Enjoying a good song doesn’t always have to be a solo experience. Having someone there to jam with can heighten the fun. Rhythm games offer that very thing, giving you the chance to enjoy your favorite tunes with an interactive element.
Multiplayer in rhythm games comes in many forms. But no matter if you’re competing against each other or working together, these co-op rhythm games all make for exciting party titles.
1999
Player Limit
2
A lesser-known spin-off of the PlayStation classic Parappa The Rapper, Um Jammer Lammy improves on its predecessor in surprising ways. One of these is the game’s inclusion of a multiplayer mode, with Lammy being joined by Rammy, also on guitar.
You can choose to either play cooperatively, wherein you and a friend have your scores combined at the end of each segment, or in a head-to-head mode where you’re competing to see who has the best guitar skills. Um Jammer Lammy follows in Parappa’s footsteps by offering catchy tunes, but stands out on its own with its focus on rock and roll.
2022
4
Taiko no Tatsujin is a Japanese series of rhythm games, with Rhythm Festival launching on Nintendo Switch in 2022. Focused on playing the drums, Taiko no Tatsujin conveys its various songs through cutesy minigames. The pop art style matches the exciting score, which gets all the more exhilarating when a friend is brought in.
you may work together to try and match the beat, but there is also a more competitive mode with power ups that can be used smartly to foil your friend’s attempts.
2019
Up there with some of the most iconic VR titles of all time,Beat Saberexcels at bringing the rhythm game genre into the virtual space. Armed with what are essentially lightsabers, you slash at colored blocks to the beat of the song. This formula succeeds by making you feel like a musical Jedi, while also providing a good workout.
In 2020, a multiplayer mode was released that allows you to compete with friends to see who is the best at slicing blocks. With this new mode introducing a third-person setting, it allows you to express yourself through swanky avatars, while still maintaining that pulse-pounding rhythm gameplay.
2004
PlayStation 2
8
A classic from the days of the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, Singstar is a rhythm game that makes you flex your vocal cords rather than your fingers. Bringing the magic of akaraoke bar into your living room, Singstar invites you to belt out your favorite tunes alone, or with a friend.
The party-oriented modes are where the game truly does shine. Here, you can either sing a duet with your pal, or compete to see who can sing the chosen song the best. There’s even a pass-the-mic mode that allows for up to eight friends to get in on the action.
2011
Rhythm games are perfectparty-game material, making them a natural fit for the Nintendo Wii. Nintendo’s formerly best-selling console had an innate ability to bring people together. Rhythm Heaven Fever took advantage of this with its wacky gameplay, great soundtrack, and popping visuals.
As for the multiplayer component, Rhythm Heaven Fever encourages you to work together with your friends, rewarding not only being on the beat, but being in harmony as well.
Crypt of the Necrodancer is an adorable ode to classic pixelated games, like the originalThe Legend of Zelda. The musical twist is that everything in Crypt of the Necrodancer must be on the beat for you to progress.
Synchrony adds even more, with mod support and gameplay tweaks. Most importantly, it allows you to explore these funky tombs with up to eight friends. Aside from just the cooperative modes, competitive multiplayer to battle your friends with the newly introduced characters was also added.
2007
16
Osu! boils the rhythm game down to its most essential elements. Using the mouse to drag and click when prompted, its simplistic introduction can lead to some high-intensity gameplay. Like any other rhythm game, practice makes perfect, but bringing a friend along makes that process much easier.
The Tag co-op mode allows you to tackle a song together with a friend. You and a friend will each have your own actions to complete which, when synced up, will create an engaging musical harmony.
PlayStation 3/Xbox 360
Easily one of the most iconic rhythm games of all time,Rockbandhas earned its status. You can either select from a lead guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, or vocals to live out the dream of playing your favorite songs in front of an excited crowd.
Rock Band excelled through its variety, and the way it allowed friends to try out different gameplay styles. Despite their basic similarities, each instrument feels unique enough to make everyone feel like they’re contributing to the song in a different way.
2018
10
Cross-platform multiplayer games are always a treat, as they allow more options for gamers to come together. Synth Riders is available on Steam VR, Playstation VR, and Oculus Quest, which is, of course, a major selling point. But the game’s strengths go beyond that.
Styled as a freestyle dance VR rhythm game, Synth Riders offers up some unique engaging gameplay. It gets even better when paired with a friend, or friends, since in-game lobbies support up to five-player matches. A 2020 update added power-ups, which can be sent over to opposing players to sabotage their efforts with twists like smaller notes or sped-up sequences.
2005
One of the first-ever titles that proved peripheral-focused games could be successful,Guitar Herowent above and beyond by earning over two billion dollars in sales. The plastic guitars with their colored strums became a staple in many households, and its pop culture legacy cannot be understated.
But Guitar Hero isn’t just a marketing achievement or gaming milestone. At its core, Guitar Hero is a rock and roll fantasy, one that lets you take another along for the ride. Whether it’s in the cooperative mode to build up that sweet high score, or going against one another in the Face-Off mode, Guitar Hero is capable of bringing togethermusic newbiesand veterans of the genre for some unforgettable experiences.
