Osu is one of the most popular rhythm games out there. It’s free to play and has an active community that can sometimes make it feel like the only game of its kind.
Rhythm games have come a long way since PaRappa the Rapper and Dance Dance Revolution. There are lots of new, innovative takes on the format for fans of rhythm games to enjoy.
With a great community, engaging gameplay, and a free-to-play model, what’s not to love about Osu? If you’re looking for more games like it, we’ve got you covered.
These games don’t hit every single beat that Osu does, and some of them fall into different niches. They all have something that fans of Osu will love, though.
Here are the 9 best rhythm games like Osu to check out today.
9. Stepmania
Stepmania is a rhythm game that feels like a natural extension of the Dance Dance Revolution games. This is a free dance and rhythm game. It was originally more of a direct clone of DDR for arcades, but it’s come a long way since then.
Stepmania is an open-source hub for dance and rhythm games. Since Stepmania is open-source, you can really customize the experience depending on what you’re looking for.
You can even import your own songs. There is the option to play with a dance pad or more traditional control schemes.
Being open-source, Stepmania can be a bit more complicated to set up than a standard rhythm game. However, it’s completely free which is definitely a plus.
Stepmania has a decent-sized community, full of loyal players. The community isn’t quite as big as the Osu community, but it’s still great. Stepmania is a unique alternative to Osu for people who want to customize their experiences fully.
8. Cadence of Hyrule
Cadence of Hyrule is a crossover between the Legend of Zelda series and Crypt of the Necrodancer.
Cadence of Hyrule uses rhythm-based movement combined with the typical, top-down Zelda-style gameplay and combat. You’ll need to play in time with the rhythm of the music in each level if you want to make it through the game.
The game’s world and characters are all taken from the Legend of Zelda. You can visit Hyrule Castle and other iconic locations, and play as Link and Zelda too.
Something interesting to note about this game is that the map is procedurally generated, offering lots of replay value.
Cadence of Hyrule isn’t a game that’s identical to Osu by any means, but it’s an absolute delight to play through. It puts music at the heart of its RPG gameplay and it’s one of the best Zelda-like Switch titles for Osu fans to check out.
7. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix
The Hatsune Miku Project DIVA games are a great pick for Osu fans who want to try something new. These rhythm games focus on songs from Hatsune Miku, the virtual popstar.
Hatsune Miku began as a piece of voicebank software, but she’s become an entirely virtual idol. She has a dedicated fanbase, and even does live performances.
In these Project DIVA games, players will need to have a good sense of rhythm and timing, as you might expect from a game like Osu. It’s a fast-paced and cheery game that rewards strong combos and quick thinking.
The selection of songs in Project DIVA games are almost all by Hatsune Miku. If you’re not a vocaloid fan, this might not be the Osu alternative for you! If you do like this sort of music, though, you’ll adore the selection.
There are quite a few Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Series games to pick from. It started in 2009 with a game for PlayStation Systems. The PSP, PS4, PS Vita, Nintendo systems, and PC have all had instalments of the Project DIVA series.
6. Taiko no Tatsujin
Taiko no Tatsujin is a classic series of rhythm games that are well known for their cutesy aesthetic and hectic gameplay. These titles are a mainstay of both consoles and arcades.
It’s a rhythm-based game series, sometimes played with special Taiko drum controllers. Players have to beat the drums in time with the music or press buttons to follow along.
While it starts simple, gameplay gets more complicated. There are different types of notes depending on where you hit the drum. With how fast the game can go, this gets pretty challenging.
The game has a vivid and interesting visual display to go along with the songs.
Rather than just getting through some music, players have to fill the soul gauge to get past the stage. It doesn’t count for your score, but this additional mechanic adds a layer of difficulty.
The hardest levels of the game can become pretty intense. You’ll need good rhythm and a sense of timing to get this right. Recent versions of the game have come out on Switch, Xbox PC, and PS4.
5. Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory is a rhythm game that makes up part of the beloved Kingdom Hearts series. It’s a great alternative to Osu if you like Kingdom Hearts, but it’s worth checking out even if you’ve never played Kingdom Hearts before.
This title plays like a fairly standard rhythm game. The game features a note highway with the three central characters on it. You have to time your attacks and inputs with the notes on the highway to progress through each track.
You’re able to switch up your playable character frequently in this game! You can use a lot of different faces from the Kingdom Hearts franchise.
The main focus of Melody of Memory is the story section. This has a few different types of stages. There are normal songs and even interesting boss battles.
The music in the game comes from Kingdom Hearts, which has often been acclaimed for its soundtrack.
If you’re looking for more games like Osu that have more of a focus on stories and iconic characters, this is the perfect pick for you. The music is beautiful and the gameplay loop is a lot of fun as well.
4. Persona Dancing in Starlight
Persona Dancing in Starlight is a similar pick to the previous entry in this list. It’s part of the Persona franchise, with specific ties to Persona 5.
The game uses songs from the Persona series with players having to hit buttons in time to the notes. This lets you get through each of the tracks. There’s also a high score for getting more inputs right across the game.
Fans of games like Persona 5 will enjoy the interactions between characters. These occur in the Velvet Room in between songs. This gives you a bit more time to spend with some of your favorite characters from Persona.
The music in Persona 5 is one of the most popular parts of the game so it’s no surprise that the title’s rhythm game has been pretty popular too.
Dancing in Starlight is quite a niche game to include in this list, but if you’re an Osu fan who’s looking for standout anime PS5 games, this is the perfect game for you.
3. Crypt of the Necrodancer
We’ve already looked at Cadence of Hyrule in this list, but what about the rhythm game that spawned that spin-off? Crypt of the Necromancer is an indie game that combines RPG mechanics, rhythm-based gameplay, and roguelike elements.
This game is pretty special.
The dungeon in the title is procedurally generated and changes things up every play-through. You’ll need to move around and fight in time with the music to get to the end of the game.
There are some roguelike elements to the game here alongside the rhythm matching mechanics. When you die, you’ll keep some of the unlockables. That being said, you will lose the items, gold, and other equipment that you collected.
Those mechanics increase the difficulty and give the game a lot of replay value.
The levels in Crypt of Necromancer are designed to end right as the song ends, meaning that the game itself feels cohesive and well made. While this game isn’t identical to other games like Osu, it’s still a worthwhile pick for fans to check out.
2. Muse Dash
Muse Dance is a fun title that takes rhythm mechanics and combines them with parkour. Players will need to dash and jump around, keeping in time to the music in order to progress.
There’s a great combat system in this game, including some wicked boss fights.
This isn’t a standard rhythm game by any means, but it’s one of the best examples of rhythm-based combat and platforming out there. If you’re looking for a game that offers plenty of challenging levels and a satisfying game loop, this is the Osu alternative for you.
The game features 85 different levels and songs that you can play through.
Each of these is available on three difficulties. It ranks all the way up to Master. That mode will give you some serious resistance, even if you’re good at games like Osu! Muse Dance will be a challenge for even the most seasoned rhythm game veterans.
1. Beat Saber
Along with Osu, Beat Saber might be one of the best-known rhythm games around.
Beat Saber is a VR rhythm game. It uses a similar note highway to what you find in a lot of games. The difference here is that you’re on the highway itself. Beat Saber has you slash at the music as it comes towards you.
You use your entire body to clear songs in Beat Saber. It can be quite a workout getting through songs, and it’s a visually beautiful game too. The immersive, neon soundscapes look incredible, especially in VR.
Beat Saber is a game you see a lot on streaming sites. It has a very active community and frequently gets new content updates.
Even if you’re not happy with the level of updates to available songs, you can pick your own. It’s simple to manually add songs to Beat Saber.
Beat Saber is one of the best Osu alternatives for people who enjoy active games with strong communities. If bonding with fellow players is important to you, this is the perfect game to play after playing through Osu.
