There are few things in life better than music, so obviously there are even fewer things in life better than music and rhythm games. Music evokes more emotional responses than any other and usually does so within a few short minutes. Games can make us feel things over time, but music is often much more immediate. With that in mind, we've put together a list of the best rhythm games around, that are guaranteed to stay with you long after the last note plays.
From 2D indie games with a solid beat to lightsaber-wielding VR games, our list of the best rhythm games spans all genres. Some can teach you how to play a particular instrument, while others allow you to repurpose your music library. We should also mention that Tetris Effect was considered for the list but arguably doesn't make rhythm its focus, so it misses out. In any case, you really should play Tetris Effect. Seriously.
Here are the best rhythm games on PC in 2026:
1. Patapon 1+2 Replay
Patapon, the rhythm game series that established itself on Sony's PSP handheld, has returned after over a decade of absence, and it's better than ever. In this remastered set which includes the first two games, you control the Patamon, cute little creatures who must band together as they try to make their way to Earthend. Deadly forces stand in their way, and it's up to you to control the Patapon with rhythmic button presses, breaking down enemy defenses by leading your army from the frontlines.
The remastered versions come with handy support features, including the ability to change the difficulty and timing window, making it possible for any rhythmically challenged players to get through the game. There's a surprising amount of strategy in Patapon, challenging you to assemble the right set of Patapon to target specific enemies. These games were originally designed for handhelds, so it's definitely one to consider pairing alongside the best handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck.
2. Metal: Hellsinger
Metal: Hellsinger is the latest entry in the rhythm FPS genre and, by far, the most well-received. Step into hell as The Unknown, a human-demonic hybrid on a quest for vengeance that takes you on a journey across the infernal planes. You have several weapons at your disposal to fight off the demonic hordes, but their efficacy depends on your ability to time your attacks to the pulse-pounding metal soundtrack.
The soundtrack itself is unique to Metal: Hellsinger, composed by a range of seasoned musicians from a range of acclaimed metal bands, including System of a Down, Trivium, Lamb of God, among others. There are also plenty of mods to expand the FPS game's musical repertoire, including Sweet Home Alabama. As our Metal Hellsinger review attests, this is one hellish soundtrack we never want to end.
3. Beat Saber
Beat Saber has taken VR by storm and helped put the fledgling tech onto the heads and into the hands of many new players. Beat Saber is so simple in concept: using two different colored lightsabers (yes, like in Star Wars), you slash blocks of the corresponding color in the direction the game tells you to - making you feel like a Jedi in full flow (although you do tend to look a bit silly to everyone else in the room).
The game's original soundtrack is excellent, but the PC version is the only one that supports the importing of custom songs - so you can bring Duel of the Fates in if you're so inclined, and why wouldn't you?
4. Thumper
Thumper is a "rhythm violence" game, and while that may make it sound a bit aggressive, that's due to the soundtrack being full of percussion, loud bass drops, and almost terrifying sound effects. We wouldn't say it's oppressive, though - sending your little beetle protagonist hurtling around tracks at what feels like a million miles an hour is still great fun, although playing it in VR is arguably a little more unsettling.
Whichever way you play, Thumper is the rhythm games version of a roller coaster that you won't want to get off of - just be sure to play with headphones.
5. Crypt of the Necrodancer
A top-down roguelike game might seem an odd fit for rhythm-based mechanics, but developer Brace Yourself Games has stumbled upon gold with Crypt of the Necrodancer.
Every action in this dungeon crawl needs to be performed on the beat of the music - with different enemies following different beats. It takes some time to get your head around it, but for bonus points, you can actually play the entire game with a dance pad if you fancy breaking a sweat.
6. Lumines: Remastered
Tetsuya Mizuguchi's first appearance on this list, Lumines was originally a PSP game that was remastered in 2018 and brought to PC. Playing almost like a musical Tetris, players have to align shapes of varying colored blocks that, when clustered together, will be removed when a "Time Line" passes over them - with this line being set to the musical accompaniment. The rows you clear add fresh layers to the game's sublime soundtrack, too - a reward in and of itself.
Lumines: Remastered represents that rare instance of a puzzler that's strangely relaxing, frantic, and euphoric all at once - especially as the blocks start to pile up and you're scrambling to stay on top of things.
7. Sayonara Wild Hearts
Ever wanted to experience an entire pop album as an arcade game? Sayonara Wild Hearts has players battling against giant wolves, riding motorbikes, and dance battling to the groove of an amazing custom-written pop soundtrack.
There are elements of Sayonara Wild Hearts that aren't strictly rhythm-based, but that's part of what makes the game so brilliant. You never know what you're going to get as you make your way through 23 unique levels, each featuring a different catchy song to dance along to.
8. Rocksmith 2014 Remastered
The awkwardly titled Rocksmith 2014 Remastered is a re-release of the original Rocksmith 2014, itself a sequel to the first Rocksmith title. Still with us? Unwieldy title aside, Rocksmith 2014 Remastered is a rarity - it's fun and educational, allowing users to plug in their own instruments (guitar and bass) and learn to play a multitude of songs.
While Rocksmith doesn't offer the pick-up-and-play accessibility of most rhythm games, you'd be hard-pressed to find a music game with the same degree of scalability. Once you've mastered the content in the game, you can pick from over a thousand fully licensed tracks as DLC (we highly recommend Cherub Rock by The Smashing Pumpkins!) so the game can last as long as your blistered fingers can.
9. Rez Infinite
Remember 2001? No, not the movie, the year? Rez launched on the original PlayStation, with unique (and frequently impressive) wireframe visuals breathing life into an on-rails shooter/rhythm game hybrid. 20 years later, and PC players can finally join in on the action with the expanded Rez Infinite, yet another masterful rhythm game helmed by Tetsuya Mizuguchi.
Every action in the Rez Infinite affects the soundscape, and vibration when playing with a game pad only heightens the feeling of synesthesia. Rez Infinite is all about breaking down the barriers between the senses, and it's mad that it gets even remotely close to such a lofty goal. Yes, it's abstract and a tad pretentious, but it's also achingly beautiful from start to finish. We'd also recommend it to people who like on-rails shooters like Star Fox.
10. Pistol Whip
Pistol Whip combines first-person shooters with a high-intensity soundtrack to make you feel like an action movie star. Each pulse-pounding song has a handcrafted level filled with gun-wielding enemies. The stage constantly moves throughout the length of a song, allowing you to focus entirely on shooting enemies.
Mastering a song not only requires you to avoid incoming bullets, but you'll also need to take down every enemy on the stage. Once you manage to find the rhythm, your shots behave similarly to a drumbeat that accents keynotes. Pistol Whip provides a very different, yet familiar experience that is sure to please any rhythm game fan.
11. Synth Riders
There are a lot of Beat Saber clones out there, but Synth Riders is one of the few VR rhythm games that manages to distinguish itself in a market filled with similar titles. The premise is simple, use your colored hands to match the colored balls as they appear on the screen. Unlike Beat Saber, Synth Riders really gets you moving, forcing you to dodge out of the way of incoming walls and other projectiles. We found our heart rate was consistently higher playing Synth Riders compared to Beat Saber, though your mileage may vary depending on how much effort you're putting in.
Synth Riders gives you 74 songs to get through in the main set list; however, this might be the weakest part of the game as the track list doesn't include any bands or groups you've heard of. Sadly, that content is restricted to the DLC only, leaving bands like Muse, the Gorillaz, and Bruno Mars out of the primary set list. Whether you're looking for something fun to play or you're trying to burn a few more calories, Synth Riders is definitely worth considering.
12. Hi-Fi Rush
A genre mash of third-person brawler and rhythm game, Hi-Fi Rush tells the story of Chai, a regular guy who, after receiving a cybernetic implant, can feel the music of the world. He also gets some negative attention from a corporation that is actively trying to destroy him and any evidence he exists, but you'll get to that.
The combat will be familiar to anyone who's even brushed against a brawler in recent years; only Hi-Fi Rush takes it one further, blasting iconic songs and having the world move with the beat. You use the beat of this music to enhance your attacks and perform different combos, striking foes in time with whatever you're listening to. It's great, and it's on Game Pass, so there's no excuse, really.
13. Geometry Dash
Inspired by the indie game classic, The Impossible Game, Geometry Dash is a simple one button game that challenges you to make your way through deadly paths filled with traps and hazards. Geometry Dash takes the concept of The Impossible Game to another level, featuring levels with different music, ways to customize your character, and a level creator with thousands of user-made stages. This is the type of game you think you might spend five minutes with, and before you know it, you've lost an hour of your time as you inch your way through each level.
14. One Btn Bosses
Don't underestimate the power of a gaming mechanic being stretched to its limit. One Btn Bosses is proof that you can build an entire game from just one simple idea. Your goal is to defeat bosses as you orbit them in your spaceship. Your sole button swaps the direction you're moving in, and the longer you go without changing direction, the faster you shoot and move. Make your way through the campaign where you follow Ace, an unpaid assistant looking for a paycheck.
Accompanied by a synth-wave soundtrack, there are 50 bullet hell levels to get through, and you can play through a roguelike mode if you want to experience something different. Though One Btn Bosses doesn't rely on its soundtrack to aid the player, when you're listening to the same track over again, paying attention to the beat can help you find the correct timing to defeat the boss.
And there you have it, our pick of the best rhythm games on PC. We're pretty fond of list features here at PCGN, including our round-up of the best open-world games and the finest RPG games on PC. Now, if some bright spark would please make a rhythm game with role-playing mechanics set in a massive open map, then we could merge them all into one.