Best games
Best Music games in 2026
The 42 best Music games, ranked from 6,970 critic and player ratings.
The best Music game right now is Rock Band 2 — updated September 2026.
Also covers rhythm games.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Each game is ranked in one genre only, the one that defines it best, so the same title never tops two different genre charts.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 1970 to 2026.
- 42 games are listed on this page, carrying 6,970 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 42
01
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is the sequel to the 2007 musical simulation game Rock Band and offers similar gameplay. Directly competing with Guitar Hero: World Tour, the game allows different people to play together as in a band, with the same peripherals as the first game: lead guitar, bass guitar, microphone and a drum set. The new drum and guitar controllers for this version, bundled or sold separately, have been revised and older controllers are also supported. The guitar controller, modelled after the Fender Stratocaster, has five additional fret buttons near the neck, for fast fingertapping sessions. There is also an effect switch to toggle between five different effects. Players use the instruments to match notes on the screen, divided in different portions for different instruments, along with the lyrics for the singer who need to match the pitch.
93
/100
02
Rocksmith 2014 Edition - Remastered
The fastest way to learn guitar is now better than ever. With Rocksmith you can learn everything from single notes to chords and advanced techniques, all at your own pace. You'll learn fast because it adapts to your skill level as you play, whether you're a beginner or an experienced player. This remastered version also includes six free bonus songs. "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley & The Wailers "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley "Some Nights" by FUN. "I Want You Back" by Jackson 5 "Hey Ya!" by Outkast "Drops of Jupiter" by Train
92
/100
03
Rock Band 3
Rock Band 3 adds 83 new songs to the Rock Band library and for the first time supports a keyboard/keytar peripheral.
92
/100
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is the sequel to the 2007 musical simulation game Rock Band and offers similar gameplay. Directly competing with Guitar Hero: World Tour, the game allows different people to play together as in a band, with the same peripherals as the first game: lead guitar, bass guitar, microphone and a drum set. The new drum and guitar controllers for this version, bundled or sold separately, have been revised and older controllers are also supported. The guitar controller, modelled after the Fender Stratocaster, has five additional fret buttons near the neck, for fast fingertapping sessions. There is also an effect switch to toggle between five different effects. Players use the instruments to match notes on the screen, divided in different portions for different instruments, along with the lyrics for the singer who need to match the pitch.
93
/100
02
Rocksmith 2014 Edition - Remastered
The fastest way to learn guitar is now better than ever. With Rocksmith you can learn everything from single notes to chords and advanced techniques, all at your own pace. You'll learn fast because it adapts to your skill level as you play, whether you're a beginner or an experienced player. This remastered version also includes six free bonus songs. "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley & The Wailers "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley "Some Nights" by FUN. "I Want You Back" by Jackson 5 "Hey Ya!" by Outkast "Drops of Jupiter" by Train
92
/100
03
Rock Band 3
Rock Band 3 adds 83 new songs to the Rock Band library and for the first time supports a keyboard/keytar peripheral.
92
/100
04
Guitar Hero II
Unleash your inner rock star! Unlock new songs and venues to become the ultimate rock star in Career mode, jump right in and play any song you've unlocked in Quickplay, or play with or against friends in Multiplayer, all right from your living room!
92
/100
05
Rez Infinite
The ultimate version of Sega's psychodelic rail-shooter adventure Rez, fully remastered and evolved, including VR support and additional new content, all by members of the original development team
91
/100
06
Tetris Effect
Named after a real-world phenomenon where players' brains are so engrossed that images of the iconic falling Tetrimino blocks linger in their vision, thoughts, and even dreams, Tetris Effect amplifies this magical feeling of total immersion by surrounding you with fantastic, fully three-dimensional worlds that react and evolve based on how you play. Music, backgrounds, sounds, special effects - everything, down to the Tetris pieces themselves, pulse, dance, shimmer, and explode in perfect sync with how you're playing.
90
/100
07
Figment
89
/100
08
The Beatles: Rock Band
The Beatles: Rock Band is a 2009 music video game. It is the third major console release in the Rock Band music video game series, in which players can simulate the playing of rock music by using controllers shaped like musical instruments. The Beatles: Rock Band is the first band-centric game in the series, and it is centered on the popular English rock group the Beatles. The game features virtual portrayals of the four band members performing the songs throughout the band's history, including depictions of some of their famous live performances, as well as a number of "dreamscape" sequences for songs from the Abbey Road Studios recording sessions during the group's studio years.
88
/100
09
Crypt of the NecroDancer
Crypt of the NecroDancer is a hardcore roguelike rhythm game. Can you survive this deadly dungeon of dance, slay the NecroDancer, and recapture your still beating heart? Or will you be a slave to the rhythm for all eternity?
88
/100
10
Sound Shapes
Play, Compose and Share in a unique take on the classic side-scrolling platformer where your actions make the music. Equal parts instrument and game, Sound Shapes gives everyone the ability to make music. Play through a unique campaign that fuses music and artwork into a classic 2D platformer, featuring artwork by Pixeljam, Capy, Superbrothers and more, with music by I Am Robot and Proud, Jim Guthrie and Deadmau5. Create your own unique musical levels with all of the campaign content and share with the world. Sound Shapes creates an ever-changing musical community for everyone to enjoy at home or on the go.
87
/100
11
Hi-Fi Rush
86
/100
12
Metal: Hellsinger
86
/100
13
AudioSurf
85
/100
14
Thumper
85
/100
15
Beat Saber
85
/100
16
Cadence of Hyrule
85
/100
17
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone
84
/100
18
S
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
84
/100
19
Super Hexagon
83
/100
20
Guitar Hero World Tour
82
/100
21
Rock Band
82
/100
22
Sayonara Wild Hearts
81
/100
23
Guitar Hero Live
81
/100
24
Brütal Legend
80
/100
25
BIT.TRIP RUNNER
80
/100
26
The Artful Escape
80
/100
27
BIT.TRIP BEAT
80
/100
28
Rocksmith
78
/100
29
BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE
77
/100
30
Audiosurf 2
76
/100
31
Rock Band 4
76
/100
32
Geometry Dash
75
/100
33
osu!
73
/100
34
Muse Dash
73
/100
35
Hohokum
72
/100
36
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
72
/100
37
Just Dance 2018
72
/100
38
Just Dance 2017
71
/100
39
Beat Hazard
70
/100
40
Entwined
59
/100
41
Just Dance 2019
55
/100
42
Mountain
35
/100
Guitar Hero II
Unleash your inner rock star! Unlock new songs and venues to become the ultimate rock star in Career mode, jump right in and play any song you've unlocked in Quickplay, or play with or against friends in Multiplayer, all right from your living room!
92
/100
05
Rez Infinite
The ultimate version of Sega's psychodelic rail-shooter adventure Rez, fully remastered and evolved, including VR support and additional new content, all by members of the original development team
91
/100
06
Tetris Effect
Named after a real-world phenomenon where players' brains are so engrossed that images of the iconic falling Tetrimino blocks linger in their vision, thoughts, and even dreams, Tetris Effect amplifies this magical feeling of total immersion by surrounding you with fantastic, fully three-dimensional worlds that react and evolve based on how you play. Music, backgrounds, sounds, special effects - everything, down to the Tetris pieces themselves, pulse, dance, shimmer, and explode in perfect sync with how you're playing.
90
/100
07
Figment
89
/100
08
The Beatles: Rock Band
The Beatles: Rock Band is a 2009 music video game. It is the third major console release in the Rock Band music video game series, in which players can simulate the playing of rock music by using controllers shaped like musical instruments. The Beatles: Rock Band is the first band-centric game in the series, and it is centered on the popular English rock group the Beatles. The game features virtual portrayals of the four band members performing the songs throughout the band's history, including depictions of some of their famous live performances, as well as a number of "dreamscape" sequences for songs from the Abbey Road Studios recording sessions during the group's studio years.
88
/100
09
Crypt of the NecroDancer
Crypt of the NecroDancer is a hardcore roguelike rhythm game. Can you survive this deadly dungeon of dance, slay the NecroDancer, and recapture your still beating heart? Or will you be a slave to the rhythm for all eternity?
88
/100
10
Sound Shapes
Play, Compose and Share in a unique take on the classic side-scrolling platformer where your actions make the music. Equal parts instrument and game, Sound Shapes gives everyone the ability to make music. Play through a unique campaign that fuses music and artwork into a classic 2D platformer, featuring artwork by Pixeljam, Capy, Superbrothers and more, with music by I Am Robot and Proud, Jim Guthrie and Deadmau5. Create your own unique musical levels with all of the campaign content and share with the world. Sound Shapes creates an ever-changing musical community for everyone to enjoy at home or on the go.
87
/100
11
Hi-Fi Rush
86
/100
12
Metal: Hellsinger
86
/100
13
AudioSurf
85
/100
14
Thumper
85
/100
15
Beat Saber
85
/100
16
Cadence of Hyrule
85
/100
17
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone
84
/100
18
S
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
84
/100
19
Super Hexagon
83
/100
20
Guitar Hero World Tour
82
/100
21
Rock Band
82
/100
22
Sayonara Wild Hearts
81
/100
23
Guitar Hero Live
81
/100
24
Brütal Legend
80
/100
25
BIT.TRIP RUNNER
80
/100
26
The Artful Escape
80
/100
27
BIT.TRIP BEAT
80
/100
28
Rocksmith
78
/100
29
BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE
77
/100
30
Audiosurf 2
76
/100
31
Rock Band 4
76
/100
32
Geometry Dash
75
/100
33
osu!
73
/100
34
Muse Dash
73
/100
35
Hohokum
72
/100
36
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
72
/100
37
Just Dance 2018
72
/100
38
Just Dance 2017
71
/100
39
Beat Hazard
70
/100
40
Entwined
59
/100
41
Just Dance 2019
55
/100
42
Mountain
35
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Music game right now?
Rock Band 2 currently tops the ranking with a score of 93/100 across 170 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.