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10 best rhythm games for Android

Rhythm games aren't as mainstream as they were, but there is still a loyal fan base that loves the challenge.
By
May 23, 2022
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Rhythm games have been around for a long time. Who can forget the days of Dance Dance Revolution? We saw a huge spike in popularity with games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero as well. Those games aren’t popular on consoles anymore, but the popularity has translated well to mobile. The ability to tap, swipe, and hold your finger to the screen emulates a lot of older rhythm games well and a lot of developers have done a good job with it.

There are actually quite a few decent rhythm games out there and many of them make good use of the touchscreen and accelerometer. Here are the best rhythm games for Android.

The best rhythm games for Android

A Dance of Fire and Ice

Price: $1.99

A Dance of Fire and Ice is a simple, but fun rhythm game. You play as a red and blue dot and you must tap to the beat to move them through any given level. The various shapes, twists, and turns in the level help dictate the pace. The graphics aren’t the most polished in the genre, but the music is pretty good and the one-handed mechanics make for a fun arcade experience. There are also boss levels, calibration settings, and some other stuff. Plus, it runs for $1.99 with no in-app purchases or ads.

Arcaea

Price: Free / Up to $4.99

Arcaea is one of the newer rhythm games on the list. It has an anime style like most of the others on the list. This one also uses a more old-school step bridge like Guitar Hero rather than the newer tap-and-swipe mechanics of something like Cytus II. The game play is smooth and easy to pick up. You also get over 90 songs from 50 artists, three difficulty levels per track, and more music available as in-app purchases. Leaderboards and online friends round out the experience. Much of the content is free, but you need to purchase the additional tracks, again, as in-app purchases.

BeatX

Price: Free / $2.99

BeatX is one of the more consistent rhythm games on Android. It also features a DDR-style method of play with directional buttons and holds. You’ll also have access to a single-player mode, doubles mode, and split-screen multiplayer. On top of being a solid title, the game also features tons of content. You’ll also be able to upload your own files as long as they are in the proper formats (.sm, .smzip, .dwi). It’s a fairly comprehensive game. It’s a good one for those who like competitive rhythm games.

Cytoid

Price: Free

Cytoid screenshot 2020
Joe Hindy / Android Authority

Cytoid is one of the newer rhythm games on the list. It’s a community rhythm game. In fact, the game download has very few songs on its own. You can find, download, and add songs by other members of the Cytoid community. You can also develop your own step files for others to play. It plays a lot like the popular Cytus in terms of looks and mechanics. Some even call this one a clone. This is an excellent game for the more hardcore rhythm game enthusiasts out there. It’s also totally free with no in-app purchases or ads.

Dynamix

Price: Free to play

Dynamix is one of the newer generations of rhythm games that have done very well. This one features a top-down style of play along with swiping actions that add to the complexity and difficulty. It features 20 songs and you can buy more as in-app purchases. Like many, this one uses an anime theme with bright, neon colors all over the place. It’s not as deep as something like Cytus. However, it still does the basic rhythm game stuff really well. You can download it for free and buy more songs through in-app purchases.

Lanota

Price: Free to play

Lanota is one of the most unique rhythm games on this list. It puts a much heavier emphasis on the story line. You’ll play as the eponymous title character as you travel a map and discover new secrets. The actual game mechanics take place on a giant wheel that moves around. This makes the game both challenging and complex. It doesn’t feel like other rhythm games even though it is one. It features ten levels, three difficulties, 16 tracks, and a picture book that shows you the story. It’s definitely unique.

Lost in Harmony

Price: Free to play

Lost in Harmony is a beautifully done rhythm game with runner-style elements. Players control a boy and girl in the center of the screen. They must avoid obstacles to the beat of the music. There are two stories in the game, those of MIRAI and Kaito. Additionally, the developers boast over 10,000 additional tracks by other members of the community. To be perfectly honest, we don’t play games like this one very often. It’s a free download as well with some in-app purchases.

OverRapid

Price: Free / Up to $3.49

OverRapid is one of the tougher rhythm games on the list. All of these games have a hard mode. However, OverRapid adds to the difficulty with a total of six lanes and that’s a little higher than you normally see. The game features a bunch of music, more music through in-app purchases, and a few play modes that make things a little easier. The graphics are colorful and futuristic. The app has the occasional bug and it’s not quite as deep as some of these others. However, its unique gameplay and decent music selection make it a top pick for us. Our only real complaint is the load times. They can get kind of long on occasion.

Rayark rhythm games

Price: Free / Varies

Rayark is a developer on Google Play with a collection of outstanding rhythm games. Their library includes the popular Cytus and Cytus II along with VOEZ, Deemo, Sdorica, and the older Mandora. These are among the best of the best in this genre on mobile and possibly outside of mobile as well. Each game has a bit of a story with some songs to play. There are in-app purchases for additional song packs as well. These are top-tier good, although some, like Mandora, haven’t been updated in a very long time. Rayark basically single-handedly dragged this genre into relevance and their games are all top-notch.

Rhythm Hive

Price: Free to play

Rhythm Hive screenshot 2022

Rhythm Hive is one of the more popular rhythm games on the list. It’s a free-to-play option with a ton of songs. The game relies heavily on rotating banner events with songs from various (and real) artists. For instance, at the time of this writing, the app is doing a summer siesta event with BTS, Tomorrow x Together, and Enhypen. The mechanics are pretty good, if a little typical of a rhythm game. The detection is a little more forgiving than some. It’s meant to be played casually with plenty of customization options for the player. Some updates end up introducing some bugs, but the game is solid most of the time.


If we missed any of the best rhythm games for Android, tell us about them in the comments. You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists.

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