly, it's apart of the BEMANI family and thankfully there is gameplay of this interesting game. As for the song list and diffculty for the game, it consist of classic music, anime theme song's, japanese music and kiddie songs. The most notable songs on list are... The Doraemon theme song, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Cutie Honey theme song, Sports day medley, The Nutcracker, おどるポンポコリン (Dancing Pompokolin). As for the diffculty and such it goes from easy, normal, hard & very difficult and to mention this, there's course mode for this game. |
R2Beat (アールツービート) | 2005 | R2beat is racing MMRG hybrid made by Seed9 & Neowiz similar to O2jam & Audition Online you can make your own avatar and most of the song's notes are preform by dodging obstacles and grinding on ralls rhythmically by using the arrow keys and shift on your keyboard, the game does have private servers in spain. But the game offical korean server shut down in 2014, 2009 in japan and 2019 in China. Similar to O2JAM. r2beat got bought by VALOFE to make a sub-part revival of the original rebeat. | |
押忍!闘え!応援団 (Osu! Fight! Cheering Squad) | ![]() |
2005 | Osu! Fight! Cheering Squad is rhythm/music game released for the DS in 2005 that's about a group of cheerleaders appear out of nowhere to help people in need and to slove their problems. And you use the bottom screen to tap colorful circles and use the DS stylus to move a ball around a row to rhythm of the song. The game is mostly famous outside of japan by it's sequel/spin off "Elite Beat Agent's" It's the insperation for the other famous PC rhythm/music game simply called OSU. |
Guitar Hero | ![]() |
2005 | RedOctane who made many rhythm/music game controllers for the US market, were inspired to make Guitar Hero because they were interested in bringing Guitar Freaks to the US and decided to enlist the work of Harmonix to develop and bring their guitar rhythm/music game inspired idea to life. While both games are different in scope and gameplay. Unlike Guitar Freaks, Guitar Hero is played with a 5 controlled buttons on the guitar controller that comes with game and you them when the circle things fly down the judgment circles on the traveling track line. Guitar Hero was smash hit here in the west and was the one who started off the guitar/rock band sub-genre of music/rhythm games and it spawn a lot of spin off's, sequel's and other company's copying them, the game also had a arcade version made by Konami. But Guitar Hero is also infamous for being the game that essentially killed the rhythm/music game scene here in the west for short while, because of the oversaturation of new games in the series and new clones coming out almost every year. The game is still fondly remembered with the large community modding the older games and introduction of the guitar hero simulator "Clone Hero". |
Toy's March (トイズマーチ) | ![]() |
2005 | Toy's March was Konami's newest rhythm/music game in while at the time, the game simulate's playing drum's that you'd play in marching band. Which judging by the design of the cabinet it kind of gives off some Precussion Master vibes. But surpringly, this is first BEMANI game that doesn't show the BPM for the song, which is first. Toy's March is yet another BEMANI game that's targeted to younger kid's in mind just like DDR kids & Marimba Heaven. As for the gameplay you hit the drum's and cymbals when the colored notes called blue onputama & yellow onputama. |
DANCE 86.4 FUNKY RADIO STATION (ダンスやろーよ ファンキーラジオステーション) | ![]() |
2005 | Dance 86.4 is interesting take on the dance game sub-genre of the rhythm/music game scene, it surpringly doesn't have too much doccumentation on it. But essentially it's quite similar to any other dance game where you step on the panels when the foot icon scrolls down the judgement line. Despite there not being too much, it's interesting that the game's hard mode is called Fever & this was the first dance game to add bomb notes. Similar to DMX (Dance Maniax) this game has a lot of J-pop music for it's song list. |
ELECTROPLANKTON (エレクトロプランクトン) | ![]() |
2005 | Electroplankton is more like a music making / performence music/rhythm game where you use the bottom screen to touch the plakton on screen, also you can use the DS's built in microphone to make your own music. |
IDOLM@STER (アイドルマスター) | ![]() |
2005 | IDOLM@STER is music/rhythm game that is different and is the first of the idol sub-genre of music/rhythm games. As for how it works, the game simulate's being talent manager for idol group, you pick 1 of 3 girls for your own idol group you mostly use the touch screen for the first game, the game is mostly small mini games training the girls before the music/rhythm game section, You save your progress on card's of one of the girls you picked for your group, the later games mostly were on consoles. The latest game that's in the works is very different from the other games and it kind of looks like what would happen if Ez2Dj & VJ fused into one game. |
Imagine: Movie Star | ![]() |
2005 | The imagine series is shovelware game series by Ubisoft that was souley designed for little girl's in minded, this is here cause Imagine: movie star is rhythm game/music game mini game collection where your avatar, the movie star in question does proformence's on the top screen while the bottom screen is the rhythm/music game section. There's nothing much to write home about this game, it's just your run of the mile mid-tier mid 2000's girls shovleware trash, would also like to mention the YTer (Dream Jelly) has talked about this game on her Imagine game's video, which will be linked below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79Iyifj14_o&t=1520s |
Pop Stage (팝 스테이지) | ![]() |
2006 | Not to be confused with Pop'n Stage, Pop Stage (팝 스테이지) is yet another 7 key scrolling track MMRG similar to O2JAM, Can Music. The game also has 3D dancer avatar's similar to Audition Online. Just like other korean rhythm/music game's Pop Stage has done crossover collab with O2JAM. |
Rhythm Heaven/Rhythm Tengoku (リズム天国) | ![]() |
2006 | Unlike most rhythm/music games you press buttons with icons on screen, but with Rhythm Heaven/Rhythm Tengoku you press the buttons according to the rhythm of the music that plays during the game, it's usually is cut off into stages. after making serverally rhythm/music games, this Nintendo's number 1 rhythm/music game series that is fondley remembered and still is talked about to this day. Rhythm Heaven/Rhythm Tengoku was actually made by the team behind Wario Ware. Also, there was arcade version of the game released in 2007 by SEGA via their Naomi system. |
Frets on Fire | ![]() |
2006 | Frets On Fire is open source rhythm/music game made in finland that's basically the before clone hero was thing. Most of the song list is incensed music. You can also perform Hopo's in this game as well. |
Rhythmic Star | ![]() |
2006 | Rhythmic Star released in PAL reigion's only, is a PS eye toy game made by Namco. The gameplay can best describe is if Tam Tam Paradise threw up on a proto love live with a camera. Also, the star note character eerily look exactly like star note design from Ez2Dj/Ez2AC. |
Rhythm Cooking (리듬쿠킹) | ![]() |
2006 | Rhythm Cooking was a cooking music/rhythm game by korean company interactive brains. The game is basically what Nanta 2000 was gonna be; a cooking music game. Sadly there isn't gameplay video's up, but some songs from the game are on YouTube. |
V-Smile Jammin' Gym Class | ![]() |
2006 | Jammin' Gym Class isn't 100% a music/rhythm or dance game for that matter, but it is a dance pad after all. So... it does count. Mostly, the jammin' gym class is mini game collection. |
We Dancing Online (唯舞獨尊Online) | ![]() |
2007 | This game was IGS's last original rhythm/music game, the title of the game was based on a song by the singer "Jolin Tsai". We Dancing Online is IGS first and only MMRG it's similiar to Audition and that you can face players in dance beats and socialize. The game also had a acrade port in 2009. The game also has mode that simulate's Rock Fever's features and it's reported that the hong kong servers for the PC port is no more. |
Super Dancer Online (超級舞者) | ![]() |
2007 | Super Dancer Online is yet another taiwan/chinese MMRG that isn't anything speical outside of being just like We Dancing Online, but with no arcade port and fuck-ton of game modes. But strangely, has the exact arrow graphics from DDR. |
Rock Band | ![]() |
2007 | After Harmonix lost devoploment rights to GuitarHero, which was then lend to hands of Neversoft. Rock Band was essentially a spiritual successor/competitor to Guitar Hero. As for how the game works similar to Guitar Hero, it's highway track where the notes fall down the row on button's of the track. The game's music list is basically similar to Guitar Hero's song list and the most of the music is licensed music with some original's thrown in the mix. Rock Band also had tie in version's like LEGO, The Beatles and Green Day. Rock Band is also apart of the rhythm game down fail for a bit here in the west, but it wasn't as severe as Guitar Hero was. |
Drum Live Station (드럼 라이브 스테이션) | ![]() |
2007 | While there isn't too much info about Drum Live Station, but the song list is full of songs from PIU (Pump it Up), also K-pop as well and unlike... Drum Mania, Neo Drum X, ACPrecuss, ZootyDrum & Precussion Master. Drum Live Station use's actual drum's instead of the foam cover's like the other drum music/rhythm games use's. It's reported the game is quite popular in Indonesia and is mostly used as a stand in for Drum Mania. dj505 has really good about the game, which the link for said video will be down below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaSIjU-NaNg |
OSU! | ![]() |
2007 | Osu is free pc rhythm/music game that is inspired by the DS game "Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan" There are four official game modes "osu!" (called "osu! standard"), "osu!taiko", "osu!catch", and "osu!mania". With the addition of osu!lazer, players can now add custom gamemodes to the osu! client. The original osu!standard mode remains the most popular to date and as of January 2023, the game has over 19.3 million monthly active users according to the game's global country leaderboards. the 4 other modes in OSU are inspired by Taiko, Ez2DJ, Beatmania, O2JAM & DJMAX. OSU also has an arcade port that runs osu stream. |
おんたま♪おんぷ島へん (Ontama ♪ Onpu Island) | ![]() |
2007 | Ontama is game made by Noise Factory in 2007, the gameplay can best be described as a Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan clone, which is ironic cause both games were released on the DS. The game was then translated by Atlus. |
W.I.T.C.H. PC - Irma's level | ![]() |
2008 | W.I.T.C.H. is Italian magical girl series by Disney, which got a PC game in 2008. It's mostly a mini game collection similar to Imagine, but Irma's levels is essentially a 4 arrow panel dance game using the arrow keys while your avatar character dances. The music is pretty catchy for a tie-in PC game mini game collection. |
QQ Dance (QQ炫舞) | 2008 | QQ Dance is another MMRG which is yet similar to Pop Stage, Super Dance Online, We Dancing Online & Audition. There sadly isn't too much info out there on this game outside of the game having moblie ports in china and taiwan. | |
EZ2ON (이지투온) | ![]() |
2008 | EZ2ON: Online Trax or EZ2ON original was a home port of Ez2Dj/Ez2AC which was made by joined venture by RETRO GAMES, Amuseworld & Cykan Entertainment. EZ2ON like most PC music/rhythm games were run on company own server's. But the server's went offline in 2009, and then later on EZ2ON got rebooted twice. It's 2nd reboot, EZ2ON reboot: R is still going strong to this day even after the Konami lawsuit towards Amuseworld, thanks to Ez2ACteam / Sqaure Pixels. Currently the game got it's least collab DLC. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1477590/EZ2ON_REBOOT__R/ |
Tap Tap Revenge | ![]() |
2008 | Tap Tap Revenge is one of the few mobile phone rhythm/music game series's that are fondly remember, the gameplay of it is you tap 3 colorful balls on your phone screen when they fall the judgment circles in time with rhythm of song. There's also a mode you can get when you do a combo on song your playing. And similar to other rhythm/music game series at the time. Tap Tap Revange got it's own tie in version with Lady Gaga & Nine Inch Nails. |
jubeat (ユビート) | ![]() |
2008 | jubeat was Konami's latest music/rhythm game at the time, that was going into no longer being non-intstrument base and going into the weird and absurct. The game is played on a 16 buttons in a 4x4 grid for the gameplay that's in the shape of a cube and judgement is "perfect", fast", "good" and "slow". Jubeat can also be linked with other jubeat cabinet's to do mulitplayer, the game is also released in china and the game got released on IOS & Android. At one point, jubeat was gonna get an americanized version for western market's under the name "UBeat" which got cancelled later on. https://davidobot.net/2020/05/03/jubeat-pc https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.konami.android.jubeat&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 |
Rock Revolution | ![]() |
2008 | Similar to Karaoke Revolution, Rock Revolution was a game created by Konami to essentially be the killer for compeitiors in the west which both were big in the guitar music/rhythm game sub-genre, the gameplay of Rock Revoultion is what happends if Guitar Freaks and Guitar Hero fused into one. |
Wii Music (ウィー・ミュージック) | ![]() |
2008 | Taking advantage of the Wii remote control , you can play more than 66 different instruments with movements that are close to actual playing techniques, and you can easily enjoy music by simulating playing instrument and you can sort of gain score. Wii Music is also infamous for Nintendo's E3 2008 event. |
Rhythm Star (리듬스타T) | 2008 | Rhythm Star is moblie phone rhythm game that's a flat track rhythm game that goes from 3 to 15 keys. You can collect notes to download paid songs (planetary healing) or buy play options. (1 note = 1 won) Occasionally, a note that can obtain a note (1 note or 10 notes) comes out and can be obtained by processing it. The greater the number of single notes, the more note notes in probability. Each song costs 300 notes for the 3rd, 6th and 9th keys, and 500 notes for all keys together. Rhythm Star is still going on to this day with it's latest game "RhythmStar:Music Adventure"on Android. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.perplelab.rs.g&hl=en_US&gl=US | |
Audiosurf | ![]() |
2008 | Audiosurf is rhythm game made by Invisible Handlebar for the PC in 2008, the game itself is wildly remembered by many people. the gameplay is you mostly have dodge blocks that come at you while the song you picked plays in the background. The game eventually got a sequal in 2015. |
Just Dance | ![]() |
2009 | Just Dance is another game made durning this craze, the gameplay is more so about copying the dance moves of dancers on screen. Most of the songlist is your streotypical top 5 hits on radio of that era. Just Dance is also another series that was sort of responsible for the fall of rhythm/music games in the west for a short while, the series is still going on. |
DJ Hero | ![]() |
2009 | DJ Hero is spin off of Guitar Hero that was made to simulate DJ-ing, you score points by using the buttons on the turntable and you movie the turntable to scratch and also use the crossfader to get points and similar to the main series DJ Hero has remix's of licensed music. |
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva (初音ミク -Project DIVA-) | ![]() |
2009 | Project Diva is the music/rhythm game series made by SEGA based on the famous vocaloid idol "Hatsune Miku", as for how the game works you press the ○, △, □, and × when they fly on the screen, you also hold them when hold notes show up on the screen, move your finger on arrow line and the modes are Easy, Normal Hard. Extreme mode was also added around Project Diva 2. The game also has a song edit mode as well, you can also customize some of the idols with costumes. The game also got an arcade port that's quite similar to Pop'n Music with big buttons. |
MUSIC GUNGUN! (ミュージックガンガン!) | 2009 | Music GunGun!/Music GanGan! is shooting music/rhythm game hybird that use two guns to play the game, one is blue for player 1 and pink for player 2, the first game has 31 songs in total. Here's the names of notes "standard marker", "top shot" & "keep pulling". The modes are "Easy", "Normal", "difficult" (Which has a normal mode type of score.) & "VERY HARD". This game was also TATIO's first ever music/rhythm game. | |
Major Minor's Majestic March (メジャマジ・マーチ) | ![]() |
2009 | Major Minor's was Nana-O-Sha's last and final attempt of music/rhythm game, the game infamous for not working correctly and being sightly bad. Outside of the art style, the game also has similar Parappa like story. The game uses the Wii Remote as a mace to simulate being ring leader of circus. This was also the final game where both Masaya Matsuura and Rodney Greenblat worked together. |
Fantastic Tambourine (ファンタジックタンバリン) | ![]() |
2009 | Fantastic Tambourine is a Wii Ware rhythm/music game released in 2009 made by "ZOOM". Which the game is about a Barin-chan a red witch, who has to fix a mysterious tambourine that can make things magically fly away and gets telported to a the long-awaited vacation star. The gameplay is you shake the wii remote to simulate a tambourine and use said tambourine to fix buildings. Sadly, there is no longer an offical way to play this game due to Nintendo shuting down the Wii Ware service quite a long time ago. But thankfully, there's quite a bit of gameplay video's down below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDtLwpECX50&t=1s |
Rockin' Pretty / Happy Star Band (ハッピー☆スター☆バンド) | ![]() |
2009 | Rockin' Pretty also known as Happy Star Band in Japan & Europe is DS rhythm/music game made by Arc System Works. The game allows you to play guitar, drum's bass & keyboard also allows you customize the 4 main girl's outfits and buying new insturments. The game's story about a girl named Mai trying to win a consent called "Rockin' Pretty" contest" to get record label and stardom. |
Rhythm Station (리듬스테이션) | ![]() |
2009 | Rhythm Station is yet another phone music/rhythm game mobile devices that's quite similar to rhythm star. The game also has one gameplay style that's vaugely similar to cross beats & o2jam tap. |
The Downfall |
Sadly for a short while, music/rhythm games in the west for short while were sadly dying in the west and were only exclusive to Japan and Korea for a while until DDR fever came back in 2015 with the release of DDR A. And games like PIU, DanceRush & SoundVoltex picking up steam for the genre, there surpringly isn't too many games to cover durning this era of genre, mostly quite a bit of moblie and PC music/rhythm games. It doesn't help Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Just Dance game release being the cause of the genre's downfall and the over saturation of plastic instruments as a whole.
Early to Late 2010's downfall
Game title | Image | Release Year | Description |
---|---|---|---|
REFLEC BEAT (リフレクビート) | ![]() |
2010 | After jubeat, reflec beat was konami's next music/rhythm game that sadly did poorly, the game is mostly played with a touch screen and you tap notes on the screen when your enemy player which is ai player that throw's the tap notes down your section of the board, it's kind of like air hockey in way, both players have 10 key's in total that you tap on the screen, you also press the green circles to do bigger attack's on your oppotent. This game was also the first BEMANI game to actually use a touch screen, the judgments for the game is "JUST, GREAT, GOOD, and MISS" and if you keep getting good's by tapping the notes on good timining, your "Just Reflec Gauge" will accumulate. The gauge in question in position of the same gauge is the bottom of the screen. Reflec can also be linked similar to jubeat and you can instead play against another player local to the arcade or online in the online mode aganist players online, there's 3 diffculties in total "BASIC, MEDIUM, HARD". The game also got a release in South Korea & Hong Kong. There's also course mode, PASTEL WONDER QUEST (which Pastel is the mascot for reflec), Reflec Dojo. There's also a mobile port for IOS. Even tho it sadly did poorly, it fondly remember and has quite bit of fan's for it. There's still reminding cab's of reflec still out there mostly a few public ones like the one in Game Underground & in private collections of some people. Reflec Beat also have some simulators as well, which will be linked below.http://gdlife.sakura.ne.jp/srp/RefletMuse.html |
Dance Evolution (ダンスエボリューション) | ![]() |
2010 | Dance Evolution or DanEvo for short, is konami's attempt at the mocab dance sub-genre that was set by Just Dance, the game later on got a arcade port. The game use's the XBOX 360's kinect to capture you doing the dance moves shown on screen, side not the game also won future division reward at the Tokyo game awards 2010 at Tokyo game show. as for how game works just copy the moves on the screen and you can get these four judgments PERFECT!", "GREAT!", "GOOD", and "BOO" if your doing the moves well accordingly, you will have score added to what's called the "dance gauge". The character's dance on the screen is a mirror image, so the player does not need to worry about the left and right of the choreography of the chart and there's also no marks to worry about. If you don't do the choreograhpy dance at all, the score will not add up at all. |
DJMAX TECHNIKA (디제이맥스 테크니카/ディージェイマックス テクニカ) | ![]() |
2010 | Even after the lawsuit Konami gave to Amuseworld, Konami actually collab with Pentavison/Neowiz to work on DJMAX Technika. Location test in japan for the game started in December 21, 2010. As for how the game works the tracks are by horizontal lines and you tap the notes on both lanes on the touch screen, the groove cage is on the top of the screen. But the criteria differ depending on the mode and judgements are "MAX", "COOL", "GOOD", "MISS", and "BREAK". The Groove Gauge will increase by continuing to issue judgments of "GOOD'' or higher, and conversely, it will decrease when "MISS'' or "BREAK'' is occure's constantly, and if it runs out completely, the game will be over immediately. the line speed is always variable while the BPM is the same. The note types are also pink note, long blue, long yellow notes, Several yellow jointed notes & repeat note. The server's of DJMAX TECHNIKA2 & 3 died off 2013 while Technika 1 online service died off in 2012. Technika also got home port for long obscure PSVITA. Later on, there was also a spin off Technika called "DJMAX Technika Q", DJMAX Respect also has DLC that has music and looks of Technika games. BEATCRAFT CYCLON is also using a same chassis from Technika. There's also a PC simulator for the game called "TechMania" where you can use a touch screen or use your mouse and keyboard. Techmania-team.herokuapp.com |
Dance Central | ![]() |
2010 | Dance Central is another music/rhythm game by Harmonix after they made both Guitar Hero and Rock Band, the game essenitally is their attempt that sub-genre set by Just Dance. Nothing else to say. |
3S Sabin Sound Star / 3S (3S세이빈 사운드 스타) | ![]() |
2010 | Sabin Sound Star is made by 3S Entertainment, which is their first and only rhythm/music game. Unlike Ez2Dj, Sabin Sound Star use's 3 red, blue & green button's in place of the turntable for both sides and said buttons cane be used for the games mode called "Precussion Mode", the pedal is also used for the speed in the mode. Arcade Mode is basically normal Ez2Dj, but as stated eariler the 3 bigger red, blue & green buttons on each side of control panel are used in place of the turntable. Similar to BEMANI games & Rock Fever 5, you can use IC card and said IC Card can be used to save your progress and the IC card can be used to access "Quest Mode". Also according to Fox B, the leading dev for EZ2ON Reboot: R. It and Ez2 aren't related at all. Which is interesting, cause both use the blue and white paino key setup and half of Ez2Dj/Ez2AC music is on the song list for Sabin Sound Star. It's also reported that Fox B actually own's a Sabin Sound Star cab in his collection. Also, EZ2AC : FINAL EX has music from Sabin Sound Star and Sabin Sound Star UI track as playable. |
Michael Jackson: The Experience | ![]() |
2010 | Michael Jackson: The Experience is yet another tie-end rhythm/music game that's about the king of pop himself "Micheal Jackson" most of the song list is MJ's music and is quite similar to Just dance & DanEvo, but you mostly proform MJ's dance moves on the screen to gain more points for you score. |
Bit.Trip | ![]() |
2010 | Bit.Trip is endless runner music/rhythm game released on Nintendo's dead wii ware service in 2010, the game is about comannder video as he runs through to each stage while the music plays in the background. Bit.Trip is still well-beloved to this day that it has gotten severally sequals and remasters, the latest game came out last year. |
Pretty Rhythm (プリティーリズム) | ![]() |
2010 | After evio, pretty rhythm was Takara's next rhythm/music game. It's kind of like IDOLM@STER's & Lovelive in a way with it's card & idol system. Unlike Takara's previous rhythm/music game's this series was released on consoles and arcade's. Pretty Rhythm has also gotten an anime series based on one of the games as well. Pretty rhythm has spiritual successor series by the name of (PriPara) that's similar to pretty rhythm. Pretty rhythm cab's also have been used to convert them into the Pretty Cure rhythm games. |
Utacchi (うたっち) | ![]() |
2010 | Utacchi is Pop'n music spin off game release for the DS in 2010, it's similar to Marimba heaven in some ways. Utacchi also has a story it's about a greedy frog "touches" in Candy Kingdom and it's K-SUKE and Nattsun's job to stop them. Unlike Pop'n music tho, it's only 4 key. |
MOZARC | ![]() |
2010 | Mozarc is a game made by Hypaa. The gameplay of Mozarc errily looks look Tapsonic & Chunithm. Also would like to add the cab strangely looks Muzibox from IGS. |
Ongaku paradise (オンガクパラダイス) | ![]() |
2010 | Ongaku Paradise is music realted quiz related game by Konami. That does have reference's to a couple BEMANI games. |
TAP SONIC | 2011 | Tap Sonic is Pentavision / Neowiz first offical moblie music/rhythm game that's quite similiar to CHUNITHM. it's street track 7key game that also has a lot of O2JAM, EZ2AC & DJMAX music for it's song list. The game's online service died in 2013. Tap Sonic also has reboot game for called "TAPSONIC TOP -Music Grand prix" that also has release on Steam. | |
GROOVE COASTER (グルーヴコースター) | ![]() |
2011 | Groove Coaster was TATIO's next rhythm/music game after MusicGunGun!, it was first released on mobile phones in 2011, it later got an arcade port in 2013, then got release's for home consoles and STEAM. The game is played with two buttons that you hit when the notes show up on the rollercoaster like track. Depending on the touch timing of the controller you will get these judgements "GREAT", "COOL", "GOOD", and "MISS". The more accurate you are, the more the GROOVE gauge at the top of the screen accumulates. Getting too much of the miss judgement will decreases the GROOVE gauge. Groove Coaster has also done crossover collab with EZ2ON & Undertale. In addition to earning points by evaluation, "CHAIN" will increase if you succeed in touching continuously. In the app version, the score multiplier increases by 0.1x for each chain while the chain is ongoing (similar to Infinity Gene, 1 chain = 1.1x → 2 chains = 1.2x...). Doubles the number of chains by touching. If CHAIN fails, FEVER will also break. In addition to setting DIFFICULTY for each song, you can select the game mode for each song from three levels: EASY (SIMPLE in the arcade version), NORMAL, and HARD. In the arcade version, "EXTRA" with a higher difficulty level has been added to some songs since the AC version EX. In addition, "AC-EASY", "AC-NORMAL", and "AC-HARD" were added to some songs in the application version 2 (some songs require separate purchase). After selecting a song first, select a mode to start. However, the app version of HARD, the arcade mode full score, and the arcade version of EXTRA cannot be selected in the initial state. By doing so, EXTRA will appear by acquiring RATING S or higher in all of SIMPLE / NORMAL / HARD. Sadly, the online servers for arcade Groove Coaster shut down April 1, 2024. |
Beat gather (ビート ギャザー) | ![]() |
2011 | beat gather is rhythm game made by Konami in 2011, it's basically a clone of "Reflec Beat". But unlike every other music/rhythm game you can use your own music that's on your phone as the song list. |
HarmoKnight (リズムハンター ハーモナイト) | ![]() |
2012 | HarmoKnight is game freaks first and only rhythm/music game that was released on the 3DS in Japan around 2012 while US & Europe got it around 2013. The game is about a boy named Tempo who has defeat these enemies called "noizoids" and most of the games songs are spearted by 8 level's in total. The goal of each stage is to collect note looking object's called "Ompa". |
SOUND VOLTEX (サウンド ボルテックス) | ![]() |
2012 | After Dan Evo, Konami's next BEMANI game was (Sound Voltex) which is a game similar to beatmania, but instead of using a turntable you use dj-ing knobs that are called "lazer's". In fact, durning the devoplment stage SDVX was gonna have a turntable and basically be like 2nd evolution of beatmania's gameplay in a way. |
Rhythm Thief | ![]() |
2012 | The plot is that in game's prologue, the casket of former French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is mysteriously stolen from Les Invalides in the city of Paris, and as a result, Napoleon is resurrected. Three years later, in present day, an 18-year-old boy named Raphael is leading a double life as an art thief named Phantom R, searching for the whereabouts of his father who disappeared around the same time Napoleon's casket was stolen. Phantom R steals works of art, and returns them a few days later for reasons unknown to the public. As for the gameplay you move the 3DS stylus when the notes show up on screen. The game got released in Japan around 2013. |
Cytus | ![]() |
2012 | Cytus is moblie rhythm/music game made by Taiwanese company "Rayark" both released for IOS and Android. You play the game by tapping the notes that show up and down the screen. Click are normal notes that you tap, hold is A note with a straight line extending down circle, drag are group notes that slide down or open depending on where the note is at. The game also has active story mode. Cytus also got an arcade port that was in the works that got cancelled that later on, this game was called "Cytus Ω" and was work on collab between Rayark and Capcom. |
ReRave | ![]() |
2012 | After ITG, Rerave was Kyle Ward's next music/rhythm game that was touch screen game that esentially like OSU! gameplay wise. The game first was released on IOS and then it got two arcade port's. The game modes for the game are Easy, Hard, Master, and Wild. Rerave was release before StepManiaX was made. |
Muzi Box / MuziBox DJ (MuziBox官方指法示範) | ![]() |
2012 | After Precussion master / Drum Master, IGS took a crack at music/rhythm games once again with Muzi Box, which is basically their take on jubeat's gameplay, but with piano see through keys. And as pre-usual there's quite bit of knock off's/clones of Muzibox by other chinese dev's. |
TOP STAR (星光 TOP STAR) | ![]() |
2012 | Top Star is a chinese rip off of both DJMAX Technika & Synchronica made by Wahlap. Similar to other chinese rhythm games top star's song list mix up of music from China, Korea & America. The game got a sequal called "Top Star 2". |
Love Live (ラブライブ!) | ![]() |
2013 | Love Live is idol juggernaut similar to IdolM@ster, the rhythm/music game spin off of the mulit-media franchise is called "Love Live! School Idol Festival (ラブライブ スクールアイドルフェスティバル) which first started off on moblie, but then got arcade port in 2016. The game also got localized to the US in May 11, 2014. It also got localized to China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Korea. The game had two gameplay modes "Story" and "Live" which featured all nine members of the idol groups. Players are acquired a score in the rhythm "Live" mode, in which they could tap circles at the proper time in order to receive a high score that can be placed on the leader board. And similar to IDOLM@STER you can use card's for progress and for the idols you picked. |
THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY | ![]() |
2013 | THEATRHYTHM is a rhythm/music game spin off of Final Fantasy that first started off on the 3DS and later on got an arcade port. The song list in total has a lot of music from a lot of the main final fantasy games. Also, similar to older Final Fantasy games you pick 4 characters to join your team. There are two game modes: "Series Mode" where you can select works from "I" to "XIII" and play up to 3 songs in succession, and "Challenge Mode" where you can freely compose the songs to play from the works played in Series Mode. There is a "Chaos Temple Mode'' that plays randomly generated music compositions, musical scores, and difficulty "Score of Darkness''. There's also basic to professional score. As for the game you press both buttons when circles show up on the individual lane. This game also impliments RPG elements. |
K-ON! After School Rhythm Time (けいおん! 放課後リズムタイム) | 2013 | K-ON! After School Rhythm Time is another card game rhythm/music game hybrid that's based on the anime K-ON! Most of the song list is from the first season of K-ON! anime. This how the game works, Select one member you want to support from the five main characters, have the game machine scan up to 3 cards to be used in the rhythm game. Select the music to be used in the rhythm game and the difficulty level (3 levels), play rhythm games. Follow the markers displayed on the screen according to the music and press the buttons at the right time to get a high score. When the rhythm game ends, the results are displayed, and support points are added to the supporting members. Which is quite similar to IDOLM@STER. There isn't much info of cards or gameplay video of the cabinet, but we do have gameplay images and images of some of the cards used for the game to scan on the arcade cabinet. | |
DEEMO (ディーモ) | 2013 | After Cytus, DEEMO was Rayark's next music/rhythm game about a mysterious existence like a black shadow playing the piano alone in the castle. One day, an amnesiac girl, Alice, suddenly fell from the sky to him, who was lonely. While spending time together, the two realized that there was a mysterious bud that grew when they played songs on the piano. If you grow the buds into trees that reach up to the ceiling window, Alice may be able to return to the world she came from. A masked girl appears in front of them to try to stop the. The gameplay is The player taps the notes that flow from the back of the screen according to the line at the bottom of the screen. The yellow notes can also be played successfully by tracing them. If you tap at the right time, it will be "Charming Hits", if you miss it a little, it will be "Hits", and if you miss it too much, you will miss. Even if you make a mistake, the song will not end in the middle, and it will be cleared with a hit success rate of 65% or more . The tree grows according to the evaluation after playing. The got a remake on the switch. | |
Fantasia: Music Evolved | ![]() |
2013 | Fantasia: Music Evolved is a 2013 motion-controlled music/rhythm game made by Harmonix for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One with Kinect. The game is the interactive successor to Disney's 1940 animated film "Fantasia" and its 1999 sequel "Fantasia 2000", both of which it is based upon such. |
God of Rhythm (리듬의 신) | ![]() |
2013 | N'Cuckoo is the one's who made God of Rhythm, which the game is basically a Rhythm Heaven/Rhythm Tengoku game, but looks quite different in terms of visuals but it's exactly the same. |
DANZ BASE (舞力特区) | ![]() |
2013 | While Konami's Dance Evoultion, dan evo for short didn't do so well.... IGS want a piece of Konami's pie yet again with Danz Base. Unlike Dan Evo, Danz Base is fairly big in Asia. Which is surprising. |
CROSS×BEATS | ![]() |
2013 | Cross Beats is touch screen rhythm/music game made by legendary BEMANI composser Naoki Maeda after he left Konami to then work for Capcom, and is Capcom's first ever rhythm game. The game was released as an app for IOS in 2013 then got a arcade port "Cross Beats REV." in 2015 then got another version called "Cross Beats Sunrise" in 2016. Then it wa annouced that the game's servers would shutdown in 2018. |
Otoranger (オトレンジャー) | ![]() |
2013 | After crossbeats, Otoranger was Capcom's 2nd and last ever rhythm game they ever made. It's a tokusatsu rhythm/music game RPG hybrid that released on iTunes back in 2013, the servers for the game died around 2014. The song list is mostly music from other Capcom IP's (Megaman Included). |
HIT THE BEAT | ![]() |
2013 | After Jam Jam Music, Hit the beat was Andamiro's next rhythm/music game. Hit the beat is drumming game with a very cartoony art style. Most of the song list just generic kid songs and public domain music. Would also like to add, the game has DX edition and Spongebob themed edition where Spongebob and crew replace the Hit the beat characters. |
Drummer Kids | ![]() |
2014 | Drummer Kids is spin-off to Precussion Master series and it's basically IGS's Hit The Beat. |
BEATCRAFT CYCLON | ![]() |
2014 | BEATCRAFT CYCLON made by Nurijoy which is touch screen music/rhythm game were you tap the screen on when the circles fall down the lane. Some of the song list is comprise of some notable composers like ND Lee/Andy Lee, Mr.Funky & some BMS composers. There was also some DJMAX song submitted as well. Beatcraft also has IC card system similar to Konami's E-amuse. Apperantly, DJMAX Technika arcade cab was used to put in Beatcraft, which was as a upgrade kit. |
Neon FM | ![]() |
2014 | Neon FM is a game similar to Konami's MÚSECA. As for how the game works is you press these big multi color buttons when the circle notes fall down the track, the game also has mobile phone port and Andamiro helped with lincesing the game into the asian market's. Forgot to mention, it was originally got be a dance game at one point. |
Malody | 2014 | Similar to Stepmania, Malody is a cross platform rhythm game simulator for moder fairly modern rhythm games. Later on it got a soto-follow up called Malody V that's on steam. | |
Geometry Dash | 2014 | Similar to bit.trip runner, Geometry Dash is also a endless runner music/rhythm game where you also have to avoid obstacles. It has been deabt weather or not Geometry Dash is a rhythm/music game, but it just depends on who you are talking to. | |
Beat Stream (ビートストリーム) | ![]() |
2014 | Beat Stream is Konami's 2nd touch screen music/rhythm game that is played on the bottom screen with your finger and process the displayed notes that fly on screen. The top screen is mostly used for the chart's background video. The four diffculties "LIGHT'', "MEDIUM'', "BEAST'', and "NIGHTMARE''. The game server's officially died 2016. Some of the cab's have been re-used for NOSTALGIA. |
MUSYNX | ![]() |
2014 | I-Inferno a chinese game company made "MUSYNX'. The game was released on IOS, PSVITA & Android, the gameplay is mostly similar CHUNITHM. As for the song list was mostly chinese music, including music from Chinese vocaloid "Luo Tian Yi" later releases on Steam and home console has collab's with Ez2Dj/Ez2AC, BMS & more. |
PriPara (プリパラ) | ![]() |
2014 | While Pretty Rhythm was still around, PriPara came into existance which is essentially the spin-off/ spritiual successor of the series, and just like it's percoessor it too got an anime series based on it. |
Superbeat: Xonic (슈퍼비트: 소닉) | ![]() |
2015 | Superbeat: Xonic is just like Beatcraft where you also use a touch screen. These modes are modes, in order of difficulty, include 4 TRAX mode, 6 TRAX, and 6 TRAX FX. And similar to Beatcraft, ND/Lee and some other notable composers are apart of the music/rhythm game scene. |
CHUNITHM (チュウニズム) | 2015 | Chunthm is SEGA's first music/rhythm game in their Performai series, the cabinet strangely looks like a ATM, as for how the game works you touch the touch panel called the "ground slider" for the notes on bottom part of the track and you do hand gestures when notes are up the track. CHUNITHM can also be linked with other CHUNITHM cabinet's for local multiplayer. The game also has music from Ez2Dj/Ez2AC, BEMANI, Groove Coaster, Taiko, O.N.G.E.K.I., Hatsune Miku -Project DIVA-, Arcanea, D4DJ, DJMAX, CROSS×BEATS, WACCA, BMS, MusicGunGun! 2 & Paca Paca Passion. | |
Synchronica (シンクロニカ) | ![]() |
2015 | Synchronica Namco's first touch screen music/rhythm game, As for how it works is twopeople touch the two huge touch panels are arranged side by side in one cabinet, and it is possible to play with one or two players, as the title suggests, "synchronization" is the theme of the game, and the game is designed to pursue synchronism between players through cooperative play, or between music and music. Most of the games song list is mostly J-POP , Vocaloid songs, anime & games. |
mai mai (マイマイ) | ![]() |
2015 | Mai Mai is SEGA's 2nd Performai music/rhythm game that is really popular, it's played on circle with 9 buttons that you hit and hold with when the circles on screen fly into the lane. The game has 4 diffculties BASIC, ADVANCED, EXPERT, MASTER. It;s also dubbed as the washing machine by most mai mai fan's, the word mai actually translates to the word "dance" btw. |
MÚSECA (ミュゼカ) | ![]() |
2015 | After BeatStream's services shut down and not saved, MÚSECA was Konami's next music/rhythm game that has taken notes from "NEON FM" a year later it got a soto sequel called "MÚSECA 1+1/2". In 2018, there was update for the game and it's soto sequel that essentially was offline patch for the game, which it's good that Konami learn from not saving beatstream at the time. As for how the game works the control panel has 6 buttons in total from the bottom to the top that you hit and spin the buttons, you also have to step on the foot pedel as well. The game also has a active story mode, which is a first in arcade music/rhythm games. Oh yeah, there's also fan-made online service's for the game simulate that if Konami never let them go offline. |
Persona 4: Dancing All Night | ![]() |
2015 | Persona 4 Dancing all night is rhythm game spin-off of Persona series, the gameplay for this rhythm spin-off is best described as what would happen if you mix maimai & love live with dating sim/story aspects of Persona. This spin-off series also got sequal's with the cast of Persona 3 & Persona 5. |
Crypt of Necodancer | ![]() |
2015 | Crypt of Necodancer is Zelda akin rhythm/music game that's been big for awhile. It's also have done collab's with Nintedo itself by adding Link & Zelda as character's, also Miku. It's gameplay is very simply you jump to another till on beat of the background music. |
VOEZ | ![]() |
2016 | After Cytus & Deemo, Rayark's next music / rhythm game "VOEZ". Voez is interesting game, the game is the usual flat track music/rhythm game but, the twist is. The track's change regularly and just like Rayark's other music/rhythm game's there is a story mode which is mostly about a boy name Lance who run's cafe's with his school friend's that are stuck on island. The game first started off as mobile game back in 2016 then it got a console port in 2017. |
OverRapid | 2016 | OverRapid is a 6 track rhythm/music game for ISO and Android made by Arcstar in 2016, the game essentially looks like what would happen if you fused Chunithm with O2JAM and DJbeat's arcade port into one. Unlike O2JAM & DJBeat's arcade port, there's a turntable esque mechanic that's similar to Ez2 and beatmania. Sadly there isn't too much info about the game besides the song's and most level's of each song. | |
Otoiroha (おといろは) | ![]() |
2016 | Otoiroha was a the next game Konami made after beatstream, it was primarily announced/debuted in JAEPO 2016, along side Nostalgia, but with a small list of songs. It's gameplay mechanics has similarities to both Jubeat & Sound Voltex. It sadly got cancelled afterwards, but it's fate is uknowned at the moment. But this won't be the last time Konami would do another BEMANI game similar to Sound Voltex. There's also been jokes about the cab for Otoiroha looking like a toilet, which is why it's also dubbed as the toilet game. |
Dance Cube (舞立方) | ![]() |
2016 | Dance Cube is knock-off of maimai released in China in 2016 by Arccer, tho unlike mai mai. Most of this game's song list just a mix of Korean, Chinese & American music. |
ミライダガッキ (Future Tom Tom) | ![]() |
2016 | After Toy's March, Future Tom Tom was Konami's next attempt at drumming game. Unlike Toy's March, the game use's a Kinect camera similar to Dan Evo to show the player's hitting the notes with the sticks on screen; The game got a sequal called "ミライダガッキ Ver.2". It's great game for beginner's new to music/rhythm games. There was also crossovers with other BEMANI games. |
Gekion Live Coaster (撃音 ライブ コースター) | ![]() |
2016 | Gekion is a music/rhythm game roller coaster ride in SEGA's Joypolis theme park. Gekion has some light shooting elements and moves in a spinning motion. Most of it's songlist is mix of original music and anime music. |
NOSTALGIA (— ノスタルジア) | ![]() |
2017 | Nostalgia is spiritual successor to Konami's short lived KEYBOARDMANIA/KEYBOARD HEAVEN series, but unlike KBM, NOSTALGIA has easier learning curve with it's touch sensetive keyboard. It was first revealed in JAEPO 2017 and this game is the third time Konami made piano type of game. |
Arcaea | 2017 | Arcaea released in 2017 is mobile with a extensive story that's still going on to this day. After the release for moblie devices it got a console release on the Switch in 2021. It mostly get's compared Sound Voltex due to it's similar-ish gameplay. | |
Project Rap Rabbit | ![]() |
2017 | Years after Mojib-Ribbon came out, Nana-O-Sha decided to take a crack at making a spritual successor to Parappa the Rapper with Parappa's creator Masaya Matsuura & the creator of Guitaroo man working together to make Project Rap Rabbit, sadly the game never got made and it's unknown what even happend to it after the kickstarter was funded and the game getting cancelled. |
Muse Dash | ![]() |
2018 | Muse Dash is game made by PeroPeroGames, it's 2 button music/rhythm game. The game was original released for moblie devices before getting ports to Steam and Nintendo Switch later on. Muse Dash has also done collab's with other rhythm games like... Deemo & DJMAX. |
Rizminace / 彩響DJアニクラゲ | ![]() |
2018 | Rizminace is very unknow rhythm/music game from Konami that was quite cancelled. Not much info is on it, besides a flyer. But gameplay is quite similar to CHUNITHM with added fader. |
DANCERUSH STARDOM | ![]() |
2018 | After Dan Evo, Dancerush is Konami's next try a new spin on modern dance game with a sensor dance floor that detect's your feet on the floor itself with lights flash with each step. Dancerush is still going strong with it's freestyle community. Dancerush was made to commemorate DDR's 20th anniversary. |
NOISZ | ![]() |
2018 | NOISZ is a bullet hell vn rhythm/music game with massively long lore, but later on the game got a sequal for moblie called NOISZ Starlight. |
O.N.G.E.K.I. (オンゲキ) | ![]() |
2018 | Ongeki is music/rhythm game with bullet hell elements, it has had crossover with other games and such. As for the gameplay it's akin to driving with the top stick, as for the notes you attack with the 3 characters you picked. |
WACCA (ワッカ) | ![]() |
2019 | Wacca is Marvlous's only ever music/rhythm game. It's a game with a touch screen led arcade cabinet called "Wacca console", it previously was able use SEGA's Amie card's before going offline in 2022. Wacca is fairly popular despite it no longer being able to be online anymore and being forgotten about while on release. Thankfully, the game has gotten it's lost recognition ever time. |
Beat Saber | ![]() |
2019 | Beat Saber is VR rhythm / music game released fully in 2019, it was put on steam for early access in 2018. But fully came out in 2019. The gameplay consist of you slashing red & blue blocks that come at you and dodging walls at the same time. |
A Dance of Fire and Ice | ![]() |
2019 | A dance of fire and ice is one button rhythm/music game that looks similar to classic cool math game Bloxorz, but with two circles instead of big brick. |
SEVEN's CODE | ![]() |
2019 | After leaving Capcom, Naoki went on to make his own game company called Unlimited Studio to make their first game "SEVEN'S CODE", which is basically a spiritual successor to Cross Beats and was only released for moblie devices only. The servers for the game died in 2022. |
Spin Rhythm XD | ![]() |
2019 | Spin Rhythm XD was first released early access in 2019, later it got fully released in 2023. The gameplay is best described as Frequency, but with spinning wheel mechanic. It was originally made to mostly be a modern take on games from the rhythm game boom. |
The Revial
While rhythm games were surely dying off for sure due to the burnout of cosent games in 2000's & 2010's, but in the 2020's they made a massive comeback due to people's nostalgia towards games like genere and interest in the arcade hobby.
2020's comeback
Game title | Image | Release Year | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Phigros | 2020 | Phigros is moblie music/rhythm game where you rotate and move your device to the notes that fly in the circle your table has, it's preferable to play with a phone or a rotating table to play Phigros. It's bit similar to Chrono Circle in a way. | |
Friday Night Funkin' | ![]() |
2020 | Friday Night Funkin' is DDR adjacent game that was made for a game jam, but plans of becoming full game have been up in the air. The basically a love latter to old video games and internet culture in general. There's also a very huge modding scene for this stupid DDR esque game. Would also like to add the creator ninjamuffin had plans of making a full game, but after kickstarter got funded he spent rest of the money on weed. |
Quaver | ![]() |
2020 | Just like Stepmania & Malody, Quaver is yet another popular music/rhythm game simulator tool. |
VELUCITY | ![]() |
2020 | Velucity is Chunithm esque game made by FOX B creator of EZ2ON Reboot: R and has a lot of music from Ez2 on it's song list. Sadly, the game looks to be abandonded somewhat. Since there hasn't been anything else added to it so far. |
D4DJ | 2020 | D4DJ is 4 key DJ-ing rhythm/music moblie game that's apart of mulit-media series of the same name. Would also mentioned D4DJ also has done a collab with Jaleco of all things. | |
KALPA | 2021 | Similar to Arcaea, KALPA is another game with large moblie rhythm/music game with extensive story and content. The gameplay is also similar to TAP SONIC & Chunithm. | |
Orzmic | 2021 | Orzmic is a game similar to Voez with it's gameplay also having changing lines and such. | |
Rhythm Doctor | ![]() |
2021 | Rhythm Doctor is game that has a story, which the story about you the doctors helping your patients out by defibrillating in time to their heartbeats. You go by stage by stage to be virus's that each of your patients have. |
Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL | ![]() |
2021 | Sixtar Gate: Startrail is a game made by Korean company Starlike Inc. The gameplay is basically DJ MAX Respect's 6 key mode. Would also mention Sixtar has done collab's with other series's like Touhou & Wacca. The game also got a Nintendo Switch later on. |
Tetote x Connect (テトテxコネクト) | ![]() |
2021 | After making Groove Coaster, Taito's next music/rhythm game Tetote x Connect was their next one, unlike most mo-cap music/rhythm game cab's it uses a touch screen and you use the touch screen to hit the notes and said screen is to shown the character you picked. It was originally revealed at unveiling party held by Taito. The game has gotten the nickname "Samsung fridge game" by players of it. |
CHRONO CIRCLE | ![]() |
2021 | After Hit the beat, Andamiro's next rhythm/music game Chrono Circle was made. The game was made in deal to have in 1round arcade's, the game is basically Wacca, Maimai fused with Technika with spinning wheel controlling with dating sim aspect's. After the deal was made, Chrono Circle was location test in Japan first. Which was a first for a game made by a Korean company. As for the song list it's the usual K-POP, ANIPOP & J-POP. With the annoucement of the game's servers dying for good in 2025. There's no telling what's the fate of this game, sadly there's no simulators of it at this moment as of writing. |
Scratchin' Melodii | ![]() |
2021 | Similar to FNF, Scratchin' Melodii was also made for a game jam and became famous over night. But unlike FNF, the game is still occassionally being worked on and it's looking promising. The story of Scratchin' Melodii is about Melodii' an inspiring DJ who has to do odd-job's for the FBI due to spray painting on wall. The game is love-letter to Parappa & unironically to both beatmania & DDR in someway with it's DJ-ing themes. Also, there's barely a modding scene for this game. But the dev is friendly dude unlike ninjamuffin. |
MUSIC DIVER (ミュージックダイバー) | ![]() |
2022 | After Tetote x Connect, Taito's next music/rhythm game MUSIC DIVER. It's the first and only drumming music/rhythm game. How the game works is that you either hit the bottom screen or the four pad's on the bottom, and you can change the instrument sound before each stage. |
DANCE aROUND (ダンス アラウンド) | ![]() |
2022 | With the success of Dancerush, Konami then made Dance Around as their next dance game. Gameplay basically similar to namco's Koi no Parapara Daisakusen with how your supposed to copy the dancer's moves to get points. Would also mention, this game is infamous for breaking down and being a buggy mess. |
Trombone Champ | ![]() |
2022 | Similar to rhythm heaven/rhythm tengoku, trombone champ is another experimental and quirky music/rhythm game with cartoony visuals. As for the gameplay you can play as many characters with different trombone's and each stage you move circle to line to gain more point's similar to Guitarooman. |
Pino Rhythm | ![]() |
2022 | Pino Rhythm is QR music/rhythm game released in 2022 for moblie phones as tie-in for Japanese ice cream called "pino". The game is essentially a 3 lane game where have to hit the pino's when they fall on the line. Only way to play this game is if you have an actual pino box with the QR code for the game. |
Rhythm Sprout | ![]() |
2023 | Rhythm Sprout is cute little rhythm/music hack & slash hybrid game made by the so popular indie dev team tinybuild & SURT. The game is about is a little knight who has to spot an evil broccoil man by slashing at the notes with your sword. |
Hi-Rush | ![]() |
2023 | Hi-Rush is hack & slash music/rhythm game similar to Rhythm Sprout, the game's about wannbe guitarist named Chei who has stop evil robot's with the power of his guitar. The best way to describe the game is that if you fused DMC with music/rhythm game. The game got best game of the year award. |
Fortnite Festival | ![]() |
2023 | Years after losing Guitar Hero & after retiring from Rock Band, Fortnite Festival was Haramonix's next project music/rhythm game, this side mode of the popular FPS is basically a modernized Rock band with a fortnite skin. To note, there was also contervesy with PDP's new guitar controller that didn't work for certain port's of the game. |
Dance Dash | ![]() |
2023 | Dance Dash is a VR DanceRush simulator with DMX elements thrown in. There's 3 ways of playing the game by webcam, VR & VR+ dance dash sock's & strap. |
DanSparkling | ![]() |
2023 | DanSparkling is an early access new mo-cap dance game by Uniflex Co., Ltd. the gameplay is basically a home dan evo in a way. |
MASH VP! Re:VISION | ![]() |
2024 | Mash VP is splited lane mash-up music/rhythm game by AXTORM Co., Ltd. that has interesting gameplay that is best described as the evoultion of DJ-ing games. Also, this game has several well-known figures in the music/rhythm game scene. Espeically the legendary Naoki Maeda. |
Polaris Chord (ポラリスコード) | ![]() |
2024 | Polaris Chord is Konami's newest music/rhythm game since 2022, and Polairs Chord is the first arcade music/rhythm game to not use the BEMANI branding, game is very beginner friendly and there isn't a lose condetions. Before the game fully came it got 1 revision before release and it was reported durning location test that sliders were prone to break off. The game in general is just Sound Voltex fused with Technika with Chunithm panel ducked taped to it. |
iDOLM@STER TOURS (アイドルマスター ツアーズ) | ![]() |
2024 | Years after the 1st idolmaster game, tours is the least game and 2nd ever arcade game based on the idolmaster's series of game. So far, the game is plan to be released on March 2025 in Japan. No news for a US release, but while the game was being shown of it went through a revision that's more close to Ez2 & VJ, then a year after the 2nd location test it got a 2nd revision and now it leans more on it looking like VJ. |
Rift of the NecroDancer | ![]() |
2025 | Rift of the necrodancer is a sequal to crypt of the necrodancer, unlike crypt. Rift of the necrodancer isn't dungeon crawler music/rhythm game hybrid unlike it's predecessor. |
IN CONCLUSION... No matter what you think about these silly games about music & timing with your rhythm, these games are stepping stone in ever charging industry known as the game industry. In Closing, this has been a major passion project for an entire year now and to doccument quite bit of wonderful games is soo surreal, in the near future. I plan to up date this as the years go by if there are any new rhythm/music games in the works. I know I should've done this project as an entire wiki, but this is better than anything else. Any who, I thank you for reading and broswing this kind of extensive look at all kinds of rhythm/ music games! Chow for now!! :D
- Isaiah 💿