We've rounded up the top rhythm games on Xbox
Are you looking for the very best Xbox rhythm games? Well, you’ve come to the right place. With a wide catalog, the Xbox Series X/S has a lot going for it in terms of game libraries, including many enjoyable rhythm games.
For those who love music and rhythm games, the Xbox games library offers something unique and special. Some of these entries feature backward compatibility with earlier Xbox games, while others are available via the Xbox Game Pass subscription, meaning there’s certainly something for everyone. These games include shmup, side-scrolling, paranormal, and even shooter games with rhythm elements.
Here are the best Xbox Rhythm games in 2022:
Road 96: Mile 0
The Road 96 spin-off follows the story of Zoe and Kaito, as they apparently wake up after some bad news in the long-running narrative adventure game. Mile 0 focuses solely on their story and the changes as the world evolves around them, testing their very special friendship.
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
We’re still waiting for Kingdom Hearts III, and in the meantime, Square Enix has released a series of spin-off rhythm games, with Melody of Memories recapping the dire series from Kairi’s perspective. Each game picks a different franchise’s set of core worlds to recap through each song, and this game picks an assortment of the best worlds from each mainline entry.
A Musical Story
In this charming rhythm game, players follow Gabriel as he tries to remember his memories after a car crash. He gradually wakes up in an unknown facility and starts to piece together what happened. He joins up with Rebecca, a young girl who has also been kept at the facility, as they explore and try to escape. Each level is a new area that’s explored by walking and running while hitting notes in a ring sequence while experiencing Gabriel’s journey. Along the way, players will meet new characters and listen to new music.
Rhythm Sprout
Rhythm Sprout is the perfect combination of colorful and completely cheery, too, which adds to its comedic action-adventure appeal. It’s very easy to fall in love with the plucky, adorable, multicolored knight known as Sprout because of the non-threatening vibe given off by its environment and its general lack of seriousness.
With that said, its gameplay is still lighthearted and comedic while full of action thanks to its focus on rhythmic gameplay. Throughout Rhythm Sprout, players guide Sprout on a comedic journey to fix the world, starting off in a strange food-themed place with enemies made of snacky things, such as cookies and hot dogs. The gameplay involves hitting buttons to the beat of chill beats and EDM music, while encountering hilarious characters and situations.
Taiko no Tatsujin: The Drum Master
Taiko drumming is a heavily rhythm-based hobby originating from Japan, and the American version of the series takes these traditions and puts them into an arcade-style experience. While Taiko Drums is a console exclusive to Microsoft, it’s definitely one worth trying.
The Taiko no Tatsujin game is one where players hit a Taiko drum to the beat of 70 songs created for the series’ many entries. If 70 songs aren’t enough, there are many modes available, including single-player and local multiplayer with different difficulties, as well as online ranked modes for players of any skill level.
Metal: Hellsinger
If you love the atmosphere of Doom and its fast gameplay, then you’ll love Metal: Hellsinger. In this shooter, players fight demons in a first-person perspective and in rhythm to heavy metal tracks. Earning combos rewards additional perks like time slowing and buffs, while players listen to lead vocals from notable heavy metal artists.
Hi-Fi Rush
Hi-Fi Rush is perhaps most similar to the Jet Set Radio series but with a much shorter running time. It’s a lighthearted rhythm action platformer developed by Tango Gameworks, a studio often associated with horror titles like The Evil Within. However, with Hi-Fi Rush, there’s no overarching horror vibe. Instead, players take control of a lovable character named Chai, who is on the run from a series of experiments.
To escape, he must travel through a series of areas, fighting in sync with the music emitted from an MP3 player installed in his body. So, instead of shooting things, the bright colors and pureness of the song and characters re-appropriate the genre in an upbeat way.
