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Remember that feeling of accomplishment when you nailed a riff on Guitar Hero back in the day, or a combination of moves on Dance Dance Revolution? Music and rhythm games can be immersive, tactical experiences — and a great way to stay occupied at home during coronavirus lockdowns, quarantines and shelter-in-place orders.
If you’re a fan of rhythm-based games or just games with a killer soundtrack, check out these five apps, most of which are available on both iOS and Android.
Sayonara Wild Hearts
PlayStation
Sayonara Wild Hearts, named Apple Arcade’s Game of the Year, is an electric new take on the endless arcade runner. You play a woman who’s had her heart broken with such force that it rattles the balance of the universe. Every level gets more challenging as you face lasers, motorcycle battles and the woman’s “other self” — The Fool. All the events are set to soaring, upbeat J-Pop-style electronica. To play, you’ll need to subscribe to Apple Arcade for $4.99 a month, but you can try out Sayonara Wild Hearts and more than 110 other mobile games in a month-long free trial.
It’s also on Nintendo Switch for $18, on Xbox One for $13, on PC at Steam for $13 and on PS4 for $13.
Eloh
Google Play Store
Eloh is a visually beautiful musical puzzle game for Android and iOS that teases your brain without stressing you out. Each level features island spirits that you can move. Once you get them into the right spot, tap the red speaker and music will start. The goal is to bounce the “sound waves” off the spirits and hit the spiral icon. It’s kind of like banking a shot in billiards.
The levels get progressively more challenging, but there’s no timer, ads or in-app purchases. The only downside is the app costs a one-time $2.99 to download.
Parade! The Rhythm Battle
Apple/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
Parade! The Rhythm Battle is a surprisingly challenging free game for iOS and Android where you must mimic rhythms and collect animals to join your parade. You start with basic rhythms, which you can repeat by swiping on your device. You can also collect coins along the way as more animals follow you. When I tested the app, I had a small fleet of cats, Shiba Inu dogs and a couple of penguins. The more rhythms you master, the more animals will join you — gators, elephants and lions, oh my!
Read more: 15 video games that are fun (and secretly educational) for your kids to play
Thumper: Pocket Edition
Apple/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
If you like Super Impossible Road on Apple Arcade, you might like Thumper: Pocket Edition for iOS and Android. The endless runner’s psychedelic style is reminiscent of the old-school visualizations in Windows Media Player. You play as a space beetle racing through nine levels of gameplay and battling a giant mechanical head. You can download Thumper: Pocket Edition for $4.99.
Tiles Hop: EDM Rush
Apple/Screenshot by Shelby Brown/CNET
If Guitar Hero is a bit out of date for you, but you’re not keen on investing in Beat Saber, you might check out Tiles Hop: EDM Rush for iOS or Android. Use the touch and drag controls to make a ball jump from tile to tile. Each run is accompanied by a song, and if you master the rhythm, you have a better shot at completing the level. The app is free to use with an optional VIP access subscription of $8 a week. Otherwise, you can just watch video ads between runs.
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